The multiple identities of Mary II

: queenship, culture, and politics in the seventeenth century

Abstract

‘The multiple identities of Mary II: queenship, culture and politics in the seventeenth century’ disentangles the life of a seventeenth-century queen from that of her husband and co-ruler. It examines the multiple guises inhabited by Mary II: regnant queen, Dutch consort, wife, friend, devout Protestant – to name a few. By looking at a variety of source material related to these many identities, it ultimately argues that Mary had an astute understanding of gendered power sharing dynamics in the early modern period. It views her holistically, acknowledging the emotionally challenging transition periods in her life as well as her governance as queen regnant of England. It is important to understand how Mary jointly exercised power with her husband, William III to fill the lacuna in studies of her as a ruler. Thus, this narrative seeks to disrupt perceptions that Mary did not have political agency.

Date of Award	28 Nov 2024
Original language	English
Awarding Institution	University of Winchester
Supervisor	Ellie Woodacre (Supervisor), Joanna Marschner (Supervisor), James Ross (Supervisor) & Laura Tompkins (Supervisor)