George V of the United Kingdom: Difference between revisions

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{{Infobox royalty
| name          = George V
| title          =
| image          = George V.jpg


| image_size    = Medium
| succession  = {{wp|King of the United Kingdom}} and the {{wp|British Dominions}}
| moretext    = ({{wp|Style of the British sovereign#Styles of British sovereigns|more...}})
| reign        = 30 January, 1913 - 5 January, 1923
| reign-type  = Reign
| coronation  = 5 March, 1913
| cor-type    = Coronation
| predecessor  = [[William V of the United Kingdom|William V]]
| pre-type    = Predecessor
| regent      =
| reg-type    =
| successor    = [[Edward VII of the United Kingdom|Edward VII]]
| suc-type    =
| succession1  = {{wp|Emperor of India}}
| moretext1    =
| reign1      = 30 January, 1913 - 5 January, 1923
| reign-type1  = Reign
| coronation1  = 8 August, 1913
| cor-type1    = {{wp|Imperial Durbar}}
| predecessor1 = [[William V of the United Kingdom|William V]]
| pre-type1    =
| regent1      =
| reg-type1    =
| successor1  = [[Edward VII of the United Kingdom|Edward VII]]
| suc-type1    =
| succession2  = {{wp|King of Hanover}}
| moretext2    =
| reign2      = 30 January, 1913 - 5 January, 1923
| reign-type2  = Reign
| coronation2  = 5 March, 1913
| cor-type2    =
| predecessor2 = [[William V of the United Kingdom|William V]]
| pre-type2    = Predecessor
| regent2      =
| reg-type2    =
| successor2  = [[Edward VII of the United Kingdom|Edward VII]]
| suc-type2    =
| succession3  = {{wp|Governor-General of Canada}}
| moretext3    =
| reign3      = 23 October, 1883 - 5 March, 1900
| reign-type3  = In office
| coronation3  = [[William V of the United Kingdom|William V]]
| cor-type3    = Monarch
| predecessor3 = {{wp|The Marquess of Lorne}}
| pre-type3    = Preceded by
| regent3      = {{plainlist|
* {{wp|John A. Macdonald}}<br/>{{wp|Sir John Joseph Caldwell Abbott|John Abbot}}<br/>{{wp|John Sparrow David Thompson|John Thompson}}<br/>{{wp|Mackenzie Bowell}}<br/>{{wp|Charles Tupper}}<br/>{{wp|Wilfrid Laurier}} ({{wp|Prime Minister of Canada|Canadian}})
* {{wp|William Ewart Gladstone}}<br/>{{wp|Robert Gascoyne-Cecil, 3rd Marquess of Salisbury|The Marquess of Salisbury}}<br/>{{wp|Archibald Primrose, 5th Earl of Rosebery|The Earl of Rosebery}}<br/>({{wp|Prime Minister of the United Kingdom|British}})
}}
| reg-type3    = Prime Minister
| successor3  = {{wp|Albert Grey, 4th Earl Grey|The Earl Grey}}
| suc-type3    = Succeeded by
| birth_name    = George Arthur Leopold Frederick
| birth_date    = {{birth date|1862|1|3|df=yes}}
| birth_place    = {{wp|Buckingham Palace}}, {{wp|London}}
| death_date  = {{Death date and age|1923|1|5|1862|1|3|df=yes}}
| death_place  = {{wp|Rideau Hall}}, {{wp|Ottawa}}, {{wp|Canada}}
| burial_date  = 20 January 1923
| burial_place = [[George and Sophia Memorial]], {{wp|Ottawa}}, {{wp|Canada}}
| spouse      = {{marriage|{{wp|Sophia of Prussia}}|22 August 1887}}
| issue        = {{plainlist|* [[Edward VII of the United Kingdom|Edward VII]]
* [[Alexandra, Duchess of York]]
* [[Henry, Duke of Cumberland and Teviotdale]]
* [[Henrietta, Hereditary Princess of Denmark]]}}
| issue-link  = #Issue
| full name      = George Arthur Leopold Frederick
| house          = {{wp|House of Hanover|Hanover}}
| father        = [[William V of the United Kingdom|William V]]
| mother        = {{wp|Charlotte of Belgium}}
| religion      = {{wp|Protestantism|Protestant}}
}}
'''George V''' (George Arthur Leopold Frederick; 30 January, 1913 - 5 January, 1923) was {{wp|King of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland}}, {{wp|King of Hanover}} and {{wp|Emperor of India}} from 1913 until 1923. He was also {{wp|Governor-General of Canada}} from 1883 until 1900, being the first and only British prince to do so. He is also remembered for the series of fortifications constructed along the {{wp|British}}-{{wp|German}} border in {{wp|Lower Saxony}}, known as the [[Alexandrian Line]].
==Early Life==
George was born on the 3rd of January 1862 as the second child of [[William V of the United Kingdom|William V]] and {{wp|Carlota of Mexico|Queen Charlotte}}. His birth, which succeeded that of his stillborn brother of the same name proved to be a great miracle and joy, in particular to his mother whom had been devastated by the loss of her previous son the year before. Almost immediately, he was made {{wp|Prince of Wales}} as the first in line of succession to the throne and was honorably given the surnames "Leopold Frederick" in honour of his maternal grandfather {{wp|Leopold I of Belgium}} and the {{wp|Frederick III, German Emperor|Prussian prince Frederick, later Kaiser Frederick III}}, whom had been a good and close friend of his father due to their shared views.
Despite initial suggestions concerning his preferred upbringing, a young George was fully left under the control of his loving, and liberal minded mother while his father [[William V of the United Kingdom|William]] maintained nominal influence, going so far as to only educating the future king on war and the military. Eventually, though he was able to meet the expected standards of a "soldier king" as dreamed by his father, George however took more of a liking into liberal arts which resulted in promising success, mostly at the joy of her enthusiastic mother.
At the same time, he also partially drew inspiration from his like minded aunt [[Alice, Duchess of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha, Duchess of Connaught and Strathearn|Alice]], whose determined attitude in the cause of female empowerment proved revolutionary during the times of increasing liberalism in Britain.
==Prince of Wales==
Upon reaching the age of majority, George was voluntarily sent to {{wp|German Empire|Germany}} to underwent military training, while being under the care of {{wp|Frederick III, German Emperor|Crown Prince Frederick}}. During his stay in Germany, aside from being deeply attached to the prevalent militaristic culture, he also became deeply acquainted with the Crown Princely family, as he and Frederick's wife {{wp|Victoria, Princess Royal|Vicky}} were second cousins through {{wp|George III of the United Kingdom|King George III}}. As a result, he took great interest and later deep affection for the couple's third youngest daughter Sophia whom compared to her sisters was a promising candidate for marriage.
Soon after his return, his promising military education, coupled with a decrease in his father's warfare activities led possible rumours of a continuation of the old king William's glorious military career through his successpr. However, paradoxically, the young George detested military appointments, having openly proclaimed his preference for the company of "his beloved companion", none other than his mother herself. Despite this, under pressure from his military circles, the prince took a one-time command of the British forces in the {{wp|Mahdist War}} in {{wp|Mahdist State|Sudan}} alongside esteemed commanders such as {{wp|Garnet Wolseley}}.
As one of the few commanders that encountered the {{wp|Nubian}} religious leader {{wp|Muhammad Ahmad}} whose military prowess triumphed over well armed {{wp|Ottoman Empire|Ottoman}} and {{wp|European}} forces, the prince fought for an exact amount of three times against the latter, winning two out of the three engagements before an orderly retreat, and a hasty leave back to Britain. In all, he was made a {{wp|Brigadier}} in the {{wp|British Army}} and at war's end was offered the position of {{wp|Governor-General of Sudan}}, which upon his refusal was instead granted to the {{wp|Herbert Kitchener|1st Earl Kitchener}}.
===Anglo-German Rivalry===
Despite being the brother-in-law of {{wp|Wilhelm II}}, the new {{wp|German Emperor}}, both men found themselves at odds over their contrasting policies and views. Ironically, while George inhibited some sense of {{wp|Germanophile}}, the Kaiser however possessed a strong sense of {{wp|Anglophobia}}, which was made evident in his rivalry against George's father [[William V of the United Kingdom|William]]. Despite this, alongside his aunt [[Alice, Duchess of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha, Duchess of Connaught and Strathearn|Alice]], the prince sought extensively to regulate relations between the two nations.
As George's character, similar to those of his younger brother [[Alexander, Prince Consort of the Netherlands|Alexander]] grew more in an opposing nature to their father's military conducts, George regularly sought refuge in neutral countries such as the {{wp|Netherlands}}, the {{wp|Scandinavia|Scandinavian}} kingdoms and his mother's home country of {{wp|Belgium}} where for a period of several months, he privately accommodated his sickly mother, earning much love and establishing an unyielding familial bond between the two.
Despite the growing hostility, George still somewhat leaned towards the new {{wp|German Empire}} in general and on several occasions, visited {{wp|Berlin}} for the sole purpose of viewing {{wp|German}} military marches while unsuccessfully negotiating with his brother in law whom at one point ridiculed him as a "German traitor".
===Governor-General of Canada===
Despite his reluctance, the {{wp|Prince of Wales}} was offered once more an administrative position which came about in the light of retirement of the {{wp|9th Duke of Argyll}} from his office of {{wp|Governor-General of Canada}}. Once more, George proved reluctant for an overseas commitment but with the considerably calm and peaceful landscape of {{wp|Canada}}, added with the persuasion of his own mother {{wp|Carlota of Mexico|Charlotte}} to reside in Canada, the former finally accepted the post and departed with the queen to {{wp|Canada}}.
In his 27 year long tenure as {{wp|Governor-General of Canada|Governor-General}}, George sought and introduced immense "liberalisation" of Canadian politics, economy and infrastructure albeit at the declining influence of the Francophones in the dominion. In addition, despite initial skepticism, the royal entourage were well-received and welcomed for their outspoken generosity and liberal lifestyle, with {{wp|Sophia of Prussia|Princess Sophia}} in particular being extremely fond of the game of hockey. Despite the short term crisis of the {{wp|North-West Rebellion}}, the royal couple's popularity remained consistently high, its evidence marked by a suggestion in 1900 when the {{wp|Prince of Wales}} was recommended by a few {{wp|Canadian}} officials to become the sovereign of an independent {{wp|Canada}} following their opposition to the {{wp|Second Boer War}}, though this brought him into opposition against the {{wp|Prime Minister of Canada|Prime Minister}}, {{wp|Wilfrid Laurier}} whom was able to appease both anti and pro-war parties in the conflict.
Having been told of the effectiveness of railways during the {{wp|Franco-Prussian War}} in 1870, George greatly pioneered the construction of railways throughout {{wp|Canada}} and also spearheaded the establishment of several public and private institutions, with the Prince George and Princess Sophia universities respectively named in their honour.
==Marriage==
In line with his father's wishes, George's potential spouse was to be from the {{wp|House of Hohenzollern|Hohenzollerns}} of {{wp|German Empire|Germany}} in order to strengthen the friendship between his father and the {{wp|German Emperor}} {{wp|Frederick III, German Emperor|Frederick III}}. However, {{wp|Carlota of Mexico|Charlotte}} had instead suggested a possible union between her son and with that of her niece {{wp|Princess Stéphanie of Belgium|Stéphanie of Belgium}}. When this was refused, a suggestion for George to marry the much older, 27 year-old {{wp|Grand Duchess Maria Alexandrovna of Russia|Grand Duchess of Russia, Maria Alexandrovna}} was also proposed but this was also refused, as William remained adamant on guaranteeing his friendship with {{wp|German Empire|Prussia}}.
Upon his arrival in {{wp|German Empire|Germany}}, George was quick to familiarise himself with the foreign {{wp|German}} court. As the second cousin of {{wp|Victoria, Princess Royal|Crown Princess Victoria}}, the young George was quick to bond with the latter and later, Victoria's own family, consisting that of {{wp|Frederick III,German Emperor|Crown Prince Frederick}} whom George greatly admired as a father-like figure and their six surviving children. In line with his designated purpose, George became rather quickly acquainted with Frederick's daughters and was initially recommended with the eldest of them all, {{wp|Princess Charlotte of Prussia|Charlotte}} whose illness however nullified prospects of a marriage.
Subsequently, George began expressing a degree of consideration in marrying the second eldest daughter of the {{wp|Frederick III, German Emperor|German Crown Prince}}, {{wp|Princess Viktoria of Prussia|Princess Viktoria}} but this soon changed upon his acquaintance with {{wp|Sophia of Prussia|Sophia}}, the youngest of the group. Though {{wp|Sophia of Prussia|Sophia}} was evidently much younger compared to her peers, she was spared from the problems faced by her elder sisters that had rendered them unsuitable for George. With the encouragement of both of their parents, George and Sophia were quick to familiarise themselves. A week later, the young prince sought permission from Sophia's mother to bring the young princess to {{wp|Canada}}, which he privately disclosed as the venue for him to ask for Sophia's hand in marriage. However, rather unexpectedly, the proposal occured prematurely aboard their en route ship to {{wp|Canada}}, with Sophia instead asking the prince's hand in marriage. The couple then hastily returned to {{wp|Germany|German Empire}} for a brief audience with the {{wp|German}} royal family before finally arriving in {{wp|Britain}}.
For a subsequent period of two months, despite initial reluctance by the {{wp|Victoria, Princess Royal|Crown Princess of Germany}} in being apart from her beloved daughter, Sophia resided with her {{wp|British}} cousins in {{wp|Buckingham Palace}}. As a result of her {{wp|Victoria, Princess Royal|mother}}'s {{wp|Anglo}}-centric upbringing, the princess quickly left a positive impression of observers, with the then [[William V of the United Kingdom|King William]] having remarked positively on his future daughter-in-law in a letter written to Sophie's parents back home, ''"The young Sophie's presence here has been quite a remarkable blessing for us all, and if possible, I would wish for her to stay here for much longer"''.  In August 1887, the couple were officially married at the {{wp|Royal Chapel}} in {{wp|St James's Palace}}. Encouraged by his [[William V of the United Kingdom|father]], the couple spent their two months long honeymoon first in {{wp|Khedivate of Egypt|Egypt}}, where they resided for three weeks before finally journeying to {{wp|Canada}}. According to George himself, the young Sophie became extremely fond of the {{wp|Canadian}} scenery which prompted the couple to reside in the country past their honeymoon period.
Throughout their marriage, despite their contrasting {{wp|Germanophile}} and {{wp|Anglophile}} preferences, the two came quick to bond over the hostility shown by Sophia's brother {{wp|Wilhelm II, German Emperor|Wilhelm}} whom unlike the two greatly detested {{wp|United Kingdom|Britain}} and almost anything {{wp|English}}. Coupled with the relatively "hostile" environment in {{wp|England}}, stemming from a tense disagreement between George and his father over the latter's military conducts, the couple chose first to reside at the {{wp|Edinburgh Palace}} in {{wp|{{wp|Rideau Hall} in {{wp|Canada}} where they became well-known and loved for their outspoken liberal lifestyle.
George and {{wp|Sophia of Prussia|Sophia}}'s were in much similar terms to that of his own parents, loving and compassionate. In particular, during his lengthy years as heir apparent to his father, the couple actively indulged themselves in philanthropic activities and were notably credited for the rapid modernisation of {{wp|Canada}}'s infrastructure, ranging from railways to public universities, with one such institution that is based in the capital city of {{wp|Ottowa}} named after the princely couple.
==Death==
==Personal Information==
==Titles & Honours==
*'''3 January 1862 - 30 January 1913''' ''His Royal Highness'' The Prince of Wales
*'''30 January 1913 - 5 January 1923''' ''His Majesty'' The King
==Honours==
== Ancestry ==
{{ahnentafel
|width=100%|align=center|collapsed=yes
| boxstyle_1 = background-color: #fcc;
| boxstyle_2 = background-color: #fb9;
| boxstyle_3 = background-color: #ffc;
| boxstyle_4 = background-color: #bfc;
| 1 = 1. '''George V of the United Kingdom'''
| 2 = 2. [[William V of the United Kingdom]]
| 3 = 3. {{wp|Charlotte of Belgium}}
| 4 = 4. {{wp|William IV of the United Kingdom}}
| 5 = 5. {{wp|Adelaide of Saxe-Meiningen}}
| 6 = 6. {{wp|Leopold I of Belgium}}
| 7 = 7. {{wp|Louise of Orléans}}
| 8 = 8. {{wp|George III of the United Kingdom}}
| 9 = 9. {{wp|Princess Charlotte of Mecklenburg-Strelitz}}
| 10 = 10. {{wp|George I, Duke of Saxe-Meiningen}}
| 11 = 11. {{wp|Luise Eleonore of Hohenlohe-Langenburg}}
| 12 = 12. {{wp|Francis, Duke of Saxe-Coburg-Saalfeld}}
| 13 = 13. {{wp|Countess Augusta Reuss-Ebersdorf}}
| 14 = 14. {{wp|Louis Philippe I of France}}
| 15 = 15. {{wp|Maria Amalia of Naples and Sicily}}
}}

Latest revision as of 09:58, 3 May 2024

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