George V of the United Kingdom: Difference between revisions

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{{Infobox royalty
| name          = George V
| title          =
| image          = George V (2).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      = {{wp|Princess Viktoria of Prussia}} <br/>{{small|(1881 - 1886, engaged)}}<br/>{{marriage|{{wp|Sophia of Prussia}}|22 August 1887}}
| issue        = {{plainlist|* [[Edward VII of the United Kingdom|Edward VII]]
* [[Alexandra, Princess Royal]]
* [[Prince Frederick, Duke of Clarence and Avondale|Frederick, Duke of Clarence and Avondale]]
* [[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}}
| module      = {{Infobox officeholder | embed=yes
  | branch        = {{plainlist|
*{{army|United Kingdom}}}}
  | serviceyears  = 1882-1883 (active service)
  | servicenumber = <!-- Do not use data from primary sources such as service records -->
  | unit          = [[The King's Abyssinian Regiment]]
  | commands      =
  | rank          = {{wp|Brigadier (United Kingdom)|Brigadier}}
  | battles_label =
  | battles      = {{wp|Mahdist War}}}}
}}
'''George V''' (George Arthur Leopold Frederick; 3 January, 1862 - 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 {{wp|British}} prince to do so, to which he was highly regarded by {{wp|Canadians}} for his state-building efforts and his exceptionally liberal approach towards issues surrounding the {{wp|Canada|country}}. The [[King George National Hockey Championships]], an annual hockey tournament, alongside several educational institutions, parks, roads and a [[George and Sophia Memorial|memorial]] all bore his name.
Known primarily for his works during his almost fifty years long tenure as {{wp|Prince of Wales|''Prince of Wales''}}, his reign however was marked by little active involvement in contrast to his predecessor, in addition to the {{wp|First World War}} and the first few years of the {{wp|Roaring Twenties}} until his death in 1923. Following his death, George was first briefly given the epithet of ''Builder King'' for his part in developing {{wp|Canada}} but this was promptly changed to the alternative epithet of ''Grand Prince of Canada'' instead as to avoid associating him with the notorious {{wp|Leopold II of Belgium|King Leopold II}} of {{wp|Belgium}} whom George himself was said to had personally resented for the latter's brutality in his administration of the {{wp|Congo Free State}}.
==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}}, whom he greatly came to mirror in terms of appearance and the {{wp|Frederick III, German Emperor|Prussian prince Frederick, later Kaiser Frederick III}}, whom had been a good and close friend of his [[William V of the United Kingdom|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 his enthusiastic {{wp|Carlota of Mexico|mother}}.
At the same time, he also drew partial 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.
As a result of his father's well established relations with the foreign royal houses of Europe, the young George became the private, albeit periodical tutee of the empresses of {{wp|Empress Elisabeth of Austria|Austria}} and {{wp|Maria Alexandrovna (Marie of Hesse)|Russia}}. While George himself was said to had rather enjoyed the tutorship of both empresses, he was also said to had harbored fond feelings towards both Elisabeth and Maria, exemplified in his frequent exchange of letters and gifts with both women. He was also present at both Elisabeth's and Maria's funerals as his father's representative.
==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 {{wp|German Empire|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 {{wp|Sophia of Prussia|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 successor. However, paradoxically, the young George detested military appointments. 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 {{wp|Wilhelm II, German Emperor|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 {{wp|Canadian}} politics, economy and infrastructure albeit at the declining influence of the {{wp|Francophone|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, made evident 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-war 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 {{wp|Frederick III, German Emperor|Crown Prince Frederick}} of the {{wp|German Empire}}. 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}} in order to further {{wp|Anglo}}-{{wp|Belgian}} relations, but this was promptly rejected. Undeterred, the queen consort subsequently proposed a union with the 16 year old {{wp|Princess Elisabeth of Hesse and by Rhine (1864–1918)|daughter}} of the {{wp|Louis IV, Grand Duke of Hesse|Grand Duke of Hesse}}, which received initial traction due to the renowned beauty of the young princess, but prospects of it were ultimately ended, due to [[William V of the United Kingdom|William]]'s adamant goal in maintaining relations with the new {{wp|German Empire}}. A suggestion for the prince to marry one of his's {{wp|English}} relatives was also proposed, namely by {{wp|William Ewart Gladstone|Gladstone}}, the newly appointed {{wp|Prime Minister of the United Kingdom|Prime Minister}}. Regardless, the king went ahead with his plans, informing {{wp|Frederick III, German Emperor|Crown Prince Frederick}} of his plans in which he wrote, ''"Georgie would much prefer either one of your lovely daughters for the sake of our lasting friendship"''.
Upon his arrival in {{wp|German Empire|Germany}} in 1880, 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 her 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 any prospects of a marriage.
Undeterred, 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 third eldest 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 {{wp|Sophia of Prussia|Sophia}} were quick to familiarise themselves. However, as Sophia herself was reasonably too young for marriage, George was encouraged to reluctantly wait for seven more years when the princess was to reach the adult age.
Upon his return, George found solace in a brief, three months long relationship with {{wp|British}} socialite {{wp|Lillie Langtry}}, whom the prince reputedly visited on several occasions. However, the affair was cut short by the intervention of the [[William V of the United Kingdom|king]] who subsequently paid {{wp|Lillie Langtry|Langtry}} a sum of £3,500 to buy her silence, following allegations of a pregnancy, which the latter herself then denied of George being the actual father.
Following the debacle, George was promptly commissioned to {{wp|Sudan}} where he remarkably excelled in his encounters against the {{wp|Sudanese}} religious leader, {{wp|Muhammad Ahmad}}. Soon after, he was summoned to {{wp|Berlin}} where he was hastily betrothed to {{wp|Princess Viktoria of Prussia|Princess Viktoria}}, the decision which was made in order to "occupy" George from any potential scandals in his wait for {{wp|Sophia of Prussia|Sophia}} to reach adulthood. While this was not fully accepted by George due to the suddenness of the decision, it was rather welcomed by {{wp|Princess Viktoria of Prussia|Viktoria}} who had then unsuccessfully attempted to marry the {{wp|Bulgarian}} prince {{wp|Alexander of Battenberg|Alexander}}. Rather unexpectedly, the decision began to gradually deviate from its original intent when the two began to closely bond with each other, prompting suggestions for their betrothal to be converted to an official marriage instead, with either one of George's brothers replacing him as Sophia's suitor. Regardless, their betrothal was formally disbanded, albeit reluctantly in the months prior to the younger princess's 17th birthday, and as a conciliatory compromise, {{wp|Princess Viktoria of Prussia|Viktoria}} was to marry George's youngest brother of the same name. The two sisters would later marry their respective suitors on the same day at {{wp|St James's Palace}}, in what was known as the first royal double wedding event, popularly coined as ''"The Two George's Prussian Weddings"''.
Soon after, with no options left in sight, George began to emphasise his efforts in bonding with the younger {{wp|German}} princess, which was remarkably successful after only two months. Due to the occasional leaves of Sophia's parents, she was at times left under the care of her {{wp|British}} relatives, further tightening their pre-existing bond.
On one occasion, the young prince successfully sought permission from Sophia's {{wp|Victoria, Princess Royal|mother}} to bring the young princess to {{wp|Canada}}, which he privately disclosed as being the venue for him to then 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 designate the country as their unofficial "residence" during their subsequent and later years.
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}} before subsequently relocating further west to the {{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|Ottawa}} named after the princely couple.
==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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