Dissertation Information for Julia Voorhees Emmons NAME: - Julia Voorhees Emmons
DEGREE:
- Ph.D.
DISCIPLINE:
- History
SCHOOL:
- Emory University (USA) (1984)
ADVISORS: - Robert Smith
COMMITTEE MEMBERS: - None
MPACT Status: Incomplete - Inspected
Title: THE POLITICS OF FACTION IN THE EARLY RESTORATION COURT OF CHARLES II, 1660-1667 (CLARENDON, ORMONDE; ENGLAND)
Abstract: In the reign of Charles II, the court remained the center of political power. Policy was initiated by the king and mostly reflected his wishes. Thus those who could influence policy were courtiers with access to the royal ear. From Charles's exile, factions about the king bitterly vied for this influence. At first the stakes were minor, but with the restoration the rewards became great and the battle for the king's ear correspondingly envenomed.
This study sheds new light on early restoration politics by tracing the development of these factions from the exile through the fall of Clarendon in 1667 and the destruction of his faction. During the exile the factions which would color early restoration politics were first formed, with that of Chancellor Edward Hyde and the marquis of Ormonde emerging victorious over those headed by the Queen Mother and by the frivolous Duke of Buckingham.
At the restoration, the factions survived when the exiled courtiers won places and honors. The first serious clash occurred over the marriage of the Duke of York to Hyde's daughter, the next over Charles's choice of queen. Though the Clarendonians won these confrontations, by 1662 it was becoming evident that Clarendon's power was not complete. Charles's mistress, Lady Castlemaine, took an increasingly political role and became the center of anti-Clarendonian sentiment. These enemies promoted by Henry Bennet, no friend of Clarendon's, into the inner circle of power. Many thought Clarendon and Ormonde would soon lose office. Yet this was not to be. First Castlemaine lost some power, than a volitile enemy of Clarendon's tried to impeach him in such an irresponsible manner that the King renewed his support the Chancellor.
Damage had been done to Clarendon's authority nonetheless. Though the Chancellor remained at his post four more years, his enemies were increasingly successful in stripping his influence. By 1667, Clarendon had little power left. In the late summer the king removed the Chancellor from office and then encouraged Parliament to impeach the loyal servant. Clarendon fled into exile. Ormonde, too, was removed from office.
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MPACT Scores for Julia Voorhees Emmons A = 0
C = 0
A+C = 0
T = 0
G = 0
W = 0
TD = 0
TA = 0
calculated 2008-06-03 09:48:17
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