{"id":34323,"date":"2024-03-05T11:24:03","date_gmt":"2024-03-05T10:24:03","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.historyextra.com\/?p=262658"},"modified":"2024-03-05T13:11:38","modified_gmt":"2024-03-05T12:11:38","slug":"who-was-george-villiers-favourite-of-king-james-vi-and-i","status":"publish","type":"rss_feed","link":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/bbchistory\/rss_feed\/who-was-george-villiers-favourite-of-king-james-vi-and-i\/","title":{"rendered":"Who was George Villiers, favourite of King James VI and I?"},"content":{"rendered":"

Drama Mary & George introduces us to George Villiers, who rose up to become a favoured courtier of James VI and I, and hold considerable power in early Stuart England. Who was George? And how much is known about his royal relationship? We spoke to author and biographer Benjamin Woolley about Villiers\u2019 fascinating life\u2026 <\/p>

By Elinor Evans\n \t\t<\/p>

Published: Tuesday, 05 March 2024 at 10:24 AM<\/p>

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Who was the real George Villiers?<\/h2>\n

George Villiers, 1st Duke of Buckingham, was a prominent figure in the court of King James VI and I<\/a>, who wielded considerable influence due to his long-standing position as the king\u2019s favourite.<\/p>\n

The second son born to a family of middling nobility in Leicestershire in c1592, Villiers grew up knowing a tumultuous family life and financial struggle. His mother, Mary Villiers, remarried twice after the death of his father (also named George), making strategic matches that allowed her to recoup her deceased husband\u2019s debts and climb the social hierarchy. Of her four children, Mary singled out George as having the charisma and appeal that could aid his family\u2019s ascent, and sent him to France as a teenager to learn courtly manners.<\/p>\n

In 1603, James VI of Scotland succeeded Elizabeth I<\/a> to also hold the throne of England, as James I. When he began his English rule, the king\u2019s inner circle was packed with Scottish courtiers. Knowing the king\u2019s preference for the company of young, attractive men, a group of English nobles conspired to place the 21-year-old George in front of the king, hoping that he would catch the king\u2019s eye.<\/p>\n

\"Portrait\n<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture>\n<\/div>
George was placed in front of the king by a group of English courtiers, who hoped that he would catch the king\u2019s eye. (Photo by DeAgostini\/Getty Images)<\/span><\/figcaption><\/div>\n

What followed was a rise to prominence for George Villiers. He harnessed his charm to become a central figure in the king\u2019s entourage for more than a decade, and used courtly alliances to gain positions of power for himself and his family \u2013 including his mother, Mary.<\/p>\n

The story of the Villiers\u2019 ascent is told in the 2024 drama Mary & George<\/em>, starring Julianne Moore and Nicholas Galitzine in the title roles. Benjamin Woolley, biographer and author of The King\u2019s Assassin: The Fatal Affair of George Villiers and James I<\/em> (Pan Macmillan, 2017), joined the HistoryExtra<\/em> podcast<\/a> to share more about the extraordinary life of George Villiers.<\/p>\n