The mother and son are the central part of the new Sky drama, but what happened to them in real life?
It’s safe to say that Sky’s Mary & George is a drama that underlines how fascinating real-life history can be.
Of course, the new seven-part series is inspired by true events – with a fair share of dramatisation – and stars Julianne Moore and Nicholas Galitzine as the duplicitous mother and son duo.
Mary and George Villiers are continually doubted throughout the new series, ultimately demonstrating their own wit, intelligence and charm as they manage to reach the upper echelons of society.
Navigating upwards in royal high society was no easy feat during the Jacobean era, but the series is very much based on the reality of the Villiers going on to become one of the most powerful families in the UK.
But as we see in the show, having newfound power isn’t exactly as straightforward as one may think, and across the episodes, we see how the pair’s relationship is tested.
So, what actually happened to Mary and George Villiers in real life? Read on to find out more about the true history behind the new Sky series.
What happened to George Villiers?
It was the love affair that shaped the royal court of King James VI of Scotland and I of England but, as depicted in the series, George Villiers was successful in his quest to win over the king and become one of the most powerful men in the country.
Prompted and guided by his mother Mary, George did indeed take on some ‘training’ to become a courtier – and learnt how to dance, fence and speak French, which was to add a nice well-rounded nature to his handsome looks.
Introduced to King James in 1614, George went on to surpass Robert Carr as the king’s favourite and become the apple of James’s eye, so to speak.
Many people were supportive of George’s ascension into the king’s inner circle, especially as they hoped to reduce the influence of Carr.
With the help of allies in the king’s circle, Mary managed to get her son in front of the king as a cupbearer, and then as part of the king’s elaborate dance performances – which only made the king appreciate George more.
George was knighted in 1615 as a Gentleman of the Bedchamber, which was the most prestigious position in the royal household of all, allowing unprecedented access to the king as he dressed and ate.
It wasn’t before long that George went on to eclipse Robert as the king’s most trusted favourite, and in 1616, George was appointed the king’s Master of the Horse and was then continually bestowed with other impressive titles such as baron, viscount and earl.
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He was promoted to Marquess of Buckingham in 1618 and then as Duke of Buckingham in 1623. The dukedom that George was bestowed with was unheard of for a regular member of the public at the time, as he was the only duke to not be a member of the royal family.
As George ascended to the dizzying heights of English society, so too did his mother Mary and the rest of his family – but over the years, George remained as the king’s closest confidant and advisor.
With his rise to power also came a heavy share of speculation and gossip among society over whether George was corrupt or misappropriating public funds.
Nothing was ever proven, but as George rose up the ranks of society with multiple titles and positions, he also elevated his friends and relatives in their social positions.
Becoming one of the king’s favourites definitely put him in the line of jealousy from others, but he also knew when to avoid conflict. For instance, his friendship with Lord Chancellor Francis Bacon was put on hold when Bacon was investigated by parliament over financial speculation, was convicted of corruption and forced into retirement.
Neither George or the king intervened in the entire affair, with many people at the time thinking that George had used Bacon as a sacrifice from parliament investigating himself.
Over the years, George became increasingly involved in Irish affairs and more political situations.
In 1623, he played his first major part in British politics when he accompanied Charles, the king’s son, to Madrid to arrange a marriage between Charles and the daughter of the Spanish king. While the negotiations didn’t go as planned for George’s hopes of an alliance with Spain, it only signalled how trusted George was by the royal family.
Although the relationship between George and the king has been disputed over the years, there has been evidence found of warm and vulnerable correspondence between the pair, with the king often referring to George as his “sweet child” or “wife”.
The king died in 1625, and subsequently Charles ascended to the throne that same year, with George becoming a trusted member of Charles’s circle, the only member of James’s court to maintain his position.
He remained at the height of Charles’s favour, but George’s leadership did lead to some disaster. Growing frustrated with George’s actions, parliament attempted to impeach George with a new bill in 1626 – but in a defiant act to save George, King Charles dissolved parliament.
At the same time, England and France were drifting towards war, and in 1627, George took control of a force intended to relieve La Rochelle in France, who were under attack from the French government.
But wars cost a lot of money, and with parliament refusing to fund this expedition, George accumulated the funds with the help of Sir William Russell – who raised approximately £70,000 to pay for the soldiers, food and everything in between.
However, things went far from according to plan, and facing the prospect of annihilation of his troops, George abandoned the siege.
Parliament once again tried to intervene in 1628 and aimed to dismiss George as being Charles’s favourite – but the king remained loyal. Over the course of George’s incompetent leadership, parliament tried to impeach him twice.
George was assassinated in August 1628 when, attempting to organise another expedition to La Rochelle, he was stabbed to death by John Felton, an army officer who had previously worked under George’s earlier military mission and been injured – believing he had been looked over for promotion because of George. George was buried in Westminster Abbey.
Did George Villiers marry?
He did – George married Lady Katherine Manners, who was said to be the richest woman in England. The union was objected to by Katherine’s father, the 6th Earl of Rutland, but the pair married in 1620 and had four children together.
What happened to Mary Villiers?
As the mastermind behind her son and the king’s relationship, Mary was advanced in society just as much as George. Because of George’s standing in society and her own personal connection to the king, Mary was made Countess of Buckingham in 1618.
George was said to have done all he could for the sake of his family’s advancement, and his other siblings were also bestowed with titles of their own.
Mary arranged the marriage between Lady Katherine and George, with the talk at the time around whether or not Mary had orchestrated the marriage by arranging for Katherine to spend a night under the same roof as George. The act would’ve tarnished Katherine’s reputation – but that fact remains contested.
We do know, though, that Mary was often found at court with the king, riding horseback with him and becoming further ingratiated in the royal family. Her hold over the king was so great that when James was on his deathbed, his physician John Craig disagreed with a plan of treatment that Mary had suggested. Because of his refusal to do as she said, Craig was ordered to leave court.
It was said that upon hearing of her son’s assassination, Mary reacted with no emotion and was rather cold. She died four years after George, in 1632, and was buried alongside her son in Westminster Abbey.
Mary & George is available on Sky Atlantic and NOW from Tuesday 5th March. Find Sky deals here.
Check out more of our Drama coverage or visit our TV Guide and Streaming Guide to find out what’s on.
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