Review 'Anna of Denmark -Queen in Two Kingdoms'
Biography by Scottish academic and historical fiction writer Steven Veerapen
A biography of Anna, princess of Denmark, queen of Scotland, and also queen of England and Ireland from 1603, is most welcome. Published in 2022 by Peter Lang .Steven Veerapen is a lecturer at the University of Strathclyde who has written a series of historical novels set during the Tudor period. Amongst Mr Veerapen's non-fiction work are 'Blood Feud -Mary Queen of Scots and Lord Moray' and 'Elizabeth and Essex, Power, Passion and Politics'.
Cultural historians have emphasised Anna's patronage and participation in Court masques, particularly in relation to the works of Ben Jonson's such Masque of Beauty and Masque of Queens . This is all acknowledged, along with a section on Anna and Ben Jonson's collaboration in organising an 'antimasque'- 'an unnatural and inelegant dance', in which participants depict witches in hell. This author is not afraid to tackle the use of what is now called 'blackface' during Court entertainment such as featured in Ben Jonson's Masque of Blackness. However, this biography reaches far beyond the image of Anna as an extravagant matron of lavishing money on drama and art. Anna of course is also known for her commissioning of the Queens House at Greenwich, designed by Indigo Jones.
A fair section of the book looks at Anna's upbringing in Denmark, and this comes over well, especially considering how few readers are likely to be familiar with Danish history. Anna's role as the resident queen of Scotland aged 15 from her arrival in 1591 until departing for England is intriguing, showing how her capacity and skills in developing a role in the quite turbulent politics of the time. Also interesting to note that Anna did not always take James' side in such controversies as the Gowrie Conspiracy and the upbringing of Prince Henry, born 1594. Anna also seemed to select her own friends, some who did not always meet with her husband's approval.
The author shows how Anna worked well with James VI/I in order to secure the throne of England. Queen Elizabeth did not make it clear until she was on her deathbed that James was to succeed, and he would realistically need to have had support within the English Court to take the throne. This process involved a great deal of secret diplomacy in the last years of her reign between James and leading nobles in England. The author shows that James developed quite a calculated view of how to present his religious affiliation. James's tactic was to suggest that he was -at least to some degree- sympathetic to the Catholics but on the other hand was to going to support the predominance of Protestantism. Anna's supposed change from Lutheranism to some affiliation with the Catholic faith is portrayed in this book as a possible attempt to gain political advantage. The grounds for considering that Anna actually 'converted' are challenged quite thoroughly, and the author emphasises that it is hard to find any evidence of Anna interceding on behalf of the English Catholics.
There is a standard section on the Gunpowder Treason, and how from 1606 onward the Stuart ascendancy seemed settled. Yet Anna's wealth and privilege could not protect her from the death of three of her babies,one young child, and that of her son Prince Henry aged 18 in 1612. Anna also had to face James' affairs with male favourites such as Robert Carr and George Villiers, Duke of Buckingham. The author presents an interesting case to show in respect of Carr, Anna treated him as a love revival, but somehow reached an accord with Buckingham.
The biography demonstrates how the combination of a foreign king and foreign queen consort managed to succeed in ascending the English throne, and survived to rule without any serious rebellion. And Anna contributed to that achievement. Even in later years she could still hold opposing views to her husband, such as in her support for Sir Walter Raleigh spending years in the Tower. Anna also kept her support for peace with Spain and favoured Britain not being drawn into war on the side of her native Denmark. Anna of Denmark died at Hampton Court on 2nd March 1619.
Overall a great biography. Readable but well footnoted as a reference work. Still trying to think of any other Danish figures who married into the British Royal family after Anna -can only think of Princess Alexandra who married Bertie as in the future Edward VII in 1863.
Steven Veerapen is currently finishing a biography of James VI/I titled 'The Wisest Fool' and has an author website here.
Also of possible interest
Royal Greenwich Museum webpage on Anna of Denmark
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Wishing all visitors to 'A Burnt Ship' from around the world a happy and hopefully a peaceful 2023. Appreciate your interest.
Michael Bully
Brighton
11th January 2023.
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