Weekly Reader: My Queen My Love: A Novel of Henrietta Maria (The Henrietta of France Trilogy Book One) by Elena Maria Vidal; Queenly Elegant Historical Fiction About The Rocky Marriage of Queen Henrietta Maria of France and King Charles I of England

 

Weekly Reader: My Queen My Love: A Novel of Henrietta Maria (The Henrietta of France Trilogy Book One) by Elena Maria Vidal; Queenly Elegant Historical Fiction About The Rocky Marriage of Queen Henrietta Maria of France and King Charles I of England

By Julie Sara Porter

Bookworm Reviews

Spoilers: If Royal couples don't have enough stress, being Royals in a time of great change can be the worst. Take for example King Charles I and Queen Henrietta Maria. Because of religious turmoil and many who challenged Charles's belief in the Divine Right of Kings, England was embroiled in a civil war which ended in the abdication and beheading of Charles and the creation of the Commonwealth of England led by Oliver Cromwell.

As with many conflicts, the English Civil War was one of a long string of conflicts that carried throughout history. In this case, much of it carried over from the religious schism of whether England would be Protestant or Catholic. The marriage between Charles and his French wife, Henrietta Maria only added to the conflict because many were suspicious of the ardently Catholic Queen.

Elena Maria Vidal's novel, My Queen My Love: A Novel of Henrietta Maria, the first book in the Henrietta of Trilogy tells of this tumultuous history through the perspective of Queen Henrietta Maria. This book covers her early years as a young princess being molded by her powerful mother, Marie de Medici on how to use her own power even if she has to marry into it. Her marriage to Charles is arranged but grows into a love match. Unfortunately one person is standing in Henrietta Maria's way, George Villiers, Duke of Buckingham, Charles's advisor and also the advisor and best friend (and possible lover) of Charles's father, King James I. Villiers is a conniving social climber and will be a sworn match against the strong willed Queen.

It becomes apparent that this book is a chess match between Henrietta Maria and the Duke of Buckingham. We don't even get to the English Civil War yet (Considering this series is supposed to be a trilogy, that is literally a Future Charles and Henrietta Maria problem).

These are two characters with differing religions, ideologies, and views but both have the love and ear of the King in common.

Henrietta Maria is strengthened by two very important assets: The legacy of her maternal family the Medicis and her Catholic religion. With her mother's name practically being a byword for power, influence, and playing the game of leadership, Henrietta Maria is well trained in the art of court intrigue. She had already been warned about Buckingham’s influence so she is on the lookout for corruption and deceit. Being a Medici, she is able to grant that influence for herself as well. When Buckingham tries to convince Charles to get rid of her French allies, Henrietta Maria is able to play the loving wife card and keep them. It helps that their marriage is a loving one  and Charles relies on his wife for support and advice. Her French courtiers are extremely loyal to her and are able to spy and report on the ever changing tide of English loyalty towards their new queen. 

Henrietta Maria's faith  becomes a bond of contention in her adopted country through no technical fault of her own. It's clear that even after a century has passed since Henry VIII’s reign, England still hasn't recovered from the religious split that occurred within the lifetimes of Henry, Mary, Elizabeth, and James. When faiths change based on the whims and loyalties of a country's leader, instability is bound to occur when some are desperate to cling to the Catholic Church, others to the Protestant, and others to the newer sects of Anglicanism and Puritanism. (It doesn't help that while the Anglican church was meant to be created as a compromise between the Catholic and Protestant churches, there were still plenty of questions regarding doctrine, practices, how much of each religion is permitted, and whether conversion is necessary.)

For the Catholic believers, Henrietta Maria presents them with a voice that they haven't had for some time and representation that had been lost. For the Protestants and other sects, Henrietta Maria is a dangerous interloper and a compelling reason that the Crown is out of touch and has lost its way. 

Henrietta Maria herself is devout and her religion eases her during a period of stress and adjustment. While being Queen, she seeks solace from her faith and its rituals and iconography. If it makes her an enemy in other’s eyes, then so be it. 

Meanwhile on the other side of this conflict is Buckingham. Once the confidant of Charles's father, James, Buckingham acts as a surrogate brother and best friend to the king by guiding him through insecurities and anxieties about his role. Unlike Henrietta Maria’s familial and religious connections, Buckingham is motivated by ambition and his own placement within the court. He is someone who isn't above throwing a former ally or Charles's wife under the carriage to get his way. He is an upwardly mobile schemer who will claw and connive to hold onto what power he has and to obtain more.

Buckingham shows a loyal and protective side towards Charles even engaging in masquerades and adventures with Charles while he was still a prince. It's clear that his love for James transformed into love for Charles and he sees himself as a guide to the young king whom he still thinks of as a kid. However, his influence in court has grown complacent between the two generations. What he had with James cannot be duplicated with his son and in some ways, he knows it too. That's why he's so desperate to hold onto what he has and sees Henrietta Maria as a threat. His security and placement with Charles's father is now taken by Charles's wife and he does not like that.Buckingham really underestimates who he is dealing with and unfortunately finds out too late.

My Queen My Love is a very regal look at palace intrigue and the love and loyalties of the monarchs and those around them. It begins with a chess match between two individuals and eventually escalates into a dangerous war for the entire country.