Charles Stuart, Duke of Cambridge

See also: Charles Stuart, Duke of Kendal

Charles Stuart, Duke of Cambridge is the name and title shared by two short-lived sons of James, Duke of York (later James II of England & VII of Scotland), one with his first wife, Anne Hyde and one with his second wife, Mary of Modena.

Contents

Son of Anne Hyde

Life

Charles
Duke of Cambridge
House House of Stuart
Father James, Duke of York
Mother Anne Hyde
Born 22 October 1660(1660-10-22)
Worcester House, London
Died 5 May 1661(1661-05-05) (aged 6 months)
Whitehall Palace, London
Burial Westminster Abbey

Charles Stuart (22 October 1660 – 5 May 1661) was the first of four sons and eight children born from the marriage between James, Duke of York (later James II of England & VII of Scotland) and his first wife, Anne Hyde. He was styled Duke of Cambridge, but never formally created so, due to the fact that he died so young.

He was conceived seven months before his parents' official marriage and if royal advisors and Henrietta Maria of France (the mother of James) had their way, he could have been declared illegitimate, as his mother, Anne, was not of royal blood[1].

However, Charles II of England, James' brother, approved of the marriage and the wedding between James and Anne was held on 3 September 1660 in London. Charles was born on 22 October and was baptised on 1 January 1661 at Worcester House.[2] However, he died before reaching the age of one, after becoming ill with smallpox.[2] He was buried in Westminster Abbey, on 6 May 1661.[2] He died before the patent for this title was passed and his younger brother, James was formally created Duke of Cambridge. After James' death in 1667, at the age of three, another younger brother, Edgar was styled as such, but he, too, died at the age of three and all titles became extinct until the birth of the other Charles.

Arms

During his short life, Charles bore a coat of arms, as a grandson of a British Sovereign, consisting those of the kingdom, differenced by a label argent of five points ermine.[3]

Ancestors

Charles Stuart, Duke of Cambridge
Cadet branch of the Clan Stewart
Born: 22 October 1660 Died: 5 May 1661
Peerage of England
New title Duke of Cambridge
22 October 1660 – 5 May 1661		 Vacant
Title next held by
James Stuart

Son of Mary of Modena

Life

Charles
Duke of Cambridge
House House of Stuart
Father James, Duke of York
Mother Mary of Modena
Born 7 November 1677(1677-11-07)
St James's Palace, London
Died 12 December 1677(1677-12-12) (aged 35 days)
St James's Palace, London
Burial Westminster Abbey

Charles Stuart (7 November – 12 December 1677) was the first of two sons and third of seven children born from the marriage between James, Duke of York (later James II of England & VII of Scotland) and Mary of Modena. He was styled Duke of Cambridge, but never formally created so, due to the fact that he died so young.

At the time of his birth at St James's Palace, Charles was the second surviving child of James and Mary, a sister, Catherine Laura, having died the previous year. Another sister, Isabella, one year older than Charles, died at the age of four in 1681. At the time of Charles' birth, his uncle, Charles II of England, had no legitimate children and his queen consort, Catherine of Braganza, was reaching the age of 40 and it was clear enough that she would have no children and that the Duke of York would succeed as King[1].

Because all of James' sons with his first wife, Anne Hyde, were dead, the newborn Charles would then succeed to the throne, which – a possibility that caused much concern in England and Scotland because both James and Mary were Catholics and the majority of people wanted a Protestant monarch[1]. Like so may of his brothers and sisters, the infant Duke lived for a little more than a month, dying on 12 December the same year he was born, but his parents' beliefs cost them their crowns[1]. Charles was buried in Westminster Abbey, on 13 December 1677[1]. His younger brother was James Francis Edward Stuart, The Old Pretender.

Arms

During his short life, Charles bore a coat of arms, as a grandson of a British Sovereign, consisting those of the kingdom, differenced by a label argent of five points ermine.[3]

Ancestors

Charles Stuart, Duke of Cambridge
Cadet branch of the Clan Stuart
Born: 7 November 1677 Died: 12 December 1677
Peerage of England
Vacant
Title last held by
Edgar Stuart		 Duke of Cambridge
7 November – 12 December 1677		 Vacant
Title next held by
George of Hanover

References

  1. ^ a b c d e Panton 2011, p. 455.
  2. ^ a b c Darryl Lundy (20 January 2011). "Charles Stuart, Duke of Cambridge". thePeerage.com. http://thepeerage.com/p10136.htm#i101353. Retrieved 27 December 2011. 
  3. ^ a b "Marks of Cadency in the British Royal family". http://www.heraldica.org/topics/britain/cadency.htm. Retrieved 27 December 2011. 

Bibliography

HRH Prince William, Duke of Cambridge (2011-present)

Charles Stuart (1660-1661; only styled) · James Stuart (1664–1667) · Edgar Stuart (1667–1671) · Charles Stuart (1677-1677; only styled) · George II (1706–1727) · Prince Adolphus (1801–1850) · Prince George (1850–1904)