This post shall delve deeper into the relationship between her and her favourites Lady Marlborough and Abigail while criticising some elements that formed out of Queer theory. This is important to understand how this ‘new’ theory can be used and integrated into queenship studies and further within the historiography. Queen Anne is known for her unification of England Scotland. Though there are some more contested parts of her reign which include her relationships with her favourites. Therefore, some elements of Queen Anne’s behaviour can be inferred as distinctly queer but wider context of queenly behaviour in Stuart England is important too.
Queen Anne’s relationships with Abigail and Lady Marlborough can be applicable to queer theory. Queer theory grew out of the 1990s and has been implemented into academic circles ever since. Queer theory has been recognised in both women and gender studies and is important to recognise that queer people have always existed. This can provide a different approach to the life of Queen Anne and her relationships. This refers to the relationships in historic societies that have been lost due to previous academics solely coming from a cishet lens. This has meant elements of relationships such as the likes of Queen Anne, Lady Marlborough and Abigail has been lost for centuries. Though queer theory and the definitions of queer relationships do not fit the narratives placed in these historic societies. Many people that were queer were forced to suppress their true feelings and abide by the social consensus. Even personal documents that would be expected to contain how these individuals felt would not display this notion. Furthermore, displays of affection and romantic behaviour especially in eighteenth century Britain are vastly different to modern day. Meaning that queer theory can be used to remove the idea of all people being heterosexual and make historians question how these historic societies work. Though there is limited evidence to create a concrete interpretation this is especially viable when discussing Queen Anne and her favourites.
There has always been queer monarchs, as depicted by the likes of Edward II and James VI/I. Though due to the limited amount of female English monarchs this representation is lost. The letters that survive between lady Marlborough and Anne are an important element to comprehend the relationship that the two women had for one another. Though the women knew each other from childhood and had a close friendship. There has to be the recognition that placing modern terminology on a relationship that they would not have defined as such can be problematic. Yes there was an element of close friendship though this was frowned upon by contemporaries. There has to be the recognition that as a monarch, Anne was more likely to come under more scrutiny. This was especially prevalent given the other factors of her children and husband dying and the fact that there was difficulties in the colonies. This meant that any behaviour that went against the social consensus has been interpreted as such.
Abigail was new to court from a family that had lost their wealth, she realised to buy power in the queen’s household she needed to get close to Anne. This meant that when Marlborough fell from favour she could sweep in and come to the aid of Anne. Though, when Abigail caught Anne’s eye she was promoted to be in her bedchamber. Marlborough had lost Anne’s favour due to the influence she had over politics and tried to use Anne as a puppet for her husband’s agenda. Marlborough had been close to Anne and had stayed by her side throughout the turmoil that Britain faced. Abigail had other ideas and due to being seen by the Queen, there became rumours that Anne and Abigail’s relationship had become a sexual affair. This annoyed Abigail’s cousin Marlborough and she threatened to share the news that Abigail and Anne had been having an affair. This caused increased tensions in court until Marlborough was dismissed, with this both Anne and Abigail’s relationship was never the same. In 1708, there was the publication of a ballad that became popular alluding to this affair - ‘dark deeds of the night’. This suggests that Abigail had been sleeping with Anne but in fact Anne was a good christian woman and was caring for her sick husband. Meaning that the rumours through the ballad and the letters that Marlborough threatened to spread were most likely to be just that rumours. Additionally, the letters that were shared with Marlborough and Abigail were not unusual as women including Anne had close female companionship that would manifest in this language being used. Therefore, context for when and who Anne was writing to is important to acknowledge before jumping to the conclusion that she was queer.
There is a high likelihood that Queen Anne had queer relations with her favourites but to hone in on just this one element about her is not what she should be remembered for. She was most definitely some form of what society would deem in post modern Britain as queer but back then it was a close courtly relationship. The element of Queen Anne grieving and being lonely must have something to do with these close relationships being formulated with these women. Though even in life, her husband and Anne lived separate lives so even if he was still alive and outlived her, these relationships would have still materialised.
In conclusion, Queen Anne did in fact have close companionship with both Marlborough and Abigail. Though there should not be the imposition of modern day language being used to describe the life of Queen Anne and her relationships. It can be recognised that Queen Anne did display elements of queer relations. However, there are different norms in modern day British society to a Stuart one. Therefore, queer theory can aid the ability to change and develop the historiography around the life of Queen Anne and is important to recognise that queer people have always existed even when they are lost in the historical narrative.
History,2019. ‘The real life rivalry that inspired the favourite.’ https://www.history.com/news/true-story-queen-anne-sarah-abigail-the-favourite-fact-check
History extra, 2019. ‘The favourite: the real history behind the new queen Anne film.’
Riggs, D. W., & Treharne, G. J. (2017). Queer theory. In B. Gough (Ed.), The Palgrave handbook of critical social psychology (pp. 101–121). Palgrave Macmillan/Springer Nature. https://doi.org/10.1057/978-1-137-51018-1_6
Comments