The building works and court style of William and Mary

Abstract

During the 17th century many young and ambitious sovereigns not only changed their ministers after their accession but immediately embarked on extensive building projects. Obviously they intended to make a personal impression on future ages, but they also sought consciously to create a new theatre or arena in which they could use new and changed surroundings to play a distinctive role, differentiating themselves from their predecessors, while their courtiers would have to learn subtly changed parts. The clearest and over-powering example is of course the Versailles of Louis XIV, which became a model for every prince who aspired to similar absolutist powers. One also thinks ofthe Retire, built earlier for the young Philip IV of Spain, and the palaces which Peter the Great designed to hasten the transformation of the Russian aristocracy. Perhaps the fact that William and Mary became the first constitutional sovereigns in English history has led historians to overlook the way in which they conformed with this practice of the absolute rulers of contemporary Europe. Immediately after being declared king and queen, indeed before their coronation, they took the decision to demolish Cardinal Wolsey's palace at Hampton Court, in order to rebuild it on a large scale. In choosing this site William and Mary were also conforming with the prevalent royal fashion ofbuilding new palaces in rural settings, but conveniently close to the capital city. This broke with the practice of James I, Charles II and James II, who all embellished or patched up existing royal palaces, while aspiring to rebuild the principal metropolitan palace of Whitehall.