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Buckingham: The Life and Political Career of George Villiers, First Duke of Buckingham, 1592-1628
George Villiers, First Duke of Buckingham (1592-1628) is one of the dazzling figures in English history, whose spectacular career dominated the 1620s, when he achieved not only political ascendancy at home but also a major role on the European stage of his time. Yet like many another favourite he earned himself massive unpopularity as well as power, and the unfavourable verdict of his contemporaries has been taken for granted by subsequent generations. A dispassionate and scholarly account of Buckingham has long been one of the major gaps in seventeenth-century studies, and the appearance of Roger Lockyer's massive and authoritative biography is therefore an event of the first importance.
Although Mr Lockyer deals with Buckingham's family relationships, his personal finances and his activities as a great patron of the arts, his is not simply a biography of Buckingham the man. It is also the first full-length study to take Buckingham seriously as a statesman and to assess his importance as one of the major figures in the complex pattern of European policy-making at the opening of the Thirty Years War. It is based upon extensive research in original sources, not only in England but also in France and Spain, and it shows the shallowness of the traditional view of Buckingham as an unprincipled adventurer.
As well as analysing Buckingham's policies and assessing their validity and effectiveness, Roger Lockyer unravels the fascinating story of his rise to power, his relations with James I and Charles I, his central role in the tangled Spanish and French marriage negotiations, his championship of the Huguenots, and his attempts to thwart the dangerous ambitions of Richelieu. Buckingham's was a stormy and dramatic career, ending, appropriately enough, with an assassin's dagger in Portsmouth, and Roger Lockyer has the narrative skill to do justice to it. This is not only an important book; it is also a magnificently readable one.
When, in 1972, the distinguished American historian, Professor T. K. Rabb, writing in the American Historical Review about early seventeenth-century studies, observed that 'few major areas of historical research have been laid so bare, with biographies of most of the leading actors also available', he added that 'The one grievous lacuna is a biography of the Duke of Buckingham, and unpleasant and lifelong project that thus far nobody has been wiling to undertake.' The mixture of regret and distaste has characterized much of the modern reaction to Buckingham. Yet Mr Lockyer, in triumphantly undertaking the task, has brought not only scholarship but also sympathy to his reinterpretation of Buckingham and his career; and he reveals to us in detail for the first time a man who, though certainly flawed and complex, was nevertheless a far more weighty and considerable personality, and a more significant statesman, than historians hitherto have been willing to allow.
Although Mr Lockyer deals with Buckingham's family relationships, his personal finances and his activities as a great patron of the arts, his is not simply a biography of Buckingham the man. It is also the first full-length study to take Buckingham seriously as a statesman and to assess his importance as one of the major figures in the complex pattern of European policy-making at the opening of the Thirty Years War. It is based upon extensive research in original sources, not only in England but also in France and Spain, and it shows the shallowness of the traditional view of Buckingham as an unprincipled adventurer.
As well as analysing Buckingham's policies and assessing their validity and effectiveness, Roger Lockyer unravels the fascinating story of his rise to power, his relations with James I and Charles I, his central role in the tangled Spanish and French marriage negotiations, his championship of the Huguenots, and his attempts to thwart the dangerous ambitions of Richelieu. Buckingham's was a stormy and dramatic career, ending, appropriately enough, with an assassin's dagger in Portsmouth, and Roger Lockyer has the narrative skill to do justice to it. This is not only an important book; it is also a magnificently readable one.
When, in 1972, the distinguished American historian, Professor T. K. Rabb, writing in the American Historical Review about early seventeenth-century studies, observed that 'few major areas of historical research have been laid so bare, with biographies of most of the leading actors also available', he added that 'The one grievous lacuna is a biography of the Duke of Buckingham, and unpleasant and lifelong project that thus far nobody has been wiling to undertake.' The mixture of regret and distaste has characterized much of the modern reaction to Buckingham. Yet Mr Lockyer, in triumphantly undertaking the task, has brought not only scholarship but also sympathy to his reinterpretation of Buckingham and his career; and he reveals to us in detail for the first time a man who, though certainly flawed and complex, was nevertheless a far more weighty and considerable personality, and a more significant statesman, than historians hitherto have been willing to allow.
506 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 1981
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About the author
Roger Lockyer
22 books9 followersA specialist in the history of Tudor & Stuart England, Roger Lockyer was reader in history at Royal Holloway, University of London.
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
August 5, 2024
Buckingham: The Life and Political Career of George Villiers, First Duke of Buckingham, 1592-1628 was first published in 1981. It is, to my mind, the first and unfortunately also the last proper examination of Villiers' personality and career from an unbiased perspective. Lockyer takes Villiers seriously as a politician and a statesman, subtly (and correctly, in my opinion) implying that much of the prejudice which has historically clung to interpretations of his person have stemmed from homophobia. The book is very dense with an incredible level of political detail summarised, often on a day-by-day basis. This can make for a heavy reading experience at times, but as a thorough reappraisal of Buckingham's character and career, it's unmatched. Highly recommended for the seriously interested.
November 4, 2016
The career, life and death of George Villiers, 1st Duke of Buckingham was often viewed with most historians of Early Modern Britain with distaste, not only for the sheer tawdriness of it all, but also the fact that someone whose career (at least at the start) was essentially based on the judicious use of the casting couch was able to work himself into a position of European power, wealth and influence, simply did not fit comfortably into the narrative of the rise of parliament that continues to dominate the historiography of the seventeenth century, and was for many the type of ancient regime excess that needed to be swept away for the sake of progress and liberty.
Lockyer, unlike so many other authors does not have the same disdain for the Duke as many other historians have had, a disdain that Lockyer subtly implies is mostly homophobic and based on a misunderstanding of the nature of 17th century court politics.* Although there wasn't anything unusual about favorites in the courts and government of early modern Europe, its a historical phenomenon that's not well understood or easy to warm to by modern standards. With both in mind there wasn't anything inherently unusual about Buckinghams rise to wealth and power, as the court was the main arena of power in this period and parliament was often an extension of the feuds and battles for patronage of the monarch. Buckingham was very good at playing the system to his own advantage, and had the good fortune to be able to have not one but two kings in a row to patronise him (a rare feat that I haven't seen repeated elsewhere), and that he had skills in managing both patronage and administration. Lockyer also explains, with varying levels of success that most of the military and political failures blamed on him were the failures of a financial and s military system that was no longer fit for purpose. I'm not entirely sold on a number of the ideas that Lockyer puts forward, such as the perceived overarching vision of Buckingham's policies, or his good faith and intentions on a number of controversial points, but its a definite improvement to the outright vilification that was often his lot in the historical literature.
This was published back in 1981 and it's time for another biography of Buckingham to take into account all the revision of the era and the period. Until this happens this is the best look at a figure who often gets neglected in the serious historical literature,
* Its probably worthwhile to point out here that Lockyer himself is gay and his now husband is to whom the book is dedicated.
Lockyer, unlike so many other authors does not have the same disdain for the Duke as many other historians have had, a disdain that Lockyer subtly implies is mostly homophobic and based on a misunderstanding of the nature of 17th century court politics.* Although there wasn't anything unusual about favorites in the courts and government of early modern Europe, its a historical phenomenon that's not well understood or easy to warm to by modern standards. With both in mind there wasn't anything inherently unusual about Buckinghams rise to wealth and power, as the court was the main arena of power in this period and parliament was often an extension of the feuds and battles for patronage of the monarch. Buckingham was very good at playing the system to his own advantage, and had the good fortune to be able to have not one but two kings in a row to patronise him (a rare feat that I haven't seen repeated elsewhere), and that he had skills in managing both patronage and administration. Lockyer also explains, with varying levels of success that most of the military and political failures blamed on him were the failures of a financial and s military system that was no longer fit for purpose. I'm not entirely sold on a number of the ideas that Lockyer puts forward, such as the perceived overarching vision of Buckingham's policies, or his good faith and intentions on a number of controversial points, but its a definite improvement to the outright vilification that was often his lot in the historical literature.
This was published back in 1981 and it's time for another biography of Buckingham to take into account all the revision of the era and the period. Until this happens this is the best look at a figure who often gets neglected in the serious historical literature,
* Its probably worthwhile to point out here that Lockyer himself is gay and his now husband is to whom the book is dedicated.
November 9, 2011
I will get round to writing a proper review of this book at some point when I have time (ie when I have fewer books in need of reading). I did enjoy it and as someone said -- a modern appraisal of Buckingham was much needed.
I did have some problems with it upon which I elaborate later.
However, the one paragraph that sticks in my mind that did not ring true was when he stated that James VI and I was "timorous and frightened of Parliament". Hmmm -- not the impression that I have.
I did have some problems with it upon which I elaborate later.
However, the one paragraph that sticks in my mind that did not ring true was when he stated that James VI and I was "timorous and frightened of Parliament". Hmmm -- not the impression that I have.
May 26, 2024
A true great detailed biography
This is a fine biography of the Duke of Buckingham who began as James I lover and eventually became the 2nd most powerful man in the land to both James I and Charles I. Serious and political history not a history of George’s bedroom adventures. If you are interested in the history of one who functioned as Prime minister long before the term was coined this is it.
This is a fine biography of the Duke of Buckingham who began as James I lover and eventually became the 2nd most powerful man in the land to both James I and Charles I. Serious and political history not a history of George’s bedroom adventures. If you are interested in the history of one who functioned as Prime minister long before the term was coined this is it.
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews