Elizabeth Stuart, princess of Scotland, England and Ireland, known as the "pearl of kingdom", was born in August 19th, precisely at 2 o'clock in the morning in Fife. She was the oldest daughter of King James VI of Scotland and his wife, Queen Anne of Denmark. Born in 1596, she was not yet the princess of England, her father ruling only Scotland so far. Named after the English Queen Elizabeth, she was also a granddaughter of Mary, Queen of Scots, executed years before her birth.
In Scotland, she was put under the care of Lord Livingstone, growing up at the Linlith Gow Castle. Once her father became King of England as well in 1603, she left Scotland with her favourite and older brother Henry, Prince of Wales. There, she stayed with Lord Harington, where she continued her education and established a long-term friendship with Lady Anne Dudley.
When she was twelve years old, she was said to have influence on French, Italian and other languages. Her education included natural history, theology, music, writing, dancing, geography, etc; very proper to a lady of her rank. When she was only nine years old, Gunpowder Plot's conspiracy planned to crown her as a Catholic Queen of the three realms (Scotland, England and Ireland) and manipulate her life, as well as destroying Parliament, but King James managed to stop such plan to occur it.
At the age of fifteen, Elizabeth Stuart had several suitors. Her beauty and wit were very appealing, but a marriage of the oldest daughter of James VI of Scotland and I of England was a great deal, especially on the behalf of the Stuart Dynasty, since, unlike Queen Elizabeth, James had heirs and important matches concerning the importance of the realms he ruled was something he wanted to achieve. Of these suitors, there can be said there were quite some variety: from the heir of Swedish kingdom to King Philip III of Spain, this latter being favoured to Anne of Denmark for her sympathy to Catholicism. But it was James's desire to support the Protestant cause so he eventually chose Frederick, heir to the Palatinate. But this choice would find the Queen's opposition, since she strongly believed he was of a lower rank than her daughter's. Nevertheless, in May 16th 1612, the match was signed.
Her relationship with Prince Henry of Wales would as well be seen there, as apparently her brother helped in the choice of a Protestant husband for her. As a matter of fact, Henry was so Protestant that he eventually influenced his sister in taking the cause of Protestantism against Catholicism, as seen in letters exchanged between them. Whilst speaking Latin was not expected ladies to do, Henry would help Elizabeth with her Italian, since that was a language he was excellent at. When Frederick arrived in England, his relationship with Henry was one of very good friends, which pleased Elizabeth very much. But Henry's death would have a very sad effect to the Kingdom and to Elizabeth's life as well, for in 1612 she was second in the line on the throne. Again, Queen Anne attempted to break the engagement but Elizabeth refused, for she "stood by Frederick, whom her brother had approved, and whom she found to have the sentiments of a fine gentleman. Above all, he was 'regarded as the future head of the Protestant interest in Germany'"
On February 14th 1613, the marriage finally happened, at Whitehall Palace. "Three days beforehand, an incredible fireworks display was held on the Thames and on the afternoon before an impressive mock sea battle involving thirty-eight vessels took place on the river. Masques were performed and plays and poems celebrated the union as a victory over 'the evils of popery'." Apparently, the young match was very popular, with people going out to celebrate it. Below, we have a description of how Elizabeth was dressed and the moment she took her vows:
"The bride was dressed in cloth of silver lined with taffeta, with a crown of "immense value" on her head. Sixteen noble bridesmaids, dressed in white stain, carried her train. Her hair hung in plaits down to her waist, and between every plait was "a roll of gold spangles, pearls, rich stones and diamonds... Many diamonds of inestimable value were embroidered upon her sleeves which even dazzled and amazed the eyes of all the beholders." Elizabeth was apparently overcome with adolescent laughter as she took her vows. For almost two months the couple were feted and feasted in the capital. They eventually set out on the journey to their palace in Heidelberg, sailing from Margate to Vlissingen, in Holland." But through their journey, where they had long stops, the popular couple were entertained at different courts with musicians, artists, other nobles's presence, having received gifts until they were welcomed as family by Frederick's uncle,
In January 1st, 1614, Henry Frederick, first of the fourteen children of the couple, was born. Named after Elizabeth's brother, he would not live for long, unfortunately dying years later by drowning. Another important even would happen years later, when Elizabeth Stuart was crowned Queen of Bohemia next to her husband, who became Frederick V of Bohemia. This happened because it was feared the Catholics would take power, which eventually happened when Emperor Ferdinand II seized their throne.
Living in exile for thirty years, Elizabeth would not give up her claim to the throne easily. Sending miniatures to their supporters, she would fight for her life to have her children's titles back. In Hague, where they settled, she became to be known as Winter Queen and as the Queen of Hearts. Whilst sending letters to every possible supporter she could arrange, we come to find that her father and later Charles I, her brother, refused to help her by any chance, so her cause seemed lost for a while. But Elizabeth would still restlessly fight for her cause and the Protestant's, having received the name of "Helen of Germany" by the Catholics. As said here: "Lobbying, bargaining, negotiating and cajoling, she was a major player during a particularly unsettled period of European history".
With her husband's death, "Elizabeth, devastated on hearing the news (...), became senseless with grief and for three days was reported to be unable to eat, drink or sleep. When her brother, now King Charles I heard of her sad plight, he invited her to return to England, she turned his offer down, preferring to remain and push the rights of her son and Fredercik's heir Charles Louis. Charles Louis regained the Electorate of the Palatinate in 1648, but Elizabeth remained in exile in The Hague". Once her son was then reestablished at the Electorate of the Palatinate, Elizabeth remain in Holland, but it was not until her nephew Charles II's restoration in 1660, that she would return to England.
The day Elizabeth Stuart, the Winter Queen, previously the pearl of the kingdoms of Scotland, England and Ireland, left this world was the thirteenth day of february, the year being 1662. At her funeral, only Rupert, her (most famous) son, appeared and she is buried in Henry VII's chapel, in Westminster Abbey. It was written of Elizabeth:
"A survivor of an earlier age, isolated and without a country she could really call her own, was laid to rest among her ancestors and close to her beloved elder brother, Henry, Prince of Wales."
But in her coffin you can find this written:
"The remains of the Most Serene and Puissant Princess Elizabeth, Queen of Bohemia, relict of Frederick, by the grace of God King of Bohemia, Chief Steward and Elector Palatine of the Holy Roman Empire, only daughter of James, sister of Charles I and aunt of Charles, the second of that name, kings of Great Britain, France and Ireland. She fell asleep most piously in the Lord at Leicester House, on Thursday 13 Feb., year of Christ's Nativity 1661 in the 66th year of her age"
Elizabeth's youngest daughter, Sophia, was married into the House of Hanover and her son, George would succeed Anne Stuart as King of England, Scotland and Ireland. She is, then, the ancestor of the current royal family, ruling in Britain.
Sources: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elizabeth_Stuart,_Queen_of_Bohemia
http://www.englishmonarchs.co.uk/stuart_28.html
http://www.westminster-abbey.org/our-history/people/elizabeth-stuart,-queen-of-bohemia
http://www.historytoday.com/richard-cavendish/marriage-winter-queen
http://www.bbc.com/news/magazine-21532311
http://www.britannica.com/biography/Elizabeth-Stuart
http://www.vam.ac.uk/blog/creating-new-europe-1600-1800-galleries/born-on-this-day-the-winter-queen-elizabeth-stuart-queen-of-bohemia
http://englishhistoryauthors.blogspot.com.br/2015/03/a-princess-most-royal-elizabeth-stuart.html
https://books.google.com.br/books?id=yoNnAAAAMAAJ&pg=PA361&lpg=PA361&dq=elizabeth+stuart+queen+of+bohemia&source=bl&ots=NiGA4EL-7J&sig=zqEzSBSi7JQIA_mDhALZVwBw474&hl=pt-PT&sa=X&ved=0CEoQ6AEwCzgKahUKEwiPmNP_5dTIAhVKkJAKHeGgBmw#v=onepage&q=elizabeth%20stuart%20queen%20of%20bohemia&f=false
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