The Real House of the Dragon: The Jacobites & Hanoverians?

House of the Dragon season two will be available on Sky and NOW in the UK from 17 June

Although many have posited?that the wars between the Targaryen family branches resembles the Wars of the Roses, which it?does to an extent, but, I see the struggle between the Jacobite Stuarts and the House of Brunswick-Lüneburg, Hanover line as far more appropriate.

Why?

The involvement?of mothers (Mary & Anne) against the ousted?father (James), whose booted line has more legitimacy?than the Germanic interlopers who were akin to the later Baratheons (King Robert being a quarter-Targaryen through his grandmother Rhaelle) in having a smidgeon of the Stuart blood.

The Old Jacobite Pretender - James Francis Edward Stuart, could easily have become monarch after the death of his Auntie Anne in 1714, but refused to become a Protestant (a bit like the Bourbon Henri, Comte de Chambord in France in the 1870s who wouldn't give up the traditional house flag for the Tricolour and?thus forfeiting likely restoration).

This set in train doomed attempts by the Stuarts to reclaim the throne throughout the first 60 years of the 18th century - the real last chance was 1759, when the French were planning the failed invasion of England during The Seven Years War. In fact, The Young Pretender (Bonnie Prince Charlie) had slipped back into England and converted to Protestantism a decade earlier, but to little public effect.?

Charles travelled to Paris in early 1771? to discuss the possibility of a Jacobite invasion, but was so plastered the discussions were soon abandoned.

Rather than Green or Black (and, of course dragons), the warring cousins were represented by the following symbols:

The 'Sachsenross' ('Saxon Steed') White Horse of Hanover (GoT's House Bracken of Stone Hedge - below, boasted a red horse as their sigil)

The House of Stuart - Red Lion Rampant (similar to the Lannister Lion below)

By the regency and reign of Prinny/George IV*, the Jacobite Stuarts acquired an air of romantic hopelessness and the King had supported financially the last direct heir - Henry Benedict Cardinal Duke of York (BPC' s younger brother). So much so, that Cardinal York bequeathed to the Prince of Wales a diamond cross which had been worn by Charles I, and a ring which had once been part of the ancient royal regalia of the Stuart kings.

Of course, the failure of the Jacobite cause was due to their general military uselessness and inconstancy of their would-be French and Spanish allies.

All the Stuart risings (1689, 1689-91, 1715, 1718, 1745-46) ended badly for them, especially the final defeat at Culloden Moor on 6th April 1746:

Today the Jacobite cause amazingly continues, in the shape of the Royal Stuart Society who acknowledge Francis, Duke of Bavaria as head of the the Royal House, much good it does them.

'We are a monarchist and traditionalist organisation whose basis is defined in our objectives which are:

1) to be open to all who have an interest in the members of the Royal House of Stuart, their descendants and supporters

2) to promote research in and further knowledge of Stuart history

3) to uphold rightful Monarchy and oppose republicanism

4) to arrange such commemorations, lectures and other activities as shall advance these objects.'

The Governor-General of the RSS is Murray Beauclerk, 14th Duke of St. Albans, descendant of Stuart monarch King Charles II and his orange-flogging actress mistress, Nell Gwyn, through their illegitimate son, Charles Beauclerk, 1st Duke of St. Albans. Charles Beauclerk, Earl of Burford, is also a Vice-President of the Society. Thereby confirming the general uselessness of the titled classes.

Check out their aims, events, and other shenanigans on their website;

*In 1819, Prince Regent subscribed a substantial sum for the completion of a memorial in Rome the last of the Stuarts

A previous New Statesman piece of mine, in a similar vein: