{"product_id":"mary-of-modena-james-iis-dazzling-queen-hardcover","title":"Mary of Modena: James II's Dazzling Queen - Hardcover","description":"\u003cdiv\u003e\u003cp style=\"text-align: right;\"\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/reportcopyrightinfringement.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eReport copyright infringement\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\u003cp\u003eby \u003cb\u003eJustine Brown\u003c\/b\u003e (Author)\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe 1688 \"Glorious Revolution\" that toppled James II and VII also veiled his consort in propaganda. Mary of Modena: James II's Dazzling Queen reveals the extraordinary woman beneath. Lovely and spirited, Mary Beatrice Isabella d'Este is also England's sole Italian queen. Her father came from an ancient line, while her mother was one of Cardinal Mazarin's seven famed nieces (the \"Mazarinettes\").\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eMary Beatrice learned the rudiments of governance at her widowed mother's knee, and would one day act as regent of the Stuart court-in-exile--first for King James, then for their son, James Francis Edward. \"The Queen over the Water\" would shine as a beacon for the Jacobite cause.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eOnce, Mary Beatrice longed to be a nun. Instead, the young woman had to accept a different mission--marriage to James Duke of York, heir to the thrones of England, Scotland, and Ireland. Although James's conversion to Catholicism made their marriage possible, it set off a firestorm of controversy in the mysterious northern realm.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThe story of the British Isles was romantic, but the reality was jarring. Thrown into the frenzy of Restoration politics, Mary Beatrice met each fresh episode courageously. Charles II adored his sister-in-law, but MPs strove to annul the \"Italian match\" before it could be consummated. She and James fell in love, but his philandering nearly broke her.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eBuilding on Este tradition, Mary Beatrice won over the common folk, inspired poets and painters, introduced Italian opera, and drew talented ladies to court. She also attracted her flamboyant Mazarinette cousin Hortense Mancini to England, where she joined King Charles's harem.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eUltimately, James and Mary Beatrice were coronated with great ceremony, but their troubles were only just beginning. For the first time in English history, it looked like the birth of a healthy prince might actually destroy the monarchy instead of strengthening it...\u003c\/p\u003e\n            \u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eNumber of Pages:\u003c\/strong\u003e 208\u003c\/div\u003e\n            \u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003ePublication Date:\u003c\/strong\u003e January 30, 2026\u003c\/div\u003e\n            ","brand":"BooksCloud","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":45776869195973,"sku":"9781036117122","price":57.49,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0757\/6718\/5605\/files\/waCCArTTDQ9781036117122.webp?v=1770553411","url":"https:\/\/selloorium.com\/products\/mary-of-modena-james-iis-dazzling-queen-hardcover","provider":"Selloorium","version":"1.0","type":"link"}