History Extra podcast Mary of Modena: life of the week
Aug 11, 2025
Cultural historian Breeze Barrington, author of 'The Graces', dives into the intriguing life of Mary of Modena, the wife of King James II of England. She shares how this Italian princess transitioned from convent life to the stormy royal court, amid anti-Catholic sentiment and personal tragedy. Breeze highlights Mary’s resilience as she faced marriage pressures and the challenges of motherhood. The conversation also touches on Mary's artistic patronage and her enduring legacy after exile, revealing the complexities of her royal journey.
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Turbulent Restoration Court
- Maria arrived into an unsettled Restoration England under Charles II.
- The court celebrated the Restoration even as the monarchy's future felt fragile.
Pope-Ordered Marriage
- At 15 Maria wanted to be a nun but the Pope ordered her to marry James and produce Catholic heirs.
- She left Modena as a papal instrument for restoring Catholic succession in England.
A Shocked Bride At Dover
- James greeted Maria at Dover by grabbing and kissing her, which overwhelmed the young bride.
- Maria, unaccustomed to men, burst into tears and entered a hostile English court.
