George I - audio

I am Georg Ludwig, Elector of Hanover, and I have recently also been crowned King George I of Great Britain and Ireland.

I have had a long wait for the British throne. In the year seventeen hundred and one my mother Sophia was named as heir to Queen Anne. My grandmother Elizabeth was the daughter of King James VI of Scotland and I of England, making us the true Protestant heirs of this kingdom. But my mother did not always understand the situation. She wanted to get involved in British politics, and even to come and live in England. I knew, however, that to do so would be to anger Queen Anne and perhaps even to endanger our succession.

Now my mother Sophia and Queen Anne are both dead, and I inherited the throne without difficulty. It will take a little time to come to know this country, and to speak their language. I am determined to remove from power those Tories who made peace with Louis XIV of France, and who may even be sympathetic to James, the Catholic Pretender. I will replace them with the Whig politicians who have been loyal to the House of Hanover.

Now James Stuart, the Catholic Pretender, seeks to raise a rebellion and seize my throne, but I have no fear of him. I am a great military commander and I will ensure I have loyal colonels ready to defeat him.

Soon all will be peaceful, and I will be able to visit my beloved Hanover once more.