New Delhi: The world history is replete with many great rulers who have left behind an immortal legacy. However, most of them were male and especially, in the subcontinent, none of the emperors were female. Well, it will be incorrect to say none, for there was one woman who became the Empress of India and ruled on her own rights. The legacy of Queen Victoria, one of the greatest monarchs in the history of the United Kingdom, is written in golden letters to be remembered for posterity and one we will take a look at in this article.
Queen Victoria: The monarch who ruled over the British Empire
Becoming queen at a young age
Born on May 24, 1819, at London’s Kensington Palace, Victoria was the only daughter of Edward, Duke of Kent, fourth son of George III. She lost her father shortly after her birth and became the heir to the throne. Why? Because her three uncles ahead of her in line of succession had no legitimate surviving children.
A diary and a painter
Victoria was a lively person who was a talented painter. She received her education at home and was fond of keeping diaries, which is evident from the fact that she kept a regular journal all her life. After the death of William IV who succeeded his elder brother George IV, Victoria became the Queen of the UK in 1837. At that time, she was just 18 years old.
The influence of two men
Queen Victoria became the ruler of the UK at a time when the British Empire was rapidly expanding its boundaries and colonies. By the time she died, the British Empire had become the largest empire in history and it was said that sun never set on it. During the early years of her reign, two men influenced her greatly. They were Prime Minister Lord Melbourne and her husband Prince Albert whom she married in 1840. They taught her the ways to become a ruler in a ‘constitutional monarchy’.
Depression and dressed in black
Queen Victoria and Prince Albert were deeply in love with each other. Hence, after his death in 1861 at the age of 42, Victoria sank into depression. She had lost a devoted husband and her principal trusted adviser. She wore black for the rest of her reign.
The Empress of India
Queen Victoria was initially a ruler who did not like to make public appearances, a trait which changed in the second half of her reign. Her popularity increased after the 1870s due to imperial sentiment and after the 1857 Indian Rebellion, the power of the country was transferred from the East India Company to the Crown. In 1877, Queen Victoria was proclaimed the Empress of India.
A charitable conservative
Queen Victoria was a strong supporter of the empire and was conservative in some aspects, like opposing women’s right to vote. However, she also worked for the poor and implemented favourable measures for their benefits like the Royal Commission on housing. She was involved in many charities regarding hospitals, education, etc.
The death and legacy
Queen Victoria passed away on January 22, 1901, after a reign which lasted almost 64 year. She left behind a legacy of a ruler who oversaw the growth and consolidation of the British Empire, the largest in history. The tenure of her reign is known as Victorian Age, as Great Britain advanced in every sphere under her rule. She ruled with a strong sense of morality and made an immortal mark on the world history.
Queen Victoria, ascending the throne at 18, oversaw the British Empire’s expansion into the largest in history. Influenced by Lord Melbourne and Prince Albert, she learned the intricacies of constitutional monarchy. Her reign, marked by deep grief after Albert’s death, saw her proclaimed Empress of India in 1877. knowledge Knowledge News, Photos and Videos on General Knowledge
