Episode 12: What Did the Stuarts Do For Us?

For better or for worse, the Stuart dynasty dominated the 17th-century English political landscape - with inevitable consequences for Scotland, Ireland and wider parts of a nascent empire. History's verdict on the Stuart monarchs is uncertain. Their absolutist inclinations led to Civil War, yet under Stuart leadership the century's turmoils resolved themselves in a way that left Britain stable and well-placed to grow in the following decades. In this episode Paul and Miranda reassess the Stuart monarchs' respective achievements, reflect on their legacy, and ask the key question - did positive long-term developments come about because of the Stuarts, or despite them? '1666 and All That' is presented by Miranda Malins and Paul Lay. The producer is Hugh Costello. Original music is by George Taylor. The episode was mixed by Sam Gunn.