Royalty's Burden Begins

Henrietta Maria, Dowager Queen of England and daughter of France, sits in her French château, reflecting on a life marked by tragedy, political upheaval, and personal regret. She is haunted by the execution of her husband, King Charles I, and wonders if her own actions contributed to his downfall. The restoration of her son, Charles II, to the English throne brings her little comfort, as she feels the weight of her past and the isolation of her present. The narrative is set as a memoir, with Henrietta seeking to understand the forces—personal, political, and religious—that shaped her fate and that of her family.

Childhood in a Divided France

Henrietta's early years are shaped by the assassination of her father, Henri IV of France, and the regency of her Italian mother, Marie de Médicis. The French court is a place of intrigue, religious conflict, and shifting alliances. Henrietta grows up in a nursery filled with siblings and under the stern guidance of Madame de Montglat and the affectionate Mamie. She learns early about the dangers and privileges of royalty, the importance of Catholic faith, and the precariousness of power. Her childhood is marked by the loss of her father, the political machinations of her mother, and the looming expectation that she will one day be married for the sake of dynastic alliance.

A Queen's Unwanted Arrival

Henrietta is married off to Charles I of England, a union designed to cement an alliance between Catholic France and Protestant England. She arrives in England as a foreigner, young, devoutly Catholic, and unprepared for the coldness of the English court and the hostility of her new subjects. Her French retinue, especially her beloved Mamie, becomes a source of tension with Charles and his advisors. The couple's early years are fraught with misunderstandings, cultural clashes, and the ever-present pressure to produce an heir. Henrietta's faith and foreignness make her an object of suspicion, and her inability to adapt quickly sows seeds of discord in her marriage and at court.

Discord and Exile in England

Henrietta's insistence on maintaining her French household and Catholic practices leads to increasing friction with Charles and his court, especially with the powerful Duke of Buckingham. The English public resents her influence and her religion, and Charles, under pressure, eventually sends her French attendants—including Mamie—back to France. This act devastates Henrietta, deepening her sense of isolation and alienation. The couple's relationship, however, begins to improve in the absence of her French companions, and they find a measure of happiness together, even as political and religious tensions in England intensify.

Faith, Power, and Marriage

Henrietta and Charles's marriage is a complex blend of genuine affection, religious difference, and political necessity. Henrietta is determined to convert Charles and England to Catholicism, while Charles, though loving, is bound by his role as a Protestant king. Their personal happiness is repeatedly undermined by external pressures: the need for an heir, the machinations of courtiers, and the growing unrest among the English people. The birth of their children brings joy but also new anxieties, as questions of religious upbringing and succession loom large.

The Shadow of Buckingham

The Duke of Buckingham, Charles's favorite, becomes a central figure in the royal household, wielding immense influence and provoking jealousy and suspicion. Henrietta's relationship with Buckingham is fraught; she sees him as a rival for Charles's affection and as a political threat. Buckingham's assassination removes a divisive presence but also leaves Charles vulnerable and grieving. In the aftermath, Henrietta and Charles grow closer, united by loss and the challenges of rule, but the seeds of future conflict have already been sown.

Religion and Royal Strife

Henrietta's Catholicism remains a source of controversy and conflict. Her efforts to promote Catholic worship and influence her children's religious upbringing alarm the Protestant establishment and fuel anti-Catholic sentiment. Parliament and the public grow increasingly hostile, seeing her as a dangerous foreign influence. The couple's attempts to balance personal faith with political necessity only deepen the divisions at court and in the country, setting the stage for greater turmoil.

The Road to Civil War

As Charles's rule becomes more autocratic and Parliament resists his authority, England edges toward civil war. Henrietta's involvement in political intrigue—her attempts to secure foreign support, her influence over Charles, and her perceived role in unpopular policies—make her a target for blame. The execution of the Earl of Strafford, whom Charles is pressured to sacrifice, marks a point of no return. Henrietta's efforts to save Strafford fail, and the king's decision to sign the death warrant is a personal and political tragedy that foreshadows the coming conflict.

The King's Fatal Decision

Civil war erupts, and Henrietta is forced to flee England to seek support for Charles's cause. Her journey to the Continent is perilous and ultimately fruitless; she pawns the crown jewels, negotiates with foreign powers, and endures personal hardship, but is unable to secure the aid needed to turn the tide. Meanwhile, Charles's position deteriorates, and he is eventually captured, tried, and executed. Henrietta, in exile, is consumed by grief and guilt, convinced that her actions contributed to his fate.

Flight, Loss, and Exile

Henrietta's life in exile is marked by poverty, loss, and the struggle to keep her family together. She is separated from her children, some of whom die young or are held captive by the new regime. Her efforts to convert her children to Catholicism create further rifts, especially with her sons Charles and Henry. The restoration of Charles II brings some measure of vindication, but Henrietta's relationships with her surviving children are strained by years of conflict, disappointment, and differing priorities.

A Queen Without a Country

The return of Charles II to the throne is a bittersweet victory for Henrietta. She is welcomed back to England but finds herself a stranger in a changed world. Her influence is diminished, her children are independent, and the court is rife with new intrigues and scandals. The marriage of her son James to Anne Hyde, a commoner, and the deaths of her other children deepen her sense of loss and frustration. Henrietta retreats to France, where she finds solace in religion and the company of her youngest daughter, Henriette.

Children of Sorrow

Henrietta's later years are marked by disappointment in her children's choices and the fading of her dynastic ambitions. Her attempts to arrange advantageous marriages for her daughter Henriette are thwarted by politics and personal rivalries. The deaths of her children Elizabeth, Henry, and Mary, and the estrangement from James, leave her increasingly isolated. Only Henriette remains a source of comfort, but even her happiness is marred by an unhappy marriage and court intrigue.

Restoration and Regret

Henrietta's final visit to England is overshadowed by the scandals and disappointments of her children's lives. She is forced to accept James's marriage to Anne Hyde and the presence of Charles's mistresses at court. The deaths of her children and the failure of her hopes for Henriette's marriage to Louis XIV leave her with a sense of futility. She returns to France, where she finds some peace in her religious devotions and the quiet of her country estate.

Henriette's Last Hope

Henrietta's last years are brightened by the marriage of her daughter Henriette to Philippe, Duke of Orléans, brother of Louis XIV. For a time, Henriette is the star of the French court, admired for her beauty, wit, and charm. But her happiness is short-lived; her marriage is troubled, and she dies young, leaving her mother bereft. Henrietta's hopes for her family's future are finally extinguished.

The End of a Dynasty

As Henrietta's health declines, she retreats to her estate at Colombes, surrounded by memories and regrets. She reflects on the choices she made, the tragedies she endured, and the lessons of her life. The deaths of her children, the loss of her husband, and the collapse of her dynastic ambitions weigh heavily on her. She finds some solace in religion and the company of loyal friends, but her final years are marked by loneliness and introspection.

Reflections at Colombes

In her last days, Henrietta is haunted by questions of guilt and responsibility. She wonders if her pride, her faith, and her inability to compromise contributed to the downfall of her husband and the suffering of her family. She seeks forgiveness and peace, but is never fully reconciled to her fate. Her death is quiet and unremarked by the world she once sought to shape. In the end, she is left with her memories, her regrets, and the hope that history will judge her kindly.

Characters

Henrietta Maria

Henrietta Maria is the central figure of the narrative—a French princess who becomes Queen of England through her marriage to Charles I. Raised in a divided and dangerous court, she is fiercely Catholic, passionate, and often impulsive. Her foreignness and faith make her an object of suspicion in England, and her inability to adapt quickly to her new country sows discord in her marriage and at court. Henrietta is both loving and domineering, devoted to her husband and children but often unable to see the consequences of her actions. Her life is marked by loss, exile, and regret, and she spends her final years reflecting on her failures and seeking redemption.

Charles I

Charles I is portrayed as a loving husband and father, deeply religious, and committed to the principle of divine right. He is reserved, indecisive, and often out of touch with the realities of his kingdom. His reliance on favorites like Buckingham, his inability to compromise, and his devotion to his Catholic wife contribute to his downfall. Charles's execution is the central tragedy of the narrative, and his memory haunts Henrietta for the rest of her life.

Mamie (Mademoiselle de Montglat)

Mamie is Henrietta's beloved governess and later her closest friend and confidante. She provides warmth, wisdom, and stability in Henrietta's tumultuous life. Mamie's departure from England is a devastating loss for Henrietta, symbolizing the end of her childhood and the beginning of her isolation. Mamie's influence lingers throughout the narrative, representing the comfort and security that Henrietta can never fully regain.

George Villiers, Duke of Buckingham

Buckingham is Charles I's closest advisor and friend, wielding immense power at court. He is charming, ambitious, and resented by many, including Henrietta. His rivalry with the queen and his influence over Charles create tension and conflict. Buckingham's assassination removes a key player from the royal household, but his legacy of intrigue and division endures.

Lucy Hay, Countess of Carlisle

Lucy Hay is a brilliant and enigmatic figure at court, admired for her beauty and wit. She becomes a close friend to Henrietta but ultimately betrays her by revealing the king's plans to Parliament. Lucy's shifting loyalties and ambiguous motives reflect the treacherous world of court intrigue and the difficulty of distinguishing friend from foe.

Charles II

Henrietta's eldest son, Charles II, is shaped by exile, loss, and the example of his father's fate. He is witty, adaptable, and less principled than his father, determined never to "go wandering again." Charles's restoration to the throne is a personal triumph but also a source of disappointment for Henrietta, as he proves unwilling to fulfill her religious and dynastic ambitions.

James, Duke of York (James II)

James is Henrietta's second son, known for his impetuousness and romantic entanglements. His secret marriage to Anne Hyde, a commoner, is a source of scandal and conflict with his mother. James's conversion to Catholicism and eventual ascension to the throne as James II are foreshadowed by his complex relationship with faith and family.

Henriette (Minette), Duchesse d'Orléans

Henrietta's youngest and favorite child, Henriette (Minette), is raised in exile and becomes a celebrated figure at the French court. Her marriage to Philippe, Duke of Orléans, is both a triumph and a disappointment, as she finds little happiness in her personal life. Henriette's early death is the final blow to her mother's hopes and affections.

Cardinal Mazarin

Mazarin is the powerful minister who guides France during the regency of Anne of Austria. He is shrewd, cautious, and more concerned with the interests of France than with Henrietta's personal struggles. Mazarin's support is crucial but always conditional, reflecting the realpolitik of European diplomacy.

Anne of Austria

Anne is Henrietta's sister-in-law and a source of comfort and support during her years in exile. As regent for her son Louis XIV, Anne is generous but also realistic about the limits of her power and the demands of politics. Her friendship with Henrietta is one of the few enduring relationships in the queen's life.

Plot Devices

Memoir Structure and Retrospective Voice

The novel is structured as a retrospective memoir, with Henrietta Maria narrating her life from the vantage point of old age. This device allows for reflection, self-criticism, and the exploration of memory and regret. The narrative is colored by hindsight, with Henrietta questioning her choices and seeking to understand the forces that shaped her destiny. The memoir format also enables the blending of personal and historical events, creating a sense of intimacy and immediacy.

Foreshadowing and Irony

Throughout the narrative, there is a strong sense of foreshadowing, as Henrietta and other characters anticipate disaster or reflect on missed opportunities. The irony of her hopes for her children, her efforts to convert England, and her belief in the power of royalty is underscored by the eventual collapse of her ambitions. The use of prophecy, dreams, and omens reinforces the sense of inevitable tragedy.

Court Intrigue and Betrayal

The novel is filled with plots, counterplots, and betrayals, both personal and political. The shifting loyalties of courtiers, the machinations of favorites like Buckingham and Lucy Hay, and the ever-present threat of espionage create an atmosphere of suspicion and danger. These devices highlight the precariousness of power and the difficulty of distinguishing friend from foe.

Religious Conflict as Central Theme

Religious difference is the central axis around which much of the plot turns. Henrietta's Catholicism is both a source of personal strength and the root of her alienation in England. The struggle to convert her husband, children, and country shapes her actions and relationships, and the failure to reconcile faith and politics is a key factor in the downfall of the monarchy.

Maternal Love and Dynastic Ambition

Henrietta's devotion to her children and her desire to secure their futures drive much of the narrative. Her efforts to arrange marriages, convert her children, and keep the family together are repeatedly thwarted by circumstance and their own choices. The tension between maternal love and dynastic ambition is a recurring motif, highlighting the personal cost of political life.

Analysis

Myself, My Enemy (Loyal in Love) is a sweeping historical novel that explores the intersection of personal and political tragedy through the life of Henrietta Maria, Queen of England. The book is both a portrait of a woman out of place—an ardent Catholic in a Protestant land, a French princess in an English court—and a meditation on the limits of power, love, and faith. Plaidy's narrative is rich in psychological insight, showing how Henrietta's pride, religious zeal, and inability to compromise contribute to her isolation and the downfall of her family. The novel is also a study in the dangers of inflexibility and the costs of dynastic ambition. Through the lens of Henrietta's life, Plaidy examines the broader themes of exile, loss, and the search for meaning in the face of overwhelming adversity. The lessons are clear: personal conviction, while admirable, can become destructive when it blinds one to the realities of the world; love, even when deep and genuine, cannot always overcome the forces of history; and the pursuit of power often leads to sorrow rather than fulfillment. Henrietta's final years, spent in reflection and regret, serve as a poignant reminder of the human cost of political and religious conflict—a lesson as relevant today as it was in the seventeenth century.

Last updated: April 29, 2025