Politics and Culture at the Late Stuart Courts, 1649-1714

The Stuart courts of Charles II, James II, William III and Mary II, and Anne emerged from and responded to the complex political and cultural transformations of late seventeenth-century Europe. Increasingly, cross-disciplinary research practices have sought to interrogate the unique character, purpose and practices of this multifaceted network. This symposium, spanning the fields of politics, philosophy, literature, art history and material culture studies, will bring together the diverse span of contemporary scholarship to explore how the late Stuart Courts were politically and culturally constructed. It will consider how these royal circles not only mirrored and molded the identities of their leading figures, but also created new arenas of influence, encounter, and exchange across the globe.

We are delighted to welcome Professor Maria Hayward, specialist in early modern textiles and clothing, and author of the prize-winning book Stuart Style: Monarchy, Dress and the Scottish Male Elite (2021) as our Keynote speaker. Watch this space for our full programme, which will be revealed soon!

The Symposium will take place on Tuesday 7th April 2026 at Christ’s College, Cambridge, with the option to join remotely. Due to limited capacity, in person attendance for sympoisum panels is by registration only (at no cost). The keynote presentation will be open to the public with no registration required. Streaming links for all online attendees will be exclusively available via registration.

If you have any questions, please contact the convenors, Marlo Avidon ([email protected]) and Ælfred Hillman ([email protected])

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Host or Publisher Marlo Avidon and Ælfred Hillman