维多利亚女王简介

维多利亚女王 Alexandrina Victoria (1819.5.24—1901.1.22) 是英国历史上在位时间最长的君主,在位时间长达64年。她也是第一个以“大不列颠和爱尔兰联合王国女王和印度女皇”名号称呼的英国君主。她在位的64年期间(1837-1901年)是英国最强盛的所谓“日不落帝国”时期。她统治时期,英国历史上称为“维多利亚时代”,英国加大侵略扩张力度,在世界范围内建立和占领了无数殖民地。她在位的60余年正值英国自由资本主义由方兴未艾到鼎盛、进而过渡到垄断资本主义的转变时期,经济、文化空前繁荣,君主立宪制得到充分发展,使维多利亚女王成了英国和平与繁荣的象征。

Queen Victoria (Alexandrina Victoria; 24 May 1819 – 22 January 1901) was the monarch of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland from 20 June 1837 until her death. From 1 May 1876, she used the additional title of Empress of India.

Victoria was the daughter of Prince Edward, Duke of Kent and Strathearn, the fourth son of King George III. Both the Duke of Kent and King George III died in 1820, and Victoria was raised under close supervision by her German-born mother Princess Victoria of Saxe-Coburg-Saalfeld. She inherited the throne at the age of 18, after her father's three elder brothers had all died leaving no legitimate, surviving children. The United Kingdom was already an established constitutional monarchy, in which the Sovereign held relatively little direct political power. Privately, Victoria attempted to influence government policy and ministerial appointments. Publicly, she became a national icon, and was identified with strict standards of personal morality.

Victoria married her first cousin, Prince Albert of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha, in 1840. Their nine children married into royal and noble families across the continent, tying them together and earning her the nickname "the grandmother of Europe". After Albert's death in 1861, Victoria plunged into deep mourning and avoided public appearances. As a result of her seclusion, republicanism temporarily gained strength, but in the latter half of her reign, her popularity recovered. Her Golden and Diamond Jubilees were times of public celebration.

相关阅读:英国第一次钻禧庆典——1897年维多利亚女王的登基钻禧庆典

政治生涯

鸦片战争:英国对中国的野心由来已久。英国与中国的贸易最早始于茶叶、丝绸的贸易;但是这些商品是英国市场上的奢侈品,而中国自给自足的经济体制使得英国的工业革命的产品毫无用武之地。为了扭转对华贸易逆差,英国商人开始在英国政府的支持下倾销鸦片。1839年,林则徐在虎门销烟,极大程度上打击了英国政府的倾销政策,1840年初,维多利亚女王在议会上发表了著名的演说,呼吁“为了大英帝国的利益”,向中国发动战争。第一次鸦片战争遂始。

铁腕统治:维多利亚时期,是大英帝国对外领土扩张最辉煌的时期,为了扩张领土,英国不惜使用一切手段。1857年,英法两国争夺苏伊士运河的统治权达到白热化的程度,但是一场设计巧妙的阴谋使英国获得了苏伊士运河的控股权,法国只能乖乖地退让。次年,在大英帝国殖民地的版图中又增加了印度,这可是大英帝国王冠上的一颗明珠。英国还让俄国在1877~1878年与土耳其的战争中的胜利果实几乎化为乌有。当时,俄国军队离伊斯坦布尔只有一步之遥,俄土双方签订协议,将巴尔干半岛的一部分土地归属俄国。而维多利亚不希望看到俄国势力深入到巴尔干半岛,她以武力和外交双重施压,迫使俄国做出退让。

银幕上的维多利亚女王

影片《年轻的维多利亚》改编自维多利亚女王的青年时代,从1836年她登基前一年开始到1840年她和阿尔伯特亲王结婚为止,影片着重描述的是她的爱情生活。

年轻的维多利亚 THe Young Victoria 2009

导演: 让-马克-瓦雷

主演:艾米莉-布朗特 鲁伯特-弗兰德 马克-斯特朗

In The Young Victoria, Emily Blunt delivers an incredibly compelling performance as Queen Victoria in the turbulent first years of her reign. Rupert Friend (Pride & Prejudice) portrays Prince Albert, the suitor who wins her heart and becomes her partner in one of history’s greatest romances. This love story, set amongst all the intrigue of the court, also features Paul Bettany, Miranda Richardson , Jim Broadbent , Thomas Kretschmann , and Mark Strong .

剧情:维多利亚的童年生活其实并不幸福,宫廷生活让她觉得厌烦和无趣。直到她的表哥——年轻而又充满活力的阿尔伯特亲王走进她的生活——一切就都改变了。从此维多利亚开始想象自己是一个普通的女孩开始追求自己的爱情和幸福。不过家庭和国家总是矛盾的,两个年轻人就在这种痛苦中煎熬着。1837年,18岁的维多利亚被命运推上了王位,虽然她并不想这样,但是她还是默默承担起了一个国家领袖的重任。3年后,她和表哥阿尔伯特亲王结婚,之后开创了一个强大的帝国。