This 18th-Century British Queen Turned King Arthur Into a P.R. Strategy, Drawing on Myth to Promote Her Dynasty's Claim to the Throne
In 1735, Caroline of Brandenburg-Ansbach commissioned a cottage called Merlin's Cave, which linked the German House of Hanover to both Britain’s ancient heritage and its future success
Queen Caroline of Brandenburg-Ansbach, wife of Britain's King George II (George II), sought to bolster the Hanoverian royal family's claim to the British throne during a period of political instability. In 1735, she commissioned Merlin's Cave, a Gothic folly adorned with wax figures of Merlin and other figures from British folklore.
This creation aimed to promote a shared British identity and counter accusations that the Hanoverians were foreign rulers. By linking the Hanoverians to the Arthurian legends, Caroline sought to establish a sense of patriotism and national heritage that transcended the Hanoverian dynasty.
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