Charlotte,  England,  France,  Western Europe

Historical inaccuracies in Reign

2146035_origReign has been a popular show on the CW for three years now but what has audiences so captivated? There is a list of inaccuracies starting from the pilot episode and continue in every episode thereafter. I will assume then that the audiences watching the show are unfamiliar with Mary Stuart specifically or history in general (or it is a guilty pleasure).

With so many inaccuracies, I am hard-pressed to choose only one or two, but I will choose the ones I feel irk me the most. Then, my dear readers, I want you to contribute with what you have noticed in the series thus far that has you gritting your teeth in dismay.

Number 1: The fashion
I hope no one watching the show believes that the dresses (maybe costume is more suitable) are historically accurate. I have seen some wonderful blunders, like corsets worn outside of dresses when, in reality, they were strictly an undergarment. I have seen sleeveless dresses, which would certainly not have been worn but even worse, the strapless dress. It was not until the 1930s that strapless was invented, but you can see some of Mary’s lady’s-in-waiting wearing them. Also, the see-through tops that are seen periodically throughout the series. A lot of creative liberty went into that choice. Mary would have worn the fashion of the times; sleeves at all times, the ruff (the accordion looking scarf worn around the neck), and dresses that were floor length.

5260754_origNumber 2: Sebastian de Poitiers
The biggest mistake made with ‘Bash’ is that he didn’t exist. Not even a little bit. He was the product of someone wanting to create a riveting plot with a love triangle to entice the audience. So, that means Mary never thought about being with Bash (or come close to marrying him) and Kenna didn’t marry him to keep her reputation in tact. Diane de Poitiers was very real though, and she was the favorite mistress of Henry II. However, she never bore him any children, at least that we know of. She bore two daughters by her marriage, but had been widowed before having any more children. Her two daughters were at court with Diane but they were behind the scenes and certainly never a threat to the throne.

So, Sebastian was a completely fictional character set within a non-fictional story. At one point in the show, Bash even goes so far as to try and take Francis’ place, both with Mary and with the throne. Of course, none of it happened.

Now it is your turn. I want to hear what inaccuracies you have noticed.

Charlotte