Talk:Mary II

It is incorrect to call Mary of Orange "Mary II." She never reigned on her own or under that title. She and her husband reigned as a single legal entity called William and Mary. He did not assume the title William III until after her death, and she was never called Mary II. Adam 14:37, 8 Feb 2004 (UTC)

Re your argument over at Talk:Mary I of Scotland that Mary II was never referred to as such until the last 25 years, this simply isn't true. Writing in 1963, the Durants in The Age of Louis XIV refer to "Mary II, Queen of England." My Columbia-Viking Desk Encyclopedia from 1968 does the same. Although I cannot find my copy at present, I'm fairly certain that my copy of William Langer's Encyclopedia of World History also refers to her as such in the immediate aftermath of World War II. And, as a kicker, I'll note [1], in which the 1911 Britannica clearly refers to her as Mary II. Surely that rather seals the deal on that one, doesn't it? I can go check Complete Peerage and older editions of Burke's and Haydn's Book of Dignities in the library tomorrow, if you'd like more evidence. john 08:14, 9 Feb 2004 (UTC)

Well they're all wrong :). However I have already conceded the point about the article titles so I won't pursue the matter. Adam 08:20, 9 Feb 2004 (UTC)