Propaganda

• Elizabeth used propaganda to project an image of herself as a powerful and popular monarch
• Portraits of Elizabeth emphasised her power and hid any signs of weakness
• The armada portrait was painted to celebrate the defeat of the Armada
• The Armada portrait shows:

  • Elizabeth's crown, emphasising her legitimacy
  • Fine clothes and jewellery, showing of her wealth
  • Wreckage of the Armada, celebrating her victory
  • Elizabeth's had on the globe, showing her global power
• The armada portrait does not show:

  • Elizabeth's advanced age: she was 55
  • Her scars on her face; she had small pox
  • Her black teeth and greying hair
• Elizabeth went on regular progresses so she can be seen by ordinary people
• A progress was a royal tour that took place each summer
• Elizabeth toured her country, staying with loyal nobles who put on spectacular entertainment
• On her progress Elizabeth:

  • showed off her wealth and splendour
  • spoke with ordinary people as she passed
• However, Elizabeth's progresses never extended beyond loyal protestant areas in the south east; she never visited the north or west