elizabethan england

• Elizabeth's mother was Anne Boleyn and her father was Henry VIII
• Elizabeth was crowned at 25


  1559
• Thomas Seymour was executed for treason in 1549, and Elizabeth's loyalty was questioned through her brother and sister's reign
• Henry VIII died, and 9-year-old Edward VI became king


  1547
• Elizabeth was imprisoned by Mary after being accused of supporting a rebellion, as Mary saw Elizabeth as a potential symbol or leader for her enemies
• Elizabeth died

  1603
• Christopher Hatton gained favor with the queen and was named the dancing chancellor
• Privy Council

  1. Give advice to the queen

  2. Manage the administration of government
• Queen Elizabeth was advised by the Privy Council, which included her key ministers
• Arguments AGAINST marriage

  • Marrying a foreign prince or king could lead to England falling under their control
  • Marrying an Englishman could create problems over who had authority
  • Giving birth was risky
• Elizabeth was well looked after and educated in various subjects and languages, being prepared for life as a member of the royal court
• Edward VI died, and Mary became queen


  1553
• Elizabeth didn't have to follow the advice of the Privy Council, but they had to follow her instructions despite their advice
• William Cecil was Elizabeth's most trusted advisor, encouraging her to take control of Catholic Ireland and fight other Catholic rivals
• Robert Dudley was a childhood friend of Elizabeth and a key figure in the royal court
• Walter Raleigh brought back potatoes and tobacco to England and established a British colony called Roanoke
• It was difficult for Elizabeth as a female leader due to societal challenges
• Elizabeth was born

  7th September 1533
• Elizabeth was head of government

  Queen Elizabeth was head of government
• Francis Walsingham was known as Elizabeth's 'spymaster' and played a key role in establishing England as a powerful force at sea
• Anne Boleyn was executed in 1536 after being accused of committing adultery with several men in court
• Mary spent most of her reign paranoid about threats and rebellions
• Katherine Parr died in 1548, and there were accusations made for her husband Thomas Seymour to marry Elizabeth to gain power over Edward
• Privy Council roles

  • Give advice to the queen
  • Manage the administration of government
• Arguments FOR marriage

  • Create an alliance with a foreign country or win the support of a powerful English family
  • Produce an heir to succeed her and continue the Tudor line
• Robert Devereux was a member of the Privy Council and his power grew when the queen gave him the monopoly of sweet wine
• The privy council and parliament were deeply concerned about the succession. They repeatedly asked the queen to marry or name a successor, but she always refused. She claimed to be married to England
• Elizabeth was concerned that a successor might become the focus of plots to overthrow her
• One of Elizabeth's biggest headaches as being queen was marriage and succession. There was a lot of pressure to marry or name a successor but she was very reluctant to do so
• Causes of Northern Rebellion 1569


  Arrival of Mary Queen of Scots, Some people, especially in the north where Catholicism was strong, wanted Mary to become queen
• Effects of Essex Rebellion 1601


  Essex tried to persuade the people of London to overthrow Elizabeth and make someone else queen. He takes privy councillors hostage and 200 followers march through London. He failed and was executed for treason
• Many Catholics feared Protestant retribution for the burning and persecution of Mary's reign. They found Elizabeth trying to bring the country together. England was Protestant but Catholics could attend church and see many traditions of their faith
• People believed women couldn’t rule effectively so there was pressure for Elizabeth to find a husband who could rule for her
• Marrying to win the support of a powerful English family

  By marrying, Elizabeth could produce an heir to succeed her and continue the Tudor line
• Consequences of Northern Rebellion 1569


  The Earl of Sussex led an army north to stop the rebellion. 800 people were executed, Northumberland was captured and his family had their lands taken. Elizabeth showed that she was a strong leader who could act decisively. Most people supported Elizabeth and not the rebellion. Mary was clearly going to be a problem
• Towards the end of her reign, her advisors began secret negotiations to make James VI of Scotland (Mary Queen of Scots' son) heir to the throne. He became king when Elizabeth died
• Causes of Essex Rebellion 1601

  Essex was the queen’s favourite, but he was losing control. He acted against orders in Ireland and was causing trouble through factional rivalry with Robert Cecil. He had no money and no support. He was desperate
• When asked to find a husband in 1563, Elizabeth refused to even discuss the matter
• Elizabeth's religious settlement

  • Elizabeth was a Protestant but she was practical. She set a compromise to bring aspects of both religions in a ‘settlement’. She allowed priests to marry, English services, brought back the Book of Common Prayers. She appointed a moderate Protestant, Matthew Parker, as Archbishop of Canterbury to oversee the English church. Catholics were allowed to worship in their own way in private. Churches were designed to allow people of either faith to participate and understand in their own way. Elizabeth declared herself ‘governor’ instead of ‘head’ of the church. The Act of Supremacy (1559) makes Elizabeth the supreme governor of the church, not the Pope. The Act of Uniformity (1559) makes it law that all people in England worship the same way, and sets out how they will worship like the Book of Common Prayer
• If Elizabeth died without an heir, there would be a risk of civil war, with different groups competing for the throne