Elizabeth

• • English Catholics never accepted Henry's


  divorce from Catherine of Aragon

  • As a result, they never saw Elizabeth as being born in wedlock
  • Henry killed Elizabeth's mother, Anne Boleyn
  • Henry accused Anne of high treason. Treason is any action that attacks the monarch or the country. This was the most serious crime a person could commit
  • After Anne's execution, Henry publicly declared Elizabeth as illegitimate through an Act of Parliament
  • Henry re-established Elizabeth's legitimacy seven years later. The impression of illegitimacy remained strong amongst some of her subjects, however
• • English Catholics never accepted Henry's divorce from Catherine of Aragon
  • As a result, they never saw Elizabeth as being born in wedlock
  • Henry killed Elizabeth's mother, Anne Boleyn
  • Henry accused Anne of high treason. Treason is any action that attacks the monarch or the country. This was the most serious crime a person could commit
  • After Anne's execution, Henry publicly declared Elizabeth as illegitimate through an Act of Parliament
  • Henry re-established Elizabeth's legitimacy seven years later. The impression of illegitimacy remained strong amongst some of her subjects, however
• • Medieval Christianity taught that women were inferior to men
  •  In the household, men expected women to obey their orders
• • Monarchs led their armies into battle
  • As a woman, society would not see Elizabeth as strong enough to do this
• Society viewed women as incapable of ruling a country

  • In the 16th century, most women received little to no education
  • There was a popular belief that women were not as intelligent as men
• • Women were seen as too emotional
  • The people expected their monarch to make difficult decisions
  • Society believed that men were more ruthless than women
• • As a woman, society expected her to marry
  • To fulfil her duty as a monarch, she would need to have children. Elizabeth needed a husband to ensure her children's legitimacy
• If Elizabeth married, she could have legitimate children. This would ensure the line of succession. The Tudor family could continue to rule England after her death
• A husband could lead Elizabeth's army into battle. This was a key role of a 16th-century monarch
• There was much debate over who Elizabeth should marry. A foreign husband may cause issues within England. An English husband would not secure alliances with important foreign nations. An English husband could cause war between rival families.
• Elizabeth worried about losing her power. A husband could assert his masculinity to make Elizabeth obedient. Her subjects may view her husband as their ruler.