Elizabeth

• Elizabeth's mother, Anne Boleyn, was executed when she was just two years old
• A second Act of Succession declared Elizabeth, like her older sister, illegitimate
• The birth of Edward meant Elizabeth was relegated to a position of political irrelevance
• As Henry VIII got older he became more tyrannical and paranoid and executed many of Elizabeth's Yorkist cousins as he felt his position was threatened
• Exiled from Court, lonely and isolated from her family, Elizabeth rarely saw her father-only meeting him a few times in her life but strangely this distance seemed to strengthen her love and admiration for him
• Elizabeth's education

  • She could use the modern italic style of handwriting
  • She could speak French, Italian, Spanish and Latin fluently
  • She could read Greek
  • She was good at History and enjoyed writing poetry
  • She was musical
  • She was athletic- an accomplished horsewoman and dancer
  • She was skilled at needlework
• During her teenage years she was looked after by Henry's sixth wife, Catherine Parr, who acted as a mother figure
• Catherine Parr influenced Elizabeth's Protestant views and the direction of her education
• A third Act of Succession restored her as an heir to the throne
• When Henry died, Elizabeth wept uncontrollably
• Edward VI was appointed as king
• Edward brought about radical changes to the church
• Edward was controlled by ministers-Somerset and Northumberland
• Somerset was very unpopular and was executed
• Thomas Seymour, Somerset's younger brother, embroilled Elizabeth in her first serious political crisis
• Elizabeth was questioned and persuaded people this was not the case but the whole thing was very humiliating
• Elizabeth learnt some valuable lessons and how to behave in the future
• In 1553 Edward died. Unmarried and childless he named his cousin, Lady Jane Grey, as his heir, instead of his half-sisters
• Lady Jane Grey, the 'nine days' queen was defeated very quickly and Elizabeth and Mary rode into London triumphantly
• Mary hated Elizabeth's mother, Anne Boleyn, and she also hated Elizabeth
• While Mary's reign rounded up Protestant heretics, burning nearly 300 of them over five years, Elizabeth outwardly conformed by attending Mass, but Mary viewed her sister with deep suspicion
• Mary ordered Elizabeth go to Whitehall, where she could keep a close eye on her
• Elizabeth was arrested and imprisoned in the Tower of London
• After two horrendous months in the tower Elizabeth wrote a letter protesting her innocence to Mary and she was released
• Elizabeth proclaimed 'This is the Lord's doing, and it is marvellous in our eyes!' when she became Queen
• Elizabeth was anointed with holy oil and crowned Queen on 15th January 1559, beginning a reign of more than 40 years
• Elizabeth's life before her accession was unhappy, dysfunctional and brimming with danger
• Unlike her sister Mary, whose traumatic life experiences left her embittered and emotionally damaged, Elizabeth's early life did the opposite
• Her miraculous survival served to strengthen her character and mould her into a cautious, clever
• Problems facing Elizabeth

  • People questioned her ability to rule as a woman
  • She wanted to turn religious policy upside down
  • She was young and inexperienced
  • She was unmarried and had no children
  • She had to make decisions about who to appoint as advisors
  • People were living in poverty and were ready to rebel
  • She was at war with France and had no allies
  • People questioned her legitimacy and whether she should rule at all
  • Her government inherited massive debts from her sister
• The Royal Court


  A mobile operation and not confined to one building, run by the Lord Chamberlain, consisting of her household of about 500 nobles, advisors, officials and servants, who all lived with her and competed for power and influence
• Elizabeth's residences

  • Richmond, Whitehall Palace, St James' Palace, Hampton Court, Greenwich, Nonsuch, Tower of London, Windsor Castle
• Progresses

  Travelling the country with her Court on tours, visiting the homes of the nobility, allowing Elizabeth to be seen regularly by her subjects, to build up relationships with her people and to flatter the nobles she chose to stay with
• Functions of the Court

  • Political nerve-centre, displaying the Queen's magnificence to the nobility and visiting foreign guests through art and culture, lavish banquets, elaborate masques, musical performances, plays and tournaments, strict court ceremonies to encourage loyalty and obedience
• Patronage


  Showing favouritism by giving particular men important jobs, to give wealth and prestige to the individual, causing intense competition and rivalries, making everyone loyal to the Queen
• Privy Council


  Co-ordinated financial departments, law courts, and regional bodies, issued instructions to local officials, advised and directed policy but the Queen was not obliged to take their advice, could issue proclamations in the Queen's name which had the force of law, could command the arrest and imprisonment of individuals, guided parliamentary business on behalf of the Queen
• By January 1559, Elizabeth had appointed 19 members to her Privy Council
• William Cecil was the most important person on the Privy Council, Elizabeth relied heavily on him
• Divide and rule


  Elizabeth deliberately appointed people who were hostile towards each other, forcing rival factions to work together, allowing her to make measured decisions
• Role of Parliament


  The monarch decided when Parliament should meet and for how long, Parliament's role was to turn the policies of Elizabeth and her ministers into laws, Parliament granted taxes to the Queen