Context

• Elizabeth I

  • Daughter of Henry VIII and his 2nd wife, Anne Boleyn
  • Two years old when her mother is accuse of adultery and beheaded
  • Her father marries Anne’s lady-in-waiting Jane Seymour a week later
  • She is declared illegitimate and removed from royal succession; title downgraded from ‘’princess’’ to ‘‘lady’’
  • At 13-years old, when Henry dies, she joins her stepmother, Catherine Parr's household
  • In 1554, she is interrogated about involvement in Wyatt’s rebellion and imprisoned in Tower of London
  • Then put under house arrest in Woodstock, Oxfordshire
  • 1558: Elizabeth became queen, age 25
• Elizabeth's Rule

  • 1558-1603; 45 years reign
  • Aasn’t coronated until 14^th January 1559
  • Defeated Spanish Armada 1588
  • Possibly first feminist
  • Virgin Queen (never marries, not about sex) - “I would rather be a beggar and single than a queen and married”
  • Good public speaker - “I know i have the body of a weak and feeble women, but I have the heart and stomach of a king, and of a king of England too”
  • Cult of Gloriana (‘Britain is glorious’) - using propaganda and arts promote her as a wise beloved ruler
• Elizabeth's coronation

  • Under canopy (sheltered, protected) and carried is symbolism; she is above them literally and figuratively
  • Already wearing a crown; says 'I am already queen', legitimate
  • Followed previous monarch’s procession traditions
  • Legitimacy
  • Deliberately very arrogant
• England 1558

  • Period of crisis (Mid-Tudor)
  • Religion:
  • Major change under Edward (Protestant) and Mary (Catholic)
  • Caused much unrest
  • Opposition to female rule:
  • Fear of foreign marriage and England losing power
  • Wyatt Rebellion against Mary
  • Mary (Scots) has son; available male heir
  • Spanish threat:
  • Phillip, Marty's widow and King of Spain
  • Catholic
  • Elizabeth is Protestant
  • Other contenders:
  • Attempts to change succession before (LJG)
  • Mary queen of Scots: Younger, married with son and Catholic
  • Socioeconomic problems:
  • Poverty
  • Bad harvest
  • Inflation (75%)
  • Enclosures
• Personal Qualities

  • In 16th Century England monarch was autocrat (dictator); make all major decisions
  • Defended royal prerogative:
  • No law passed without her consent
  • Decide is parliaments called or closed (400 MPs)
  • Decide Privy Council ministers (about 20)
  • Decide who attend Court (2,000, travel with her)
  • Centre of patronage system
  • Decide religious worship's nature
  • Decide if and when war
  • Short of money; had to persuade, bribe, bully and compromise
  • Was:
  • Charismatic
  • Self-centered
  • Confused by inflation
  • Intelligent
  • Cautious
  • Basd at decisions
• Elizabeth's Inheritance

  • Eight key problems
  • Weak rulers (Edward and Mary)
  • Economic problems (e.g. inflation)
  • Foreign policy failures (e.g. loss of Calais)
  • Rebellions (e.g. Wyatt’s)
  • Religion (English Reformation and Counter Reformation)
  • Factional fighting (Somerset and Northumberland)
  • Local Government problems
  • Succession issues (Lady Jane Grey)
  • Obstacles
  • Catholic France, both wanted Calais
  • Mary Queen of Scots
  • Spain
  • Low money
  • Catholics v. Protetants
  • Social Problems - beggars, farming
  • Allowed her to play saviour
  • Lower expectations for monarchs
• Elizabeth's accession

  • 17th November 1558, Mary died
  • 14th January 1559, Elizabeth coronated
  • Many fanfares and roars of approval
  • Had her crown on prior to coronation
  • Well received (celebration)
  • Appears no concern/opposition to gender; only female options
  • All Englishmen (allegedly) wanted Elizabeth to marry and produce an heir
  • Claims would only marry someone worthy who cared for her country as she did
  • Speech of being virgin Queen; not marrying
  • Elizabeth’s first parliament 1559
  • Petition
  • Get married
  • Establish new religious settlement
  • Gave in to neither side, compromise