Elizabeth's Family and Accession

• Elizabeth was the second child of Henry VIII (and her mother was Anne Boleyn)
• Mary I was Henry VIII's first child with Catherine of Aragon
• Mary I was 17 years older than Elizabeth
• Tudor family

  • Elizabeth
  • Mary I
  • Henry VIII
  • Henry VII
• Society was extremely hierarchical at this time
• Hierarchical society


  • The queen was at the top of society
  • Surrounded by the royal court and the Privy Council
  • 19 men sat on the Privy Council
  • They met several times each week
• There were around 100 nobles who had responsibility for the regions of the country which they owned
• Social classes

  • Nobles
  • Gentry
  • Knights
  • Lawyers
• Elizabeth faced threats of invasion from Scotland and France when she became queen in 1558
• A war with France had ended in the 'Siege of Calais'


  23rd of January 1558
• The French captured the city of Calais, England's last piece of land on the European mainland
• Treaty of Cateau-Cambrésis between France and Spain recognised Calais as 'in French custody'


  1559
• England was fighting as Spain's ally
• Mary, Queen of Scots, was engaged to the French King, King Francis II
• Monarchs were expected to fund the costs of running the country
• They raised money from taxes, which needed the approval of the Houses of Parliament
• Power of the Houses

  • House of Commons
  • House of Lords
• A costly war with France had just come to an end
• Elizabeth inherited debts of about 300,000 pounds
• Elizabeth spent a further 100,000 pounds on arms and munitions due to the threat of further conflict
• Queen Mary I was 17 years older and born to Catherine of Aragon
• Elizabeth I was put under house arrest in the Tower of Woodstock for 11 months
• Elizabeth was reportedly cheered by crowds on her way to the Tower
• Today, parliament votes on the policies for England and makes all decisions
• In 1558, parliament was called when Elizabeth wanted to consult it
• Elizabeth only called parliament when she wanted to raise taxes or during a serious crisis
• Between 1558 and 1602 parliament held only thirteen sessions
• House of Lords


  • Consisted of around 100 lords, bishops and judges
• House of Commons


  • Had 450 MPs, elected by wealthy landowners
• A growing merchant class was followed by a large group of yeomen who owned land
• Tenant farmers rented from those who owned farmland
• Social classes

  • Labourers
  • Servants
  • The poor
• Elizabeth I was young and inexperienced when she became Queen of England aged 25
• Elizabeth I never married and was later known as 'The Virgin Queen'
• Elizabeth had a sister (Mary I) who was 17 years older than her
• Elizabeth had a younger brother (Edward VI) whose mother was Jane Seymour
• Edward VI became King of England aged 9
• Edward VI died of a fever aged 15 in 1553
• Mary I became Queen at the age of 37
• At this time Elizabeth was 20 years old