The Reign Of Elizabeth I: What were the Threats and Oppertunities of Elizabeths Reign?

Sunday, 5 April 2009

What were the Threats and Oppertunities of Elizabeths Reign?

Threats
- Decision of government needed immediately
- Mary Queen of Scots due to marry the son of Henry II (France)
- Viewed as protestant abroad and at home
- Next in line was Mary Queen of Scots
- Mary Queen of Scots was supported by France for the English Throne
- There were two commited religious groups in England
- England shifted between Protestant and Catholic in 11 years.

Oppertunities
- Sole responsibilty for securing the Tudor Dynasty
- Unmarried.

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Elizabeth and Religion

Although Elizabeth was the first monarch to make a settlement between Catholicism and Protestantism, she mainly followed the theology of Protestantism. This was a slight problem due to the fact that both religions deemed her technically illegitimate due to her father breaking with the church to marry her mother, Anne Boleyn. In 1559 the new Act of Supremacy became law and all public officials were to swear an oath of loyalty to the monarch or risk disqualification from office. The heresy laws were also repealed to avoid a repeat of the persecution of dissenter practiced by Mary.

The Question of Marriage

Throughout her reign, there were many questions surrounding the issue of marriage, yet she never married and the reasons for this are unclear. There is speculation that Thomas Seymour had put her off relationships or that she knew she was infertile, yet until bearing a child became impossible she had considered several suitors. Elizabeth considered marrying as a risk of losing control aswell as foreign interference in her affairs (similar to what had happened to her sister Mary). There have also been great rumours surrounding the relationship between Elizabeth and Robert Dudley, her childhood friend. When his wife was found dead under ambiguous circumstances in 1560, a great scandal arose and Elizabeth seriously considered marrying Dudley, though they later remained friends.

Problems with Scotland

Her first policy was to oppose the French presence, which she believed would invade England and place Mary Queen of Scots on the throne (as many considered her to be the true heir to the crown). Elizabeth was persuaded to send in a force to aid the Protestant Rebels, and the Treaty of Edinburgh in 1560 later removed the French Threat in the North. After a defeat in 1568 Mary Queen of Scots fled across the border into England, where she would later be imprisoned for the next nineteen years. In 1569 the Northern Earls rebellion began, where they spoke of freeing Mary and putting her on the throne (see Rebellions page). At first Elizabeth refused to kill Mary, but by late 1586 she had been persuaded and Mary was executed on 8th February 1587 in Northampton.

The Reign Of Elizabeth I

Sunday, 5 April 2009

What were the Threats and Oppertunities of Elizabeths Reign?

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Mid-Tudor Crisis Links

Blog Archive

Elizabeth I

Events before Elizabeth becomes Queen

Elizabeth and Religion

The Question of Marriage

Problems with Scotland