Elizabeth I

The Family of Elizabeth I
Father Henry VIII
Mother Anne Boleyn

The Family of Elizabeth I
Sister Mary I
Brother Edward VI

A Brief Introduction
Marriage & Succession
The Elizabethan Church
The Spanish Armada
Power and Government

Born on 7 September 1533
Received a very impressive education when she was a child
Had a not easy adolescence
Succeed to the throne on 17th November 1558
Crowned Queen on Sunday 15th January 1559
Created The Golden Age of English history
Died at Richmond Palace on the 24th March 1603

It had become popular amongst the nobility to educate daughters as well as sons and Elizabeth excelled at her studies.
She was taught by famous scholars,such as William Grindal and Roger Ascham, and from an early age it was clear that she was remarkably gifted.
She had an especial flare for languages, and by adulthood, she could reputedly speak five languages fluently.

While the King lived, she was safe from political opportunists
When the King died in the January of 1547, and his young son became King Edward VI, she was vulnerable to those who saw her as a political pawn.
Despite being officially illegitimate, Henry had reinstated his daughters in the line of succession. Mary was to follow Edward, and Elizabeth was to follow Mary. This meant that Elizabeth was second in line to the throne.

Edward had died in the summer of 1553 from prolonged ill health, and Elizabeth's half-sister, Mary, was Queen Mary I of England, but she had a poor health.
Elizabeth did finally succeed to the throne on 17th November 1558 with the help of the Queen's husband, Philip of Spain who was aware of the Queen's poor health and wanted to gain the friendship of Elizabeth to ensure peaceable relations between England and Spain.

The reign of Queen Elizabeth I is often referred to as The Golden Age of English history. Elizabeth was an immensely popular Queen, and her popularity has waned little with the passing of four hundred years. She is still one of the best loved monarchs, and one of the most admired rulers of all time. She became a legend in her own lifetime, famed for her remarkable abilities and achievements.

Elizabeth became Queen → one question :who will the Queen marry?
Elizabeth was the last of her dynasty →main concern :provide a child to perpetuate the rule of the Tudors

The marriage of a Queen was a complicated affair
neither Elizabeth or her ministers wanted to relinquish any power over English affairs

marriage game
an important part of foreign relations
a valuable asset to the country

A List of Queen Elizabeth’s Principal Suitors
Early Years (1534-1557)
1534 Duke of Angoulme (third son of Francis I)
1542 A Prince of Portugal
1543 Son of the Earl of Arran
1544 Prince Philip (Philip II)
1547 Sir Thomas Seymour
1552 Prince of Denmark
1553 Courtenay, Earl of Devonshire
1554 Philibert Emanuel, Duke of Savoy
1554 Prince of Denmark
1556 Prince Eric of Sweden
1556 Don Carlos (son of Philip II)

Francis, Duke of Alencon
Robert Dudley, Earl of Leicester
Photograph © Elizabeth Oliveira
Portrait held at Warwick Castle

As Queen (1558-1584)
1559 Philip II
1559 Prince Eric of Sweden
1559 Son of John Frederic, Duke of Saxony
1559 Sir William Pickering
1559 Earl of Arran
1559 Henry Fitzalan, Earl of Arundel
1559 Robert Dudley
1560 King Eric of Sweden
1560 Adolphus, Duke of Holstein
1560 King Charles IX
1560 Henry, Duke of Anjou
1566 Robert Dudley
1568 Archduke Charles
1570 Henry Duke of Anjou
1572- 1584 Francis, Duke of Alencon, later Anjou.

Mary's persecution of Protestants
had adhered to the Catholic faith
had been raised a Protestant
Elizabeth

Elizabeth
believed in her own faith
also believed in religious toleration
and that Catholics and Protestants were both part of the same faith.

She wanted her Church to be popular with her people, and for Catholicism to die out naturally as people turned to the religion she had established.
she was largely successful in 1603,

The Spain
Most powerful country in the world
The king ruled vast territories of land
Had paralleled wealth form the new world
The English
A small country
Little wealth
Few friends
Many enemies

Relations Between Spain and England------Deteriorate
England was a Protestant country, while Spain was a Roman Catholic
Spain involved in plot to dethrone the Queen.
Elizabeth had encouraged the English pirates to plunder Philip's ships , seizing their treasures.
Queen rejected proposing

In the name of descent from John of Gaunt, and as Queen Mary I's husband
Problem: Satan Cruz die. The Duke of Medina Sedonia, was not at all suited to the post
In the May of 1588 the great fleet set out
The war begun

A true warrior Queen
Queen Elizabeth made her way to Tilbury. "live or die" with English soldiers and sailors fought for England's liberty

Most Famous Speech

The weather was dreadful, with the wind and rain against them
The Spanish were suffering a humiliating defeat
The English had won.

Monarch
Privy Council
Parliament

Queen Elizabeth was very much a ruler
No law could be passed without her consent.
She could decide the religion of the country, decide when parliament was going to sit and what they could discuss, decide when and if the country was going to go to war, make decisions about education, the welfare of her people

Responsible for the general administration of the country , including religion, military matters, the Queen's security, economics, and the welfare of the people
The Council of the Marches
Residing in York,
was responsible for the North of England,
Settled in Ludlow
was responsible for Wales and
some of the English border counties.
The Council of the North

The House of Lords (the Upper House ) The bishops and the aristocrats
The House of Commons (the Lower House) common people
Pass laws and grant the Queen money when she needed it.
However, the Queen could make laws without Parliament's consent -----
ROYAL PROCLAMATIONS