Background and Challenges

Who was Elizabeth I?

Elizabeth was the daughter of Henry VIII and Anne Boleyn.

Which house was Elizabeth I from?

Elizabeth was from the House of Tudor.

How old was Elizabeth I when she ascended to the throne?

Elizabeth was 25 years old when she became queen.

When did Elizabeth I become queen?

She ruled England and Ireland from 1558, after the death of her sister, Mary I, and reigned until her own death in 1603.

Who were Elizabeth I's siblings?

Elizabeth I had two half-siblings, Edward VI and Mary I.

Who was Elizabeth I's predecessor?

Mary I, Elizabeth's half-sister, was Queen of England before Elizabeth I.

How experienced was Elizabeth I when she became queen in 1558?

Elizabeth I was young and inexperienced when she became Queen of England in 1558.

What type of leader was Elizabeth I?

Queen Elizabeth I was a strong-minded leader. She ruled England during a time of challenges at home and abroad.

What were Elizabeth I's strengths?

Elizabeth had several important character traits which were her strengths.

• ❖ She was independent. This meant she could have her choice of suitors rather than be controlled by a foreign husband.
• ❖ She was cautious. She understood the balance needed to maintain her reign, particularly regarding the rivalry between Protestants and Catholics.
• ❖ She was an intelligent and well-educated queen. She spoke foreign languages, enjoyed theatre and music, and shrewdly rewarded loyalty to those who served her.
• ❖ She was dominant. She was always ready to assert her power and refused to be controlled by anyone.
• ❖ She was a skilful self-publicist. She worked hard to create the right image and ensured her propaganda presented her well.

How did trauma shape Elizabeth I's character?

Elizabeth had a traumatic childhood that shaped her character as queen.

• ❖ Elizabeth's father, Henry VIII, divorced her mother, Anne Boleyn, accusing her of adultery. Boleyn was eventually executed.
• ❖ Henry VIII married his third wife, Jane Seymour, only 11 days after Anne Boleyn was executed.
• ❖ Elizabeth was estranged from her father, Henry VIII for some of her childhood.
• ❖ When Elizabeth's half-sister, Mary, became queen she imprisoned Elizabeth in the Tower of London and accused her of supporting a rebellion against her.

What problems did Elizabeth I inherit when she came to the throne in 1558?

Elizabeth faced a number of problems in 1558.

• ❖ She was left with debts of £300,000 by Mary I, following an expensive war with France.
• ❖ She was female and some people feared England would be seen as a weak country because most others at the time, such as Spain, were ruled by men.
• ❖ Elizabeth had been declared illegitimate following her mother's execution. Many saw her as an illegitimate daughter from an unlawful marriage, and not the rightful Queen of England.
• ❖ Religion was a huge problem. The country had switched from Catholicism to Protestantism and then back again since Henry VIII's death in 1547. It was a religious rollercoaster, causing conflict and confusion.
• ❖ There were threats from Catholics. Many were opposed to Elizabeth's Religious Settlement and wanted her Catholic cousin, Mary, Queen of Scots, on the throne.
• ❖ The government needed more money but Elizabeth inherited a country riddled with poverty. Increased taxation would be an unpopular and dangerous move.

Why was Elizabeth I's legitimacy questioned?

Catholics considered Elizabeth was born out of wedlock as the Catholic church did not recognise Henry VIII's divorce from Catherine of Aragon. In their eyes, he was still married to his first wife, which meant Elizabeth must be illegitimate.

Why was gender an issue for Elizabeth I in 1558?

Most people wanted a man as the monarch and women did not have much influence in society. When England was previously ruled by a female - Mary I - her reign was short and unsuccessful, partly because the country lost a war and incurred huge debt in the process.

Why was marriage an issue for Elizabeth I in 1558?

Marriage was a problem for Elizabeth. As a queen in the 16th century, she was expected to marry and have children. However, during this time men had more authority than women. Elizabeth did not want to submit to the authority of a husband. Although she had many suitors, she never married.

What was Elizabeth I known as?

Elizabeth never married and was later known as 'The Virgin Queen'.

Why was succession important during the reign of Elizabeth I?

There were fears over the succession as Elizabeth had not produced an heir who could take the throne after her. This caused fear and uncertainty about the future, accentuated in 1562 when Elizabeth nearly died from smallpox.

What was the threat to Elizabeth I from France in 1558?

England had been at war with France intermittently since 1522 and it had been costly. When Elizabeth came to the throne in 1558, she inherited a £300,000 debt from Henry VIII and Mary I. She needed to find a solution to this hole in the country's finances.

What were the financial challenges Elizabeth I had to face?

As well as inheriting a considerable debt, Elizabeth needed to reduce government spending. She did this by reducing her own household spending and selling off land belonging to the Crown. This took 20 years, but by 1585 she had paid off the debt and built a surplus of £300,000.

How was the country financed during Elizabeth I's rule?

As monarch, Elizabeth was expected to fund the costs of running the country. She had to raise money from taxes, legislation which needed the support and approval of Parliament.

How did Elizabeth I gain support in the country?

Elizabeth used 5 main strategies to gain the support of her court and the nobles in Parliament.

• ❖ Elizabeth bought the loyalty of her court and nobles using patronage. She granted 'leases in reversion' to loyal nobles. These were effectively a grant of freedom and money from the queen.
• ❖ Elizabeth could reward courtiers with titles, power, and positions of authority without it costing the treasury any money. She gave nobles social status and power, conditional on them supporting her as the queen. She made sure to offer minor nobles social status, too, to broaden her power base of influence.
• ❖ Elizabeth also granted nobles monopolies over whole industries in order to ensure her power base was stable.
• ❖ Elizabeth would go on visits, known as progresses, with the Royal Court. During these expeditions, the queen would stay at wealthy nobles' houses which was seen as a great privilege for them.
• ❖ Elizabeth worked to shape her public image. Elizabeth commissioned propaganda portraits of herself which included images of power and purity.