23. Elizabeth- character aims and consolidation of power

Question 1

explain her life before being queen?

Answer 1

• when she was born her father was disappointed, he wanted a son
• when she was 3 her mother was executed
• when her father re-married the line of succession was altered and she and Mary were declared a bastards
• believed she as cautious with men because of the Thomas Seymour debacle, as her life was threatened as she was believed by Somerset to be challenging his power.
• she spent most of her youth away from court having no dealings with Ambassadors

Question 2

explain her character?

Answer 2

• said to have inherited traits from her father, and quite sexistly described by one of her male tutors as having ‘none of the weaknesses of a woman’
• academically intelligent and good with multiple languages
• also due to the Wyatt rebellion resulting in her 2 month imprisonment and constant fear fir her life, this shaped her personality and conduct as a queen

Question 3

explain consolidation of power, through her coronation?

Answer 3

• became queen 1558
• coronation 1559
• first opportunity for her to expose how she wanted to be perceived as a monarch
• she had a procession in which she stopped off her carriage to see the people and receive gifts= met with cheers (unlike Mary’s) and made herself look like a ‘accessible monarch’
• Her coronation mass was held in private to avoid any statements of faith
• showed herself to be god’s representative on earth, reinforcing her divine right to rule

Question 4

explain consolidation of power, through the privy council?

Answer 4

• she wanted a council smaller than Mary’s, as her’s was difficult to handle and often had factional fights
• she would have to retain some members that served Mary, to ensure the majority were loyal to her
• dismissed 2/3rds of Mary’s council
• appointing William Cecil (who had served under Edward= continuity and had admin experience) as secretary of state and Robert Dudley as Earl of Leicester
• the council showed a shift to the Edwardians and was a strong indication that Elizabeth would seek to undo her sisters religious reforms

Question 5

explain consolidation of power, through parliament?

Answer 5

-summoned parliament within weeks of her accession, to settle the kingdoms religious finances and affairs