Challenges to the throne Flashcards
Legitimacy
Elizabeth had been declared illegitimate following her mother’s execution and an act of parliament on 1st July 1536 along with her sister Mary. Despite being restored to the line of succession under the Act of Succession in July 1543 many, including foreign powers, still saw her as the illegitimate daughter of an unlawful marriage.
Dept
Elizabeth’s sister, Mary, had left debts of £250,000
Religious conflict
Religious conflict was a major issue. Elizabeth’s father, Henry VIII, had broken away from the Roman Catholic Church and started his own Church of England. Her brother, Edward, had started to establish a Protestant Church during his short reign only for it to be taken apart when Elizabeth’s sister, Mary, came to the throne. She restored the Pope and made England a Catholic country again
1569 - The Northern Earls’ Rebellion
The Catholic Earls of Northumberland and Westmoreland hatched a plan to get Mary, Queen of Scots out of imprisonment and on to the throne. They gathered an army of 6,000 soldiers in their attempt to return England to Catholicism.
1571 - The Ridolfi Plot
Roberto Ridolfi, an Italian banker, planned to assassinate Elizabeth and make Mary Queen. He had the support of King Philip II of Spain, the Duke of Norfolk, and Mary, Queen of Scots herself.
1583 - The Throckmorton Plot
A young Catholic man, Francis Throckmorton, organised a plan for a French army to invade England and replace Elizabeth with Mary, Queen of Scots, paid for by the Pope and King Philip II of Spain.
1586 - The Babington Plot
Sir Anthony Babington planned to rescue Mary, Queen of Scots from jail and murder Elizabeth. Secret letters between the plotters and Mary were discovered which gave the evidence needed to prove Mary’s guilt.
1566- Dutch Revolt
The Netherlands had been part of the Spanish empire since the 1550s. However, the Dutch had always governed themselves. Philip II’s decision to reorganise the Dutch government and church angered both the Dutch Catholics and the Protestants. They began to revolt against the Spanish.
