Cult of Gloriana Flashcards
1
Q
What was the cult of gloriana?
A
- emerged in 1570s
- form of propaganda that encouraged the worship of Elizabeth
2
Q
Why did the cult of gloriana emerge?
A
> due to increasing political instability
- threat of cathlic plots, rebellion and invasion
- arrival of MQS and Elizabeth’s excommunication in 1570 meant her throne was under threat
- also, as a female ruler who in the eyes of many was illigetimate, Elizabeth needed to find a way to encourage obedience to her
- as it became clear she would not marry in the 1580s, she needed alternate methods to enhance loyatlty to the tudor dynasty and distract from the issue of succession
3
Q
medieval royal tornament
A
> knights would joust to earn rewards by monrachs - honoured royal power through wealth and culture
> Under LIz the tournament evolved to celebrate and enhance the cult
4
Q
Accession day
A
- from about 1570s,, under the guidence of Sir Henry Lee, it was the most important tormanet celenrating Elizabeth’s accession day
- 17th November, celebrated through sermonns + Elizabeth represented as defenedr of the protestant faith
- helped replace the gap left by the abolishing of cath feast days in ref
5
Q
what did the cult celebrate
A
- the fact that she was a ‘virgin queen’
- to distract frrom the fact that she was not married and had no child
- drew on the traiditonal catholic cult of the virgin mary
- her chacity and purity were positive things which would protect england
6
Q
courtly love
A
- humansit interest in classical literature led to this idea, that Elizabeth would be loved by her subjects, but she herself remain pure and above corruption
7
Q
results of the cult
A
- found a way to win the heatrts and minds of her subjects despite being a female ruler
- distracted her from the lack of heirs and political instability
8
Q
what did elizabeth think of the cult
A
- she herself encouraged it
- gave out minatures of herself to her favourite courtiers
9
Q
how were changes of art linked to the cult
A
- at the start of her reign, Liz’s potraits were plain and lacking in politcal imagery or symoblism
- from around 1570, artistis began to paint her as the virgin queen and rely heavily on symbolism to make politcal points
- e.g. shown with a phoneix to rep chasicty
- promoted her as ageless
10
Q
How was the cult celebrated by poets and writers
A
- first three books of spenser’s poem ‘The Faerie queen’ 1590 , main character Gloriana was about LIz
- by this time, images of her were everywhere on coins and woodcuts, amd on the front pahe of the bible 1568
