Elizabeth 1-Issues of Succession Flashcards
What was at the forefront of Elizabeth’s ministers thinking?
Elizabeth’s status as a single woman, if she died prematurely there would be no heir or successor to throne
Give three suitors for Elizabeth in the early years of the reign
.Robert Dudley
.Phillip II of Spain
.Archduke Ferdinand
.Archduke Charles
.Prince Erik of Sweden
How is Amy Dudley significant in the story of Elizabeth and marriage?
.She was Robert Dudley’s wife
.Found dead with a broken neck at the bottom of the staircase-assumed to have been murdered in order to allow for Robert Dudley to marry Elizabeth
When did Parliament first raise the issue of marriage?
They raised it in 1559 but Elizabeth deflected the matter ‘very gracefully’
How was the meeting of parliament in 1563 different to that of the meeting in 1559 in regards to the succession?
.Elizabeth had been stricken with smallpox in October 1562 and many thought she might die-this causes severe panic and a full scale succession crisis
.Councillors were aware of the disasters that may happen if the queen was to die (civil war, foreign invasion and religious strife)
Why was the matter of succession brought up in the 1566 parliament session?
.Some MPs were prompted to bring the subject up by members of the privy council, including leicester and Cecil but for different motives
How did Elizabeth react to the subject of succession being brought up in 1566 and what followed her reaction?
She reacted furiously and banished the Earl of Leicester and the Earl of Pembroke
.Elizabeth reasserted her view that marriage and succession were matters of royal prerogative
When was Elizbaeth declared still able to bear a child?
1579
In 1579 who was Elizabeth’s possible suitor for marriage?
.Francis, Duke of Anjou- the brother of King Henry of France was proposed by Burghley and Sussex
Why did Elizabeth come to the conclusion not to marry?
She came to the conclusion that the disadvantages of marriage outweighed the positives.
-The death of her cousin MQS meant that her son James IV of Scotland was then decided to be the best heir to the throne of England
Which one of Elizabeth’s councilmen was in constant contact with James VI?
.Sir Robert Cecil kept in contact with James and ensured an untroubled succession
Which successor did Elizabeth name?
Even on her deathbed, Elizabeth refused to name a successor and there is no conclusive proof that she accepted James as an heir
How was the transition from Elizabeth to James?
It was the smoothest transition of a change in dynasty to date and much of the credit should be given to cecil
