Elizabeth- Elizabeth and her government Flashcards
When was Elizabeth coronated?
1559
What rebellion was Elizabeth accused of being part of (to overthrow Mary)? What were the consequences?
Wyatt rebellion- Elizabeth was held for two months in the Tower of London
What provoked the Wyatt rebellion? When was it?
Mary I’s marriage to Philip II of Spain (1554)
Who was court run by?
The Lord Chamberlain
What castle was the only castle that Elizabeth spent money on during her reign?
Windsor Castle
What did Elizabeth’s royal progresses enable her to do?
- to be seen by her subjects
- to display her power and riches
- flatter any nobles who she stayed with
- allowed Elizabeth to live lavishly at the expense of her nobles and therefore save money
- the Royal Palaces could be cleaned before her return
What were the two political crisises that shaped Elizabeth from a young age?
- Thomas Seymour → a flirtatious relationship that almost resulted in Elizabeth being accused of treason for attempting to overthrow Edward VI - taught her to not trust men
- Wyatt rebellion → against Mary that wanted Elizabeth to take the throne - Elizabeth was imprisoned in the Tower for 2 months
What was the function of court?
- gave an impression of power
- propaganda to glorify Elizabeth’s image
- strict rules in court encouraged loyalty and obedience to Elizabeth
What was the function of patronage?
- showing favouritism to particular men for the job
- to create intense competition and rivalries between people
- made everyone totally loyal to her
What was the Privy Council?
A council of advisors to Elizabeth that coordinated financial departments, law courts such as the Star Chamber and regional bodies such as the Council of the North.
Why might Elizabeth speak against the Privy Council?
To create a statement of her political independence
How did Elizabeth create her Privy Council to function in her favour
- Elizabeth’s council was a lot smaller in comparison to Mary’s (Mary’s had about 40 members while Elizabeth had around 20)
- Elizabeth was careful to keep some of Mary’s advisors but not to appoint any strong catholics
- Elizabeth had a range of views protestant vs catholic in her council (e.g. Puritan Francis Walshingham and slightly more sympathetic to the catholics- Christopher Hatton)
- over time Elizabeth made her Privy Council to consist of educated, full-time, politicians largely from the gentry HOWEVER this could be argued as signs of weakness as it could encourage resentment among the nobility
- trusting individuals greatly (e.g. William Cecil)
Who were some of Elizabeth’s most trusted advisors?
- Sir William Cecil
- Sir Francis Walshingham
- Robert Dudley
- Sir Christopher Hatton
What was the role of parliament under Elizabeth?
- Elizabeth decided when Parliament should meet and for how long
- Elizabeth used parliament to pass laws or to introduce new taxes
What’s an example of when Elizabeth used parliament to pass taxes?
1563- taxes approved to fund wars against France and Scotland
1601- taxes granted to pay for war against Spain and to pay for an army in Ireland
What methods did Elizabeth use to maintain power?
- use of monopolies to reward loyalty to the queen
- the Privy Council → trusted members, differing views etc.
- exercising her power over the Privy Council e.g. not doing as they said
- created few lords (at the end of her reign there were only 55 lords- therefore the House of Lords was small)
- patronage
- Royal Progresses
- The Cult of Gloriana
- able to appoint the ‘Speaker’ in parliament and could arrest troublesome MPs (e.g. Peter Wentworth in 1576 → wanted freedom of speech)
- not marrying = maintaing her power
- not appointing an heir- keeping her out of danger
- censoring media
- appointing bishops
When were years of decline for Elizabeth? Why did this happen?
1590s
- personal tragedies as her personal councillors died e.g. Dudley in 1588 and Cecil in 1598
- new younger council members
- country being in increased poverty with plague and repeated harvest fails
- Essex Rebellion (1601)- organised by one of her favourites
What did Elizabeth learn from Mary?
Not to marry- marriage diminished Mary’s power as a female monarch
What’s an example of the social ideas that Elizabeth came up against (ideas against women being leaders / monarchs)?
The same year she ascended to the throne, Scottish protestant John Knox wrote a book diminishing female rulers. Elizabeth ruled Knox as a political enemy rather than a protestant ally.
When was Parliament not allowed to discuss Elizabeth’s marriage ever again?
1566
Who were foreign suitors that proposed to Elizabeth?
- Prince Eric of Sweden
- King Philip II of Spain
- Charles of Austria (son of the Holy Roman Empire)
- Duke of Alencon
Why did Elizabeth immediately reject Philip II of Spain?
- he was catholic
- he had treated her sister poorly
- Mary’s choice of a Spanish husband had been so unpopular that it triggered the Wyatt rebellion
Who was the main English suitor for Elizabeth and why did this not workout?
Robert Dudley (many historians agree that Elizabeth genuinely loved him)
- Childhood friends
- Dudley was already married however
- Dudley’s wife then mysteriously died at the bottom of a staircase
- This all appeared too convenient and would cause a scandal if they were to marry
What names did Elizabeth go by in rejection of marriage?
- the ‘Virgin Queen’
- married to her country
