Elizabeth I 1558 - 1603 Flashcards
Character and Aims
Made Illegitimate at the age of 3 after the death of her mother
Aimed to consolidate her power as queen
Settle religious issues
Achieve peace with France
Elizabeth consolidation of power
Mary recognised Elizabeth as her successor before her death
William Cecil appointed as her primary secretary
Coronation within 2 moths of Mary’s death
The Royal Court
Two main areas, the presence chamber and the privy chamber
Role of Politician and courtier became more intertwined
Liz relied on the support and guidance of key officials such as Cecil and Leicester
Impact of Factions
No single minister had complete control
Factions began to emerge in the 1590’s with the feud between Robert Cecil and the Earl of Essex
Essex lost power after his rebellion in 1601
Role of Parliament
Less important under Liz than it was under H8
Liz regarded parliament as a necessary evil
Served 3 roles; law making, tax grants and advise
Occasionally rked Liz by challenging her prerogative
Foreign Policy with France
England and France sign the peace Treaty of Cateau-Cambrésis in 1559.
This agreed the position of Calais after it was lost to the French in 1558.
Mary Queen of Scots briefly queen of France
Liz supports the Protestant Huguenots in France
Influence of MQOS
Queen of Scotland from 1542 to 1586. Queen of France from 1560-1562.
Forced to abdicate in 86 escaped to England but put under house arrest
Executed in 87 after her involvement in the Babington plot
Wished to be recognised as Liz’s heir
Marriage
Known as the ‘virgin queen’ no clear heir to the throne at time of death led to difficulty
Disallowed Parliament to discuss her marriage stating it as her social prerogative
Foreign relations with Spain
Liz defend the Netherlands against Spain - led to conflicts
Involvement in the Spanish Armada = victory for England 1588
Conflicts continue after Elizabeths death
Society, changes and continuity
Nobles more peaceful
Liz created no more dukes after the execution of Norfolk in 72
Gentry class increase in size and influence
Pop reached around 4 million
Poor Relief
Poor Law Act of 1576 created a national
system of poor relief.
Ideals of the deserving poor and the undeserving poor
Northern Rebellion
1569
Duke of Norfolk hated Cecil, intended to place MQOS on the throne and do away with Elizabeth
800 hanged
Essex Rebellion
1601
Earl of Essex wanted a greater position
No participation from the common people and largely an internal affair
What was trade like
Internal trade more successful than foreign trade
Cloth trade in decline
Exploration and colonisation
Attemmpts to set up a colony in Virginia
