Elizabeth's Royal Court Flashcards
Role of the Royal Court
It was a hub of social and political life as it had been throughout the Tudor period.
Where the Royal Court exist
Wherever the queen was at that time
Who was it run by
It was run by the Lord Chamberlain who was always part of the nobility and three of them were members of her family.
Example of a Lord Chamberlain
Lord Hudson who was her cousin, appointed in 1585
What are the main areas of the Royal Court
The presence chamber and the Privy Chamber
what was the presence chamber
This was an open area to which anyone with the right status and connections might have access
how did Elizabeth control the royal court
Through patronage
why did she need to control the nobility
Elizabeth aimed to bind nobility to the crown so that they would be loyal and unlikely to rebel
Examples of patronage
The right to hold office, a large proportion of the politically active class held office and they also used secondary patronage meaning those who acquired office had the right to make various appointments.
Elizabeth granted pensions and land
She granted monopolies
did she give out many land
no
why didn’t she give out many land
she kept as much as possible to extend control
what are monopolies
A form of royal charter licensed to a particular group which gave them the sole right to import certain commodities like soap or sugar
were monopolies unpopular?
yes
who were monopolies unpopular with?
The MPs in the House of Commons
why were monopolies unpopular with that group?
because it prevented competition and prohibited others from gaining wealth in other aspects of trade
did elizabeth give many titles
no she didn’t
why did Elizabeth not give many titles
It made titles more valued this can be evidenced by the fact that she granted only 18 peerages during her reign and in 1603 there were fewer nobles than there had been in 1558
what was the patronage system based on
According to Keith Randell qualification and ability played little part in the patronage system as she only believed in granting titles to the nobility especially to those who charmed her.
who was the only exception to her patronage system
William Cecil as he had a lot of skill
why did Elizabeth feel the need to control the nobility
She felt the need to control the nobility as some believed that she could not be the head of the church since there was no scriptural authority for women to take doctrinal decisions.
Some also objected to the notion of a female ruler
what other ways did she control the nobility
Elizabeth used charms as well as intellect to dominate and control life in court
what is factionalism
This refers to infighting between the groups at court to try to influence the monarch over certain issues
was there factionalism in the first part of Elizabeth’s reign?
During the first part of Elizabeth’s reign between 1560s and 70s there was generally cooperation among courtiers, it was relatively peaceful due to varying factors
what were the factors that maintained peace and kept factionalism at bay
Cecil had the most control of patronage and the court in general which kept the government balanced.
Noble families like the Boleyns and Parrs helped keep the peace as family connections could overcome religious differences
Leicester was a key favourite of Elizabeth and considered marrying him which pacified him.
How did Elizabeth keep the peace at court
Elizabeth’s charm and her promotion of men who flattered her like Christopher Hatton and Walter Raleigh made them loyal.
She would never pick a side in discussions and formally agree even though she participated.
She maintained a close relationship with Cecil and Leicester
why would she never pick a side in discussions
She would never in other to prevent accusations that a certain courtier was her favourite, though she had obvious favourites not making it known by picking sides would prevent courtiers from resenting one another
what were the two main factions or rivals in court
The doves and the hawks
Who were their various leaders
Cecil was the leader of the doves and Dudley was the leader of the hawks