Elizabethan England - Elizabeth’s court and parliament Flashcards
Who were the Tudor?
The 5 monarchs from Henry VII (1485 - 1509) to Elizabeth I (1588 - 1603)
Who were Elizabeth’s parents?
Henry 8th and Anne Boleyn
How old was Elizabeth when her mother got beheaded?
Two years old.
Who were Elizabeth’s siblings?
Mary Tudor ( 1553 - 1558 - catholic), Edward VI (1547 -1553 - Protestant).
What years did Elizabeth reign?
1588 - 1603
How old was she when she became queen?
25
When did Edward VI die?
1553
How long did Mary 1 reign before dying of what?
She reigned 5 years before dying of cancer.
What happened to Elizabeth when Henry died?
Went to live with Katherine parr.
What did Mary do with Elizabeth during her reign?
She saw her as a threat and in 1554 even locked her in Tower of London after accused of being involved in a rebellion.
How did Mary’s reign prepare Elizabeth to be queen?
She saw the mistakes her sister made and was often surrounded by powerful figures.
What was parliament and what were their jobs?
Parliament was made up of House of Lords and commons. Was much less influential that modern parliament but did have influence over tax and laws. However, queen decided when to call parliament and if she wanted to listen to them (could ignore them)
What was the privy council and what was their role?
Responsible for day to day running of country. And members were queens main advisors - she picked them but had to pick most powerful landowners to stop rebellions. They could be called upon for anything and if they all agreed on something it was hard for Elizabeth to refuse it. Lead by Secretary of State.
What did Elizabeth do to stop the privy council having too much power?
She deliberately picked people that were very different so it was rare for them to unite on issues and caused slow decision making.
Who were the lord leitenants and what did they do?
Lord Lieutenants were important officials chosen by the monarch to:
- Organise the local militia (military).
- Keep law and order in their area.
- Represent the king or queen in their county.
They helped the monarch control the country at a local level. Some were in privy council as well and this role could lead to great power.
Who were the justices of the peace and what did they do?
Justices of the Peace were local officials who:
- Maintained law and order by dealing with minor crimes.
- Settled disputes between people in their area.
- Oversaw local administration, like fixing roads and setting tax rates.
They were unpaid and chosen from the local gentry to help govern at the local level.
What was the royal court?
Not same at privy council - But some people were in both. The Royal Court was the centre of the monarch’s power and included: Nobles, advisors, and closest servants.
Roles =
Decision-making: It helped the monarch make important political decisions.
Ceremony and display: Showcased the wealth and authority of the monarch (fashion)
Patronage: Gave out titles, jobs, and rewards to loyal supporters.
It was both a political and social hub, symbolising royal authority.
What was patronage?
When the queen gave out land, titles or power to ensure support from people. This was Important as:
- banishment from court was disgraceful so patronage was highly desired
- kept her in the centre as forced others to fight for her affection.
Who was William Cecil and why was he important?
William Cecil was Queen Elizabeth I’s most trusted advisor and served as Secretary of State twice. He was important because he:
- Helped run the government efficiently – for example, overseeing the introduction of the Poor Laws to address poverty.
- Protected Elizabeth’s throne – managed relations with Scotland and Ireland to reduce threats.
- Shaped foreign and religious policies – including efforts to counter Spain and support Protestantism.
Who was Francis Walsingham and why was he important?
Francis Walsingham was Queen Elizabeth I’s spymaster and a very devout Protestant. He was important because he:
Uncovered Catholic plots – for example, exposing the Babington Plot that aimed to assassinate Elizabeth.
Protected Elizabeth’s life – through a network of spies across Europe.
Strengthened England’s security – gathering intelligence to prepare for the Spanish Armada.
What were the main issue’s Elizabeth faced when she came to power?
1) religion - her biggest problem and conflict between catholics and Protestants threatened unity. This also caused many to hate her.
2) foreign policy - catholic powers like France and Spain were hostile and a threat.
3) finance - needed money for other things and country in lots of debt so would have to increase taxes.
4) legitimacy - many doubted her claim to throne and ability to rule as a female.
What was succession a problem when Elizabeth came to power?
Was the last living child of Henry the eighth and she had no children of her own. So it was unclear who would succeed her if she died before producing an air. In the past, situations like this led to violent struggles for power. In 1562, she nearly died of smallpox this drew attention to the uncertainty of England future. As a result, senior figures were she married as soon as possible.
Why was religion a problem when Elizabeth came to power?
- instability and violence had been created from frequent changes in religion.
- Many Catholics did not trust Elizabeth and doubted her claim to the throne (as they didn’t recognise Henry’s marriage to her mother)
- puritanism was also seen as a threat. There were a number of Puritans who had hoped to take control control of Elizabeth church and make it more extreme.
What was foreign policy a problem when Elizabeth came to power?
- Catholic countries like Spain and France wanted influence over England and had the support of the Pope in this aim. The threat of invasion was very real.
- One key area of tension was the Netherlands, where the protestant population was in conflict with Spanish rulers.
