Issues of succession (20) Flashcards
What created considerable difficulties for Elizabeth regarding her status?
She was a single women.
What were ministers keen at the idea of?
For Elizabeth to get married to prevent the possibility of a Catholic inheriting the throne.
What did Elizabeth think about issues of marriage and succession?
She felt strongly about them and that they lay within the royal prerogative and were not areas for discussion either in Parliament or round the Council table.
Name the 4 suitors for Elizabeth to marry.
1) Robert Dudley- the future Earl of Leicester (probably Elizabeth’s preferred choice). However, the prospect of Elizabeth marrying Leicester horrified Sir William Cecil, whose own influence would have been seriously eroded.
2) Philip II of Spain- He offered his hand in a polite gesture to Elizabeth but probably lacked serious intent partly because of his profound Catholicism.
3) The archdukes Ferdinand and Charles- sons of the Emperor Ferdinand. However both were Catholic.
4) Prince Erik of Sweden, a protestant suitor, to whom Elizabeth gave little encouragement.
When did the House of Commons first raise the issue of marriage?
In January 1559.
What happened when Parliament met in 1563?
The situation was very different as Elizabeth had been stricken with smallpox in October 1562 and for a time it seemed she might die, thereby creating a full-scale succession crisis.
Who were the potential successors looking like when Elizabeth was struck with smallpox?
The disgraced Lady Catherine Grey and the ardent Catholic Mary, Queen of Scots.
When did Parliament meet again to pressure again, for Elizabeth to marry and how did Elizabeth react?
In 1566, she reacted furiously and banished Leicester and the Earl of Pembroke from the Presence Chamber..
What happened in 1579 when Elizabeth was declared capable of still bearing a child?
A possible marriage to Francois, brother of King Henry III of France was suggested by Burghley and Sussex. (Nothing came of it).
What did her councillors think about the Marriage to Francois?
Horrified that this would lead to an infant child- under French influence- as a successor.
What did Elizabeth come to the conclusion that?
Not to marry because the disadvantages outweighed the advantages.
What did the execution of Mary, Queen of Scots lead to?
That her son James VI of Scotland was the hereditary claimant to the throne. In addition James was Protestant and by 1600 he had 2 sons.
What did Elizabeth’s councillors vested an interest in doing once they found out about about James VI probably going to inherit the throne?
They remained in royal favour, once Elizabeth’s successor was in place they began wooing James, even before her death in 1603. Particularly Essex who was in regular contact with James IV, after Essex’s death in 1601, Sir Robert Cecil kept in contact with James.
What had Elizabeth never done?
She never named a successor there is no proof she named James as the successor.
