Marriage + The Succession Flashcards
Why did Mary need to get married fast?
- She was 37 (old)
- Needed to produce an heir
What were the two marriage options for Mary?
1) Edward Courtenay, Earl of Devon
2) Philip of Spain, son of King of Spain Charles V
Who in the Privy Council preferred suitor Edward Courtenay?
Gardiner
Who in the Privy Council preferred suitor Philip of Spain?
Paget
Which suitor did Mary choose?
Philip of Spain
Did Mary consult the Privy Council about her marriage choice?
No
What were the positives + negatives of the suitor Edward Courtenay?
POS
- Prevent issues of a foreign marriage
NEG
- Marrying English nobility would elevate his family, bring factional rivalry
- Lacked courtly skills
- Mary didn’t prefer him
What were the positives + negatives of the suitor Philip of Spain?
POS
- Strengthen foreign relations with Spain (Philip heir to Charles V)
- Strengthen foreign relations with Habsburgs’ HRE (Philip son of Charles + a Habsburg)
- Mary favoured him
NEG
- England could become dominated by Spain or drawn into their foreign affairs
What were the terms of the marriage treaty (1554)?
(Favourable to England)
- Power to govern England rested with Mary alone
- Philip had title ‘King of England’ only for Mary’s lifetime
- No foreigners allowed to hold English offices
- England wouldn’t become involved in or fund Spain’s wars
- If Mary died childless, succession passes to Elizabeth
Did the people of England generally agree with Mary’s marriage to Philip? How do we know?
No - Wyatt’s Rebellion
When did Mary marry Philip?
25th July 1554
Why were the people of England + Parliament concerned about the marriage to Philip?
Worried about the implication in Spanish affairs + the potential that Philip could end up ruling England
We’re Parliament happy with Mary marrying Philip? How do we know?
No - stopped Philip’s coronation in 1555
Did Philip approve of his marriage to Mary?
No
- Found the English unwelcoming
- Unimpressed with Mary (11yrs older yet had childlike attitude to love + marriage)
- Determined to spend as little time in England as possible
What was the act that dictated who would succeed Mary I?
Succession Act (1544)
According to the 1544 Succession Act, who was Mary’s heir if she died childless?
Elizabeth
What were the 3 main reasons Mary didn’t want Elizabeth to succeed her?
- Elizabeth was Protestant
- Elizabeth personified reason for break with Rome + Henry’s divorce of Mary’s mother that she had strongly opposed
- Mary didn’t trust Elizabeth (particularly after Wyatt’s Rebellion)
What did Mary need to do to prevent Elizabeth being her heir?
Have a child
Did Mary have a child?
No - but she had 2 fake pregnancies/phantom pregnancies
How many ‘fake’/phantom pregnancies did Mary have?
2
When was Mary’s first phantom pregnancy? What happened?
Spring 1555
- Confinement at Hampton Court
- Due 6th June
- 4th Aug left with no baby
When was Mary’s second phantom pregnancy?
Near end of her reign
What were the two main outcomes of Mary’s phantom pregnancies?
- Unable to produce an alternative heir to Elizabeth
- Became an embarrassment - Philip left country
How did Mary die?
Illness from May -> Nov 1558
Some saw ovarian cysts/uterine cancer/influenza
On what date was Mary forced to name Elizabeth her heir?
6th Nov 1558
She was ill + clearly dying without an heir
When did Mary die?
17th Nov 1558
