Mary I Flashcards
Why was it hard for Mary when she came to the throne?
Was the first female monarch, ruling after a child
Was 37 yrs old when crowned
Was politically inexperienced
What were some problems in government when Mary ascended the throne?
Kingdom was full of religious divisions
Not been brought up to rule so had little political instinct
Her loyal and trusted supporters had little experience in government
Had to rely on those who served Ed
Why was the relationship between Mary and Parliament not good?
Many MPs opposed the reversal of the Edwardian religious legislation
Quarrelled over issue of succession
Who were Mary’s marriage prospects?
Earl of Devon - but marriage to Englishman would bring factional rivalry as his family would become more influential, and he lacked courtly skills
Philip of Spain - his father, Charles V, had supported Mary so he was keen to ‘do his duty’
Why were people hostile to the marriage?
Hatred of foreigners/didn’t want a Spanish king
Worried the English crown would pass to him rather than Eliz
What were the terms of the marriage treaty?
Philip had title of king but couldn’t exercise that power
No foreigners could hold English offices
If Mary predeceased, Philip had no claim to throne and crown would pass to Eliz
What were Mary’s plans for succession?
Needed an heir to keep the country Catholic
Didn’t want to pass to Eliz but needed parliamentary legislation to deny right of succession
Confined Eliz in Tower after Wyatt’s rebellion and later kept under house arrest
Formally named Eliz as successor on 6th Nov 1558, died 11 days later
What were Mary’s foreign policy aims?
To restore England to papal supremacy and to marry Philip
What was Mary’s foreign policy with France?
Hard for England to remain neutral in Franco-Spanish conflict and found herself at war with the papacy (FP aims were in conflict)
Eng declared war on F in 1557
At first, successful siege of St Quentin
1558 - loss of Calais
Why was the loss of Calais such a huge blow to Mary?
Economically: lost an important trading port
Territorially: lost last territory on mainland, however, she achieved little by maintaining it
Militarily: Calais was springboard for HVIII’s attacks but was expensive and a burden to have to defend
Diplomatically: seen as due to failed alliances (Philip allowed F to keep Calais)
Image/morale: Humiliating, made worse by Elizabethan propaganda which say ‘Spanish marriage + Catholic policy = loss of Calais’
What were Mary’s naval and militia reforms?
Six new ships built, others repaired
System worked effectively and were crucial in later Spanish Armada
Also reformed methods for raising of troops
WHat was the 1554 Wyatt’s rebellion?
Provoked by xenophobic attitudes towards Philip and Spanish marriage, also religious motives and economic (decline in cloth trade)
Significant as it showed the Protestant minority couldn’t be ignored, shows extent of hatred for Spanish marriage and resulted in execution of Lady Jane Grey
Mary was convinced Eliz was involved / imprisoned in tower but had to release her
Wyatt was close to success as he almost secured London but Mary dealt with it bravely and resolutely
How were the first religious changes of Mary’s reign received?
Enthusiastically as majority of country was still Catholic
What were some religious problems?
Protestantism, although minority, still attractive in London and South
The reformed Prot church was protected in statute law
Political elites benefited financially from gaining monastic lands / didn’t want to surrender their gains
What did Mary’s first parl in Oct 1553 change religiously?
Religious laws under Ed were repealed
Order of services restored
Clergy who married could be deprived of their livings
Legal status of CofE was upheld
