Elizabeth I, which was known to be the girl who should never be queen, ascended the throne at an urgent situation. During this time, she had to deal with a wide range of problems which include sexism, religion, marriage, and countries attacking. These problems all had a link to religion it was a major part of their culture at that time. Overall, she dealt with these problems quite successfully – most of those problems as they were all solved and she proved that women could also do what men could; or even better. Elizabeth faced the problem of developing a powerful image as she’s physically small – people thought she didn’t have enough power to rule the country; especially when she first ascended her throne. Therefore, the artists painted Elizabeth to have the qualities of young, powerful, knowledgeable and rich. Also, they painted her “big” to make her seem powerful and wise and she looked young. Personally, she’s largely successful for spreading an image that would let her subjects believe her power e.g. in the Rainbow Portrait she’s 67 but looked like 40. Also, many paintings had a message in it; “Non Sine Sole Iris” meant she’s the Sun and England’s the Rainbow – England couldn’t be maintained without Elizabeth. Marriage was a difficult choice for Elizabeth as it was an important factor for whom she should marry as it effects the destiny of her country e.g. if it was Pillip II he’d certainly take over due to his power. But, if Elizabeth didn’t get married, she’s also in an unsafe situation as she might have an accident (there are many Catholic plotters) and she didn’t have an heir, England would become a mess and would fall into others’ hands. What Elizabeth did was very risky because she might be killed any second if she’s slightly unluckier but, not marrying turns out to be the “only option” so actually she dealt with it fairly successfully. Also, in terms of religion, English Catholics wanted her to marry Phillip II or Duke of Alençon as they’re Catholics. Religion was one of the biggest issues of all as it has a connection with other problems, which made England divide into two: Protestantism and Catholicism. Elizabeth was very successful to the religious conflicts at that time because she tried to make a “middle way” – to keep both Protestants and Catholics. Although the country was mainly under a Protestant way (as Elizabeth is Protestant), she still kept some Catholic aspects e.g. didn’t prosecute ordinary Catholics; she wanted to make religion a personal thing and it wasn’t something that you’d need to be forced to believe in. Also, she used a phrase: “I would not open windows into men’s souls”, which means she wouldn’t look through you to see if you’re a Protestant or Catholic; you could just keep it to yourself. If Mary Queen of Scots never existed, life would be easier for Elizabeth as she’s the next English heir in line if Elizabeth had descended the throne. When she escaped from Scotland and arrived at England, it brought Elizabeth into an even more crucial position. Although Mary staying at England might cause the English Catholics wanting her to replace Elizabeth; but this is the only choice. After several of plots, Elizabeth decided carefully not to execute her and this was very clever (entirely successful) because she had been very thoughtful and considerate. But soon Elizabeth was convinced that she couldn’t let Mary live any longer; one more day she is alive, one more day Elizabeth and England is in danger. The Spanish Armada is the fight between Spain and England; Spain was a very strong country which was another dilemma for Elizabeth. The execution of Mary Queen of Scots was the excuse for Pillip II to start war. Though the English ships were smaller and fewer than those opposed to them, they were better built and better manned; their skillful use of artillery gave them a great advantage. Also, one of the most important factors for battles (especially in the water) is the weather. On the day, there came a terrible storm and many Spanish ships were damaged. This suggests that even God was on Elizabeth’s side and wanted her to win; Elizabeth was also entirely successful as it proved that she was a lucky queen. Elizabeth was mostly successful in tackling the problems of her reign because she had overcome all her problems. I think the key which led Elizabeth to success was how carefully and thoughtfully she was when she dealt with her problems. Elizabeth also had good advisors and she began to develop a clear mind as she becomes more confident in making decisions. Thus, her reign was sometimes called a golden age as Elizabeth was seen and known as a strong, successful queen.
Word count: 800
Bibliography:
- http://wiki.answers.com/Q/How_did_Elizabeth_I_maintain_her_image_through_portraits#slide1
- http://wiki.answers.com/Q/Why_did_Queen_Elizabeth_never_marry#slide1
- http://www.historylearningsite.co.uk/spanish_armada.htm
- http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/education/lesson39.htm
- http://www.markedbyteachers.com/university-degree/historical-and-philosophical-studies/why-was-mary-queen-of-scots-a-threat-to-elizabeth-i-and-what-problems-did-elizabeth-face-in-dealing-with-her.html
- http://www.historyonthenet.com/Tudors/elizabeth_mary_queen_of_scots.htm
- http://www.historylearningsite.co.uk/1559_religious_settlement.htm
- LIONel, History Year 8, Elizabeth I: How successfully did she tackle the problems of her reign?, sections 1-7, Files Elizabeth: + YoungFemaleElizabethI.docx
+ Essay Plan.doc
+ Elizabeth I - Spanish Armada Timeline.docx
+ Mary Queen of Scots Problems for Elizabeth.docx
You May Also Find These Documents Helpful
-
William Cecil’s influence touched on just about all aspects of policy that occurred during Elizabeth’s long reign. In the Royal Court he brought order and stability. Cecil was also highly influential in foreign policy. He saw France and Spain as threats to. It has also been argued that Cecil was not just the provider of advice and executor of the Queens wishes but also that he could have been the power behind the throne. Plenty of evidence has come to light that suggests that the Secretary regularly attempted to manipulate Elizabeth however it would be inaccurate to assume that all of Cecil’s personal agendas were fruitful, Elizabeth could make her own mind up and often did so. Although Cecil was a prominent figure during this time, Elizabeth was still the person who ruled the country and had her own ideas on how to run the country. Elizabeth was firmly in control of major policies and on many occasions obstinately ignored the Councils advice. The Council conscientiously carried out the Queens wishes even when it had advised otherwise. There is general agreement that, until its decline in the 1590s central government under Elizabeth was successful and that the Queen provided firm direction. According to Neale Parliament was another aspect that had influence over decision making in Elizabeth government He argues that the power of the House of Commons increased throughout Elizabeth’s reign. The number of conflicts Elizabeth had with individual MPs and the problems which the Stuarts experienced with Parliament are evidence for this. These developments were brought by the “Puritan Choir “who deliberately planned confrontations to force the issue of parliamentary privilege versus the royal prerogative. It is therefore necessary to investigate not only to what extent Cecil was involved in the decision making process but also the influence of the Parliament on Elizabeth and ultimately the decisions that were taken through this time of how many were Elizabeth’s own ideas.…
- 326 Words
- 2 Pages
Satisfactory Essays -
Although the issue of illegitimacy threatened to remove Elizabeth from the throne, I believe finance was a bigger problem as it affected the entire population of England, no matter which religion they followed, unlike the illegitimacy problem, which primarily affected Catholics only. Gender was another large issue because of marriage and the threat of foreign royalty getting joint power over England and pulling England into their countries affairs and problems, which could lead to war. Similarly, the problem Elizabeth faced with Parliament not backing her was the prospect of a civil war breaking out. War seems to be a large factor which runs through most problems Elizabeth faced and it seems war was primarily a problem because of England’s failing finances. All these points ultimately make finance the major problem which Elizabeth faced on her succession in…
- 1755 Words
- 8 Pages
Good Essays -
Elizabeth had inherited the throne of England in 1558 from a Catholic queen Mary who had attempted to re-convert England back to Catholicism and to allow the country to take part in the Catholic reformation of Europe. The accession of Elizabeth was met with anxiety and tension as to discover what she was to do in response to religion and how the Catholic powers of Europe as well as the Catholics within England at the time would treat any changes. The immediate rise to power was met with little hostility as Elizabeth had made very cautious changes to start with as she thought it wise not to provoke hostility from abroad considering the position of England at the time as a small, weak protestant nation. The start of Elizabeth’s reign was fairly peaceful however tensions rose and a Catholic threat seemed more imminent as her reign drew to the end.…
- 2682 Words
- 11 Pages
Powerful Essays -
Throughout history, women have been constantly viewed and treated as inferior to men. Throughout English history, there have been many female monarchs. Among these monarchs is Elizabeth I. Elizabeth’s predecessor was Mary I, who tried to restore England to Catholicism and was heavily disliked by her subjects. Elizabeth’s period of rule commenced during 1558 and lasted until 1603. Since Elizabeth I ensured that England stayed an Anglican country, she was greatly loved by her people and was able to earn respect as a ruler. However, since Elizabeth I was a female during a time where the idea of female inferiority was shared by the majority of people, she did not attain as much respect as a king would have. During Elizabeth’s reign, she used her…
- 851 Words
- 4 Pages
Good Essays -
Elizabeth Alexandra Mary is an inquirer and a caring person because she cared about what's best for her people and she also likes to inquire everything to make them into something better. During the Italian Renaissance, women's rights were vary limited. Therefor, it was really rare when England has a female ruler that has firm control over all forces,major or not, at their will. However, queen Elizabeth didn't just give women rights , she also makes a rules to help the poor, but only the deserving poor and the deserving unemployed because before society shut them out in the medieval ages. Moreover, it was hard for women to get jobs or get tacked seriously by other people before queen Elizabeth 1 became a major influence to England at the…
- 675 Words
- 3 Pages
Satisfactory Essays -
My last question is what the judgement was made about Queen Elizabeth not being married? When King Henry died Queen Elizabeth moved with her stepmother and her step mother got married to a guy named Thomas Seymour. Thomas Seymour was having an affair with Queen Elizabeth. There were a lot of rumours about why she never married. Some of these rumours were she was a male and the scandal with Thomas. So this is why she never married because of what happen to her in her life.…
- 358 Words
- 2 Pages
Satisfactory Essays -
Queen Elizabeth I, also known as “The Virgin Queen,” was one of the most famous monarchs of all time and her reign was called The Golden Age. Born Elizabeth Tudor, September 7, 1533 in Greenwich, England to King Henry VIII and Anne Boleyn. Her birth was quite a disappointment to the king because he was hoping for a male heir.1 At the time, King Henry VIII was still married to Queen Katherine of Aragon and wanted a divorce from her so that he could marry Elizabeth’s mother Anne Boleyn. It was not too long before King Henry VIII rectified this by going before the Pope and requesting an annulment from Queen Katherine. It was at that time, Elizabeth’s half-sister Mary, the daughter of King Henry VIII and Queen Katherine of Aragon, was named illegitimate. Elizabeth’s mother, Queen Anne, was unable to provide a son to the king and was executed for supposed adultery, when Elizabeth was only two years old. Shortly after her mother’s death, Elizabeth was declared illegitimate and her place in the line of succession was taken away, her reputation was tarnished because of her mother’s speculated infidelity and other scandalous matters. After her mother’s death, Elizabeth had many stepmothers throughout her childhood, Jane Seymour died giving birth to the King’s only son, Prince Edward; Anne of Cleves whom King Henry VII divorced; Catherine Howard was beheaded; and finally Katherine Parr, who was the only wife of King Henry VII to outlive him.…
- 1742 Words
- 5 Pages
Powerful Essays -
Queen Elizabeth was a great ruler but had to deal with sexist stereotypes that believed women should follow their husbands and should not have any power. They believed men were chosen by god to rule the world. The people who fought for the queen said that the queen would never take attention from God and that it was the duty of the people to follow the ruler, and the ruler was Queen…
- 356 Words
- 2 Pages
Satisfactory Essays -
At the time of Elizabeth 1 reign she was deeply influenced by the stereotypes of women. Elizabeth worked hard to avoid the mistakes made by some of her female precursors. Some commonly spoken beliefs or ideas were that women were incapable of being rulers of any kind due to the fact that they were weak and by nature, subservient. Elizabeth 1 responded to these thoughts by keeping her head held high while striving to be a fair and loyal ruler. Three main ideas or areas that were discussed where women should or shouldn't be in charge, where women should not hold a political office, be a religious figure, and women's duty to marry a king and to preform the act of succession.…
- 840 Words
- 4 Pages
Good Essays -
Queen Elizabeth I is argued to be one of the best rulers of England. She was different from many of the rulers before her in many ways. Elizabeth was able to show the world that a woman was more than capable of ruling over a country; she was capable of changing one. Queen Elizabeth was intellectual, witty, and used her feminine beauty to get her way. Using her developed talents, Elizabeth was able to overcome many obstacles in her life, making her an extraordinary powerhouse.…
- 1619 Words
- 7 Pages
Better Essays -
People who disagreed with Elizabeth were primarily worried about how she wouldn’t have the capacity to manage a nation like a man could, and were backed up by the bible. Admirers had a go at spreading their convictions by talking about how rousing and supportive she was to the nation of England and its kin to pick up the acknowledgment of being the ruler. Elizabeth realized that she was being oppressed, and as opposed to sitting back and putting up with it, she voiced her opinions and proved she could be a just and loyal queen. She suppressed her oppositions that didn’t support her as a result of her sex and made an assembled nation that was more grounded than when she entered her rule. She enabled women to have confidence and to not be treated like dirt and promoted equality by being a steadfast queen and demonstrating to the nation that she was pretty much as effective as any…
- 797 Words
- 4 Pages
Good Essays -
One reason that Queen Elizabeth I is considered influential is because from birth she was faced with struggle. When Elizabeth was born into the Tudor family on September 7th, 1553, her parents thought she was a disappointment. “The son she had hoped so confidently to bear the man child, who would save England from a threatened civil war, this child had somehow withdrawn among the shadows and in his place there emerged this little girl Elizabeth.” Her parents, King Henry VIII and Anne Boleyn wanted a son who could take the throne and rule England but to their dismay they got a daughter. Growing up Elizabeth had to deal with not having a female role model in her life.…
- 628 Words
- 3 Pages
Good Essays -
Queen Elizabeth I of England, who ruled for 45 years from 1558-1603, had an uneasy reign. Since she was a female monarch and not male, which was rare in England, people believed that she wouldn’t be a competent monarch. The people who were not favorable for female monarchs or even females in general, believed very strongly abut the issue. John Knox, a Scottish religious reformer, declared in First Blast of the Trumpet Against the Monstrous Regiment of Women, that a women ruler is “against all nature” (D1). However, there are some who are favorable to Queen Elizabeth’s rule as a female. Marcus Gheeraerts, an English court painter, depicts Queen Elizabeth as a person who is rich and in control by dressing her in extravagant clothes and putting the world underneath her (D8). During Queen Elizabeth’s reign, there were those who were not favorable to her rule and those who were, but apart from what others said, she herself thought that she was a competent ruler.…
- 609 Words
- 3 Pages
Good Essays -
She became a trademark logo for England. Elizabeth changed how women were known, she changed culture worldwide. One of her famous lines is, “It is no marvel to teach a woman to talk… It were far harder to teach her to hold her tongue.” She is a woman warrior (Moss). Elizabeth proved so many people wrong by turning England around when it was so vulnerable, by speaking out, by refusing to marry a man. Her reign is often called the Golden Age or Elizabethan Age (Phillips). She had movies, films, and painting done about her. “Shakespeare in Love.” is a play that in it shows how confident she was and what great wisdom she offered. The “Rainbow Portrait” is a portrait of her that shows her dress covered in eyes, ears, and lips that are thought to be her secret service (Moss). Images of Queen Elizabeth are known worldwide, but something most people don’t realize is that the images are what she wanted you to see. They had official patterns of her image made so that when she got older it would still be the same beautiful, young lady (Richards). In the pictures you can see she is always dressed to kill. Elizabeth would wear many jewels, to bedazzle her people. She would wear colors to enhance her hair, even when she died, her wardrobe lived on (Orlandi). Queen Elizabeth would be projected as a goddess on earth, in some cases she is (Scott). In modern society we still talk about her and the way she left a lasting impact. Elizabeth never thought with her heart, she thought with her head. She kept her eyes on the prize and made England and herself this amazing thing…
- 1604 Words
- 7 Pages
Good Essays -
Elizabeth is one character that everyone would love to be best friends with. Her smarts are inevitable; she is also a reader, and let’s never forget to mention her beauty. Austen tells us that "she had a lively, playful disposition, which delighted in anything ridiculous" (3.14). And it's true. Her main problem is that not everyone seems to understand her brash sense of humor. Sometimes that is good for her, for instance when she was making fun of Mr. Collins to his face. Other times it just leads to her simply being misunderstood, like the time she tells Mr. Darcy that she "rather wonder[s] now at [his] knowing any" accomplished women (8.51-52). She is blatantly making fun of the standards that he and Miss Bennet have come up with for accomplishment yet she is the only one laughing at the matter. We see her interacting with characters, and we think, is this girl ever seen as serious? Lizzie couldn’t even be serious with her sister. When Jane asks how long she's loved Darcy, Elizabeth replies by saying, "It has been coming on so gradually, that I hardly know when it began. But I believe I must date it…
- 396 Words
- 2 Pages
Satisfactory Essays