“I know I have but the body of a weak and feeble woman, but I have the heart and stomach of a king, and of a king of England too” - Queen Elizabeth I. These are words from a speech that the Queen gave to troops in Tibany and no doubt does it show her ultimate strength and capability of ruling a country (War: The Definitive Visual History). Queen Elizabeth’s childhood, rise to the throne, and her reign has shaped her and undoubtedly shows her power and strength, and therefore many consider her to be one of the greatest monarchies. Queen Elizabeth I never had the conventional childhood that most do since it was filled with death, abandonment, and harassment. Elizabeth’s life was a struggle since she was born because her dad, Henry the 7th, …show more content…
charged her mom, Anne Boleyn, of incest and adultery and was then beheaded (Jenson 1).
According to Linda Alchin, Elizabeth had a sudden change of name after her mother's death, even though Elizabeth was merely a child she noticed the name change saying , "how haps it governor, yesterday my Lady Princess, today but my Lady Elizabeth?" (1). Ashlie Jenson notes that “Lady Bryan, Elizabeth’s lady governor, petitioned tirelessly for someone, anyone, to turn the king’s attention, even if only momentarily, to the plight of his little girl” (1) . From the guidance of Henry’s sixth wife, Katharine Parr, Elizabeth received a tremendous amount of education such as “Latin, Greek, Spanish, French, as well as all the other requirements of a classical humanist education; history philosophy, mathematics” (Lewis 2). Although Elizabeth loved books she also enjoyed hobbies such as playing musical instruments, needlework, and art (Alchin, 1). Ashlie Jenson states that Elizabeth, and Mary were reinstated to the succession, but were still not legitimized, and in the midst of that peaceful time, the interruption of her father’s death, lead everything to complete turmoil (3). Consequently, her young brother of 7, was inconveniently forced to take the throne
with the governing of uncle Edward Seymour as Protector, and newly created Duke of Somerset. After the death of King Henry, Katherine remarried her stepson’s uncle, Admiral Thomas Seymour( Jenson, 3). Thomas treated Elizabeth crudely by “bursting into her rooms in the morning, tearing back the curtains of her bed, and tickling her until she could get away” (Jenson, 4). Thomas used Katherine as an accomplice to his treatment of Elizabeth “ having her assist in holding Elizabeth down as he slashed her dress in the garden” (Jenson, 4). Katherine eventually sends Elizabeth away in order to protect her from Thomas, and because she was jealous of the attention Thomas gave Elizabeth. Katharine later passed away of childbed fever, which devastated Elizabeth because Katherine was like a mother to her (Jenson, 4). After Katherine's death, Elizabeth also suffered from the death of her half brother, King Edward. Later, Elizabeth’s sister, Mary, takes the throne and imprisons Elizabeth in the London Towers because she believed that Elizabeth was plotting to overthrow her (Alchin, 1). But, “Elizabeth survived her sister Mary’s tempestuous reign and imprisonment in the Tower of London with the skills that life had taught her: self-preservation, skepticism, intuition and wit” (Jenson, 4). In 1558, twenty-five year old Elizabeth claimed the throne and became Queen after her sister, Mary’s death. One of the most important aspects of Elizabeth’s reign is religion. Before -Mary’s death, she worked to reinstate England to Roman Catholicism and received the nickname, Bloody Mary, for killing 300 Protestants as heretics. Queen Elizabeth quickly made an effort to address this issue by passing the Act of Supremacy and the Act of Uniformity during her first Parliament in 1959 (Queen Elizabeth I,1). The Act of Supremacy re-established the Church of England and “required public officials to take an oath acknowledging the Sovereign's control over the Church or face severe punishment”. The Act of Uniformity “required the use of the Protestant Book of Common Prayer in church services” (History). The religion conflict, however, was not over because the Church of England, which Elizabeth was supreme governor of, had been attacked by both Puritans and Catholics throughout her reign. Also during the time that Elizabeth became queen, England was at war with France. France was a big threat to England because of the connections of Mary, Queen of Scots. In 1560, Elizabeth signed the Treaty of Edinburgh and was able to cut off a good amount of the French threat. The Treaty of Edinburgh is a legal agreement between England, France, and Scotland that all English and French troops would withdraw from Scotland (The Virgin Queen). For most of her reign, Elizabeth, with the help of her key advisor, William Cecil, tried to avoid clashing with foreign countries and keep the peace (Queen Elizabeth I, 1). Queen Elizabeth is greatly remembered because it was the first time in english history that a woman ruled the country by herself without a king. There were many men that proposed to her, but she did not accept any of them and since, she chose not to marry she became known as the Virgin Queen of England. It is said that she had a love interest in Robert Dudley, 1st Earl of Leicester, but would not marry him. Robert Dudley had proposed to Elizabeth, and she responded by saying, “I will have here but one mistress and no master”. Even though Elizabeth was not interested in anyone other than Dudley, she was claimed to be very flirtatious and loved attention (1). Since Robert Dudley knew he could never have Elizabeth he introduced her to Robert Devereux, his step son. “Robert Devereux proved to be the Queen’s most ill-judged flirt, leading a rebellion against her and ending his life on the executioner’s block. He was, perhaps, the only young man whose ambition she failed to convert to serve her own glory”. Although Elizabeth never settled down with any man, she always used flirtatious methods to obtain all the love and attention she needed, but she never let her love affairs affect her reign as Queen. She was able to manage all her lovers while maintaining reputation, and power (Gregory, 2). Elizabeth never married a man, yet one could say that she was married to her job and to her people. Elizabeth’s reign was troubled till the end of her days. The article, Queen Elizabeth 1 notes, “Troubled times marked the final years of Elizabeth's reign. The country suffered from failed crops, unemployment and inflation”(2). The later years of Elizabeth's reign was filled with riots that transpired all over Ireland; Elizabeth sent Robert Devereaux assuage the rebellion, but instead he started a rebellion in Europe which led to his execution in 1601 ( Queen Elizabeth 1, 2). Despite all the problems occurring during Elizabeth’s reign she gave her most famous speech called the Golden Speech “Of myself I must say this, I was never any greedy, scraping grasper, nor a strait, fast-holding prince, nor yet a waster. My heart was never set on worldly goods but for my subjects' good” (Queen Elizabeth 1, 2). Elizabeth passed away on March 24, 1603 , at Richmond Palace in Surrey, which ended the reign of the house of Tudor who had been ruling since the 1400’s (Queen Elizabeth 1, 2). Though Elizabeth had a difficult time during her reign she gave her people much “ provided her subjects with stability and consistency, and her sharp wits and clever mind helped navigate the nation through religious and political challenges” (Queen Elizabeth 1, 2). Given Queen Elizabeth’s rise to sitting on the throne without a king and to her inevitably fall when the country suffered as a result of her demise she still maintained loyalty to her country and is still one of the most powerful female leaders of her time.
When Elizabeth was 3, she was declared illegitimate and lost the title of Princess after her father arrested and executed her mother for charges of treason, incest, and witchcraft. King Henry quickly remarried and his third wife, Jane Seymour, gave birth to a son, Prince Edward, who became the official heir to the throne. During Elizabeth's young life, she learned six languages, including Latin, Greek, French, and Italian. She was often thought of as very intelligent and serious as a child. Her tutor, Ascham, remarked that Elizabeth's intellect and memory distinguished her above others, men and women alike.
Like her father Elizabeth took England into a different direction. She would be attributed for many advancements in the English kingdom. Under Elizabeth Arts flourished, exploration heightened, literature increased, and foreign trade succeeded. Elizabeth like her grandfather won the hearts of her subjects. Perhaps one of the more outstanding accomplishments in Elizabeth’s reign is peace. Although she was raised Protestant, unlike her brother she did not condemn and punish Catholics. She took a more peaceful approached and tried to bridge a barrier amongst Protestant and Catholics that allowed them to live in peace. Elizabeth may have had many intelligent advisors, but she did not allow herself to be dominated and repressed. Equally intelligent, Elizabeth was able to further support the suffering of her kingdom. She failed to supply proper income to fund her wars, but she was able to sustain the wealth within her own kingdom. This alone made Elizabeth the final Tudor, a successful
...ide throughout history and to this day. In addition, the Elizabethan Settlement has demonstrated to the world the peace that can emerge from religious compromise and toleration between specific conflicting views. Lastly, the Privy Council, cabinet-type, advisory group that was first most prominently used by Elizabeth has been adopted by many thriving nations, such as the United States today. Ultimately, from all of these actions during her forty-six year reign, Queen Elizabeth I has truly been a molder of England, artistically, religiously, and politically.
Queen Elizabeth was an intelligent, courageous person. She could be described as the ideal queen of all times. Her bravery is one of the most admired traits which caused everyone in England to love her, based on her grand encounters. It was quite a popular detail of Elizabeth’s life th...
On (Date), Queen, passed this life in Big Bend Hospice, Tallahassee, FL after long illness.
Elizabeth I is considered one of the greatest monarchs to every reign. Her literary writings are a reflection of her reign. Her reign would be long and would lead a religiously divided nation with commerce problems into an era of religious moderation and prosperity. Her political judgments and actions would reflect her intellect as well as the caution and wisdom she learned in her early childhood. She would balance the use of masculine and feminine attributes to solidify her position on the throne. Her speeches reflect her politically savvy and oratorical skills in rallying a nation and establishing an emotional connection with the people (1902). In her speech, To the troops at Tilb...
Henry VIII did not set a good example in Elizabeth’s early years. Elizabeth was born to King Henry VIII and Anne Boleyn on September 7, 1533. Henry had wanted a son so severely that he had had his previous wives beheaded since they gave him no sons (Eakins). Anne thought that she was expecting a boy, but sure enough, Elizabeth came out. This was somewhat of a disappointment to the King. In May of 1536 (Sparknotes), before Elizabeth was even three years old, Henry had Anne’s head cut off after he – possibly falsely – charged her with incest and adultery. Henry then remarried Jane Seymour who would soon expect a son. Jane died shortly after the birth of Edward VI. Katherine Parr was Elizabeth’s last stepmother as well as Henry’s sixth and final wife. Katherine had an older daughter than Elizabeth – Mary (Eakins). Henry VIII’s health was declining, however.
Elizabeth uses her gender and knowledge to make herself appear as a humble queen who knows she does not deserve the crown. She uses this to explain her actions. Right at the beginning of her Speech to the Commons, Elizabeth explains that, “The weight and greatness of this matter might cause in me, being a woman wanting both wit and memory, some fear to speak and bashfulness besides, a thing appropriate to my sex. But yet the princely seat and kingly
Elizabeth [grew up in complex and sometimes difficult circumstances]. In 1547 Elizabeth’s father, Henry VIII, died. Catherine Parr took care of Elizabeth. She hired tutors for Elizabeth. Fighting between Catherine and her husband, Thomas, made Elizabeth have to go back the Hatfield estate. [Elizabeth’s relationship with Thomas came under scrutiny. Thomas was later tried for marring Elizabeth for power. He was found guilty and later executed].
Gender was the leading cause of distress in the 1500’s: King Henry VIII wanted nothing more than to have a son, yet was “cursed” with the legacy of a frail son, whom died before the age of 18 and two daughters, one of whom broke every convention of her gender. Queen Elizabeth I never married nor had children, yet can be considered one of England’s most successful monarchs. By choosing King James VI of Scotland as her heir, unbeknownst to her, she created the line that leads to the modern Queen of England, Elizabeth II. The question posed is then, how did Elizabeth I’s gender affect her rule?
Elizabeth was born September 7, 1533 in Greenwich England. She was the daughter of King Henry VII and his second wife, Anne Boleyn. Elizabeth had a half sister from the king’s first wife, Catherine of Aragon, and also had a half brother from the king’s third wife, Jane Seymour. When Elizabeth was only two, her father had her mother executed for suspicion of adultery. When her father decided to have Elizabeth’s mother executed, he then stripped Elizabeth of her title as princess.
Established Plan - components of Roman and Greek engineering styles with symmetrical lines. Elizabethan design of Elizabethan chateaus. Elizabethan engineering of Upper and Lower-class houses - Dark and White half-timbered plans. The Gothic style of engineering moved into the Renaissance style of design. What's more, the primary Renaissance style design in Britain was Hampton Court.
The way both Elizabeth and Catherine lived during their youth had an impact on their life ambitions. Raised by an exasperated father, a single-minded mother whose only goal was to have each of he...
Two years after Elizabeth’s birth her mother was executed by her father accused of being unfaithful, she was then declared illegitimate (Hilliam 10). Although Elizabeth was declared illegitimate by Parliament she was still raised in the royal household (Gale 1). Elizabeth spoke five languages fluently, including Italian, French German, Latin, Greek, and of course English; she was very sharp (Hilliam 10). Elizabeth developed a great relationship with her half brother Edward VI; they became even closer when he became king. Their strong relationship came to an end when Edward died at age fifteen due to a fatal lung disease, and tuberculosis (Hilliam 15). Her half sister Mary I, the daughter of Henry’s first wife Catherine of Aragon then took the throne (Bush 28). Mary I was often called “Bloody Mary” because of the number of people she had killed while trying to reconvert England to Catholicism. Mary felt threatened by the fact that Elizabeth was Protestant, and supported by the people of England (Gale 1). Mary thought Elizabeth was plotting to overthrow her, although Elizabeth was innocent and ill she was still sent to the Tower of London. Although Mary still was n...
After a sojourn in The Tower of London, Elizabeth finally ascended the throne in November of 1558. On November 15th, 1558, Elizabeth was at last crowned Queen after years of being cast aside, forgotten, and even tried for conspiracy. She inherited a destitute country filled with religious strife and memories of the many defeats at war. But still, she was determined to live life to its fullest and enjoyed horse-back riding and game/bear hunting. She loved music, dancing, and pageantry. She dressed extravagantly while watching plays, which created the basis for the flourishing of the theater and with it the plays of Shakespeare.