Historians' Interest in Elizabeth and Her Successors

Historians' Interest in Elizabeth and Her Successors

Elizabeth Tudor is considered by many to be the greatest monarch in

English history. When she became queen in 1558, she was twenty-five

years old, a survivor of scandal and danger, and considered

illegitimate by most Europeans. She inherited a bankrupt nation, torn

by religious discord, a weakened pawn between the great powers of

France and Spain. She was only the third queen to rule England in her

own right; the other two examples, her cousin Lady Jane Grey and

half-sister Mary I, were disastrous. Even her supporters believed her

position dangerous and uncertain. Although there was widely held

discomfort with England having a female ruler, this did not translate

into active opposition as most believed that she was monarch by the

will of God. But this did not mean they were not concerned.. She

herself proved the biggest challenge to this statement and historians

have debated ever since on why Elizabeth did not marry or choose an

heir until so late in her reign.

As long as anyone could remember there had been public concern over

England’s political future and until Elizabeth produced an heir, the

future was unclear. When Elizabeth mounted the throne, it was taken

for granted (particularly by the House of Commons) that she was to

marry, and marry with the least possible delay. A speech to the

Commons contained “God incline Your Majesty’s heart to marriage…. that

we may see the fruit and child that may come thereof.” This was

expected of her, not merely because in the event of her dying without

issue there would be a dispute whether the claim of Mary Stuart or

that of Cathe...

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...ut the whole affair- it is

unclear how much of the time she was playing diplomatic games, or

whether she once did intend to marry. If the nobles of England could

have foreseen that Elizabeth would elude her obligation to marry and

produce a (preferably male) heir, she would probably never have been

allowed to mount the throne. Her marriage was thought to be as much a

matter of course, and as necessary, as her coronation. Ultimately, one

historian, S. Doran reminds us of why there is so much debate- because

“there is very little evidence” for a definitive answer. It could have

been her supposed implacable hostility to marriage; a determination to

rule alone; a bad state of health; traumatic childhood memories; or

merely that Elizabeth never found a candidate approved by the Council

who she thought was worth considering.