Queen Elizabeth I of England is perhaps the greatest example of a woman ruling in her own right that history has to offer as she successfully ruled over all of England for almost half a century, without marrying and surrendering her power to any man or foreign nation. Elizabeth’s two predecessors Lady Jane Grey and Mary Tudor were both terrible rulers –although Lady Jane only “ruled” for nine days- they left England with the impression that a woman could not rule the country effectively. As a result when Elizabeth came into power she was counseled to marry as quickly as possible and to simply rely to do the actual ruling. Elizabeth I like many women in power before her-most notably Melisende of Jerusalem- refused to just relinquish her throne …show more content…
Women of the early middle ages had some control over their fates but were never considered rulers in their own right or even as temporary regents. During the 12th century this concept began to change as the ideology of rulership changed to incorporate a greater emphasis on royal lineage and royal blood. Women from this point were at least considered possible claimants to a throne through their royal lineage, although they would never be considered before male heir with the same rank in the line of succession, such as a brother, even a younger one. It was only through accidents of fate that the world was introduced to the reality of capable female rulers; women rising to positions of power as Regent through the deaths of husband or rising to the position as heir apparent due to the lack of male heirs of equal succession status. Neither situation deliberately favored a woman over a male for a position of power but they did allow the precedent to be set that women were in fact capable of ruling. Although there was never a great call for any woman to take a throne over a man, there was a gradual acceptance of female rulers, starting in the 12th century and carrying on to the 16th. Men accepted that women could be capable but they never fully accepted them as women, more as women playing the role of a
Elizabeth I had total control of politics in England. She showed this best by refusing to marry. This allowed her to “further her general policy of balancing the continental powers,” (Gale Biography Context). Because Elizabeth decided not to marry, she was able to have complete political power over England. Political power
In 1558, John Knox declared, “To promote a Woman to bear rule, superiority, dominion, or empire above any Realm, Nation, or City, is against all Nature…” (document 1). Knox’s statement was no different than most English men’s opinions during the 1500s. The majority of the population was opposed to having a women hold any type of political power, as they believed it was a job for solely a man to possess. Leading up to the time period of Queen Elizabeth I’s reign, females had a specific purpose in life: to serve their husbands and provide them with children. All women lacked freedom and liberty, Elizabeth Tudor sought to change this matter. When Queen Elizabeth was coronated in 1559, men were superior in all economic and social aspects; however,
During her entire rule, Elizabeth I allowed for England to reach an equilibrium in its religious affairs through “The Elizabethan Settlement”, or her religious compromise. The Book of Common Prayer, issued by the Edward VI’s advisor Thomas Cranmer, was restored by Elizabeth....
“’I am already bound unto a husband which is the Kingdom of England.’” (Briscoe). These words were spoken by none other than Queen Elizabeth I, one of the most prominent monarchs of England. Elizabeth’s childhood impacted the decisions she made as Queen of England. The Queen is well known for the execution of Mary, Queen of Scots as well as for defeating the Spanish Armada. Being the ‘Virgin Queen’ also added to her popularity. Elizabeth’s reign is considered to some to be an “era of glory” (Trueman), but her early years leading up to her reign were less than favorable.
Queen Elizabeth I was said to be one of the best rulers of England. Unlike rulers before her, she was a Protestant and not a Catholic. She was not stupid though. She did go to church and did everything that Catholics did to prevent getting her head cut off under the rules of her sister Mary. Elizabeth was very young when she came to rule. She was only 17 years old when her sister Mary died and she took over.
Elizabeth the first, born on September 7, 1533, is the most different and intriguing monarch in the English history (Dunn). Elizabeth is known as the Virgin Queen all of her reign. She used that image to keep out of marriage, prevent war and become one of the most beloved monarchs of the people. This image helped her also fend off Mary Queen of Scots claim to the throne. Between her vivacious and often volatile personality she led her kingdom well up until the day she died on March 24, 1603 (Alchin). The kingdom went into genuine morning for their queen of The People who had made herself loved by all of her subjects.
Upon the death of her sister--in November of 1558--Elizabeth ascended to the thrown of England. Until Mary’s rule, no woman--apart from the unrecognized rule of Matilda, daughter of Henry I--had ruled England of her own right1. Much like her sister, Elizabeth began her rule widely accepted and welcomed2. There were, however, still many who felt that women were unable to rule, being that women were said to be the weaker sex. John Knox argued that, “God by the order of his creation hath spoiled women of authority and dominion, [and] also that man hath seen, proved and pronounced just causes why that it so should be.”3 Women had always been no more then property, first to their fathers and then their husbands. If a women were to be the anointed queen of a realm of her own right and then marry, whom was beholden to whom? A woman was to do as instructed by her husband in all things, yet a sovereign was to be under the command of God only.
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 sickly 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?
Queen Elizabeth I’s gender appears as one of the main topics in her speeches. Elizabeth’s common mention of her own female gender, despite the fact that she could refer to herself with masculine terms, allows her to use gender stereotypes. Using these stereotypes along with mentions of motherly love and her knowledge of literature and when to manipulate her gender, she can rally others to her side, explain why she delays her answers to Parliament, and explain why she cannot knowingly harm her subjects, but by doing this, she provides people with evidence that women are unintelligent and incapable of ruling.
To say that either women did or did not have ‘power’ during the medieval period, is to make an oversimplified assumption. Some women could simultaneously have both, evident with the example of Eleanor of Aquitaine. Different women, depending on sociocultural factors could possess varying degrees of power in certain situations, or even a lot of power in one area and none anywhere else. There would have been women who were happily complicit to misogyny and doting after their husbands as stereotypes assert, which is arguably a form of power within itself. The idea of a single medieval woman existing at all must be abolished in order to understand how they as individuals engaged with power and the worlds around them.
Queen Elizabeth I, also known as the “Iron Queen”, was a remarkable woman of her time, she ruled with great power and longevity. She was one of the greatest feminist of time. Coming to the throne in 1558, she took the place of her father, Henry VIII. She was given one of the most difficult jobs fit for a man or King, ruling England. At the time women were second class citizens, they could not vote nor own properties and such. Surprising England with her intelligence and fierce rulings, she changed herself to make better decisions. She proved through her rulings, to everyone that females were strong and could rule just as well as a king. She refused to marry, giving a feeling of “I don’t need a man for anything.” The Queen was responsible for giving females a voice in literature and it is shown through Shakespeare’s writings.
Women in different societies around the world, during the Middle Ages, experienced different hardships and roles. These hardships and roles helped shape how they were viewed in their society. Some women were treated better and more equal than others. In Rome, Medieval England, and Viking society, women’s legal status, education, marriage and family roles were considered diverse, but also similar. In certain nation’s women have more or less power than women in other nations, but none equal to the power that women have in America today.
In the Middle Ages women were in theory legally inferior to men, and they were expected to know their place and keep it… Chaucer could readily see the artistic opportunity afforded by reversing the normal order and making the woman the ruler at a time when her inferiority was taken for granted (396-397)... He [Chaucer] needed only to reverse the conditions, to turn the scolding husband into the scolding wife, and to make the Wife of Bath quote the angry words of the Jealous Husband, as words that her husband said to her. The difference is that the shoe is on
Queen Elizabeth I was born on September 7, 1533, in Greenwich, England. Elizabeth reigned queen of England and Ireland from November 17, 1558 until her death. Elizabeth never married, and died a virgin, sometimes called “The Virgin Queen” (Gale 2). Elizabeth was born to King Henry Tudor VIII and Anne Boleyn; she was the fifth and last monarch of the Tudor dynasty. This paper will prove Queen Elizabeth I was a woman wholly devoted to her country and brought it much prosperity and growth; these qualities made her the most respected leader of the entire history of England.
Queen Elizabeth the first was one of the first woman monarchs to rule alone in the history of Europe. Her character, the way she ruled, and even her gender transformed her country’s go...