Elizabeth I ascended to the throne on November 17, 1558 succeeding her sister, Mary I, as queen regnant of England. Elizabeth was only the second woman to hold the position of regnant in English history. Her reign is often considered by historians to have provided England with the necessary structural foundation to allow it to become a prominent actor in European and global affairs. However, in the adulation of the Elizabethan “Golden Age” success in transforming pop culture and governance, there is often a lack of critical indictment of Elizabeth’s personal involvement in or influence over certain aspects or issues, usually more controversial aspects or issues, of her reign. An often discussed, yet idealistically discussed, controversy of Elizabeth’s reign is the execution of Mary, Queen of Scots and Elizabeth’s direct involvement in the matter or lack thereof. Historically, the accepted view of Elizabeth’s involvement in the execution entails her dumbfounding confusion and dismay regarding the execution of Mary. However, contemporary historians have begun to re-analyze this general notion with a more critical analysis of Elizabeth’s involvement, more importantly her indecisiveness over the matter. In fact, Elizabeth’s personal letters to Mary, Queen of Scots and James VI of Scotland demonstrate her ability to decree to Mary the crimes charged against her, but also her inability to take fault for Mary’s execution. Elizabeth found herself fixed in a quandary between present herself as a defiant and resolute Queen and as a Queen with the inability to take responsibility for certain actions that may have deleterious impacts on England.
On October 12, 1586, the trial of Mary, Queen of the Scots commenced. Although Mary had been co...
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...out of dissenters regardless of status in society. While the tone of Elizabeth letter suggests that she regarded Mary in an inferior manner, the inclusion of her name in the signature of the letter leads to a perplexing inconsistency. In Elizabeth’s other letter, her correspondences with other monarchs and members of European nobility ended affectionately and with the signature of her name. Perhaps, the inclusion of Elizabeth’s signature, but not an affectionate remark demonstrated Elizabeth acceptance of Mary’s blue blood status, but condemnation of her supposed crime and actions against the crown. Elizabeth’s confrontational tone, yet deferential signature highlights the future inconsistency over the dispatch of Mary’s execution and Elizabeth’s inability to take responsibility for Mary’s death. Her next letter was to James VI to inform him of his mother’s demise.
On October 14, 1586, she was put on trial for plotting to kill Elizabeth and claim the English throne. The trial lasted two days, and she was found guilty, but she wasn’t executed until February 1587, and she wasn’t told when she was going to be executed until the day before her execution. On February 8, 1587, Mary Queen of Scots was executed. Reports state that the first blow to her neck did not go all the way through, so the executioner had to try again to cut off her head.
Within months, international events changed Mary Stuart’s life dramatically. On November 17, 1558, the queen of England, Mary I (Tudor), died and was succeeded by her Protestant half-sister Elizabeth I. As granddaughter of M...
Described by Briscoe (2000), Elizabeth I is considered to be one of the country’s most successful and popular monarchs. Unlike the reign of her sister Mary, which was by and large disastrous, Elizabeth made herself a powerful image of female authority ‘through the embellishment and through concrete policies that she urged her nation to follow’ (Jagger (1995)). Her policies could be attributed to the rigorous education she received as a child, which included history, languages, moral philosophy, theology and rhetoric. Her tutor Roger Ascham believed her mind to have no ‘womanly weaknesses, and her perseverance and memory to be equal to that of a man’ (Jagger (1995)). As an adult however, although very intelligent, ruthless and calculating at times, she was also renowned for her indecisive nature. This was due to the fact that ‘she sought peace above all other objects’ (Johnson (1974) p2): a trait, which many historians believe to have come from her father.
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?
Elizabeth didn’t believe in the accusation and she refused to execute Mary. Secretly, Mary was found guilty and she was sentenced to be beheaded (Plaidy, Haws English Capti. par 1 Return to Scots par 1). Before Mary was beheaded at Fotheringhay Castle in 1587, she wrote a four page letter to her brother-in-law Henry III King of France. Overall, Mary had a very complicated and hard life (Briley par
In 1553, Elizabeth’s half brother, Edward, died at the age of nine. Shortly after, Elizabeth’s half sister took the throne. Her name was Mary. Mary caused many problems for England. Mary believed that England should follow one religion and anyone who did not follow this religion would be executed. Mary was Catholic. She later got the nickname “bloody Mary” because she killed so many Protestants. This caused a problem for Elizabeth because she was Protestant. Many people who did not believe the Catholic faith thought that Elizabeth was the rightful ruler and plotted against Mary. The leader of this plot was named Thomas Wyatt. He was organizing a rebellion and soon Mary found out of this plan. She then had Elizabeth imprisoned in the Tower of London. Elizabeth told her sister she had no idea of the plot but her sister would not believe her. When soldiers came to get Elizabeth and take her to the Tower, she was so scared Elizabeth literally would not move.
Abigail Williams: “I am but God's finger, John. If he would condemn Elizabeth, she will be condemned.”
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.
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,
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.
It's 1586. You can hear the crowd cheering and crying from Lochleven Castle. A women no more than 44 was found guilty and sentenced to death. She was to be beheaded and and buried at Westminster Abbey. This Woman was Mary Queen of Scots.
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...
Elizabeth is strong willed and knows what she wants. “A stile-jumper by conviction as well as instinct, she not only flouts convention, she holds it up for deliberate mock...
Queen Elizabeth’s reign is what sparked the era. Growing up as a member of the royal family, she received special tutoring. As the daughter of King Henry VIII and Anne Boleyn, she also grew up in difficult and complex circumstances. When Elizabeth was only two-years-old, her mother, Anne, was beheaded by her husband based on uncertain charges of adultery and conspiracy. After Anne’s death, Elizabeth and her half sister Mary