L9: threat of mary queen of scots

how did mary present a threat to elizabeth?

• embodies every possible threat to elizabeth

• direct descendent of margaret tudor → hereditary claim!!!

• consolidated auld alliance - married to francis ii of france

  • daughter of mary of guise & james v scotland

• catholic → figurehead of catholic uprisings, actively participated in 1570 excommunication

how did mary quos briefly alleviate the threat she posed to elizabeth?

• lost influence over france in 1560 when husband died

• married lord darnley 1565 → he was murdered 1567

• married alleged murderer (earl of bothwell) → incited civil war in scotland, reducing chance of invasion in ST

what c+c word can be used to describe threat mary qos posed to elizabeth?

persistent, continuous

what were the direct consequences of the pope excommunicating elizabeth from the catholic church in 1570?

• consolidated mary QoS as a religious threat - actively participated

• pope remove his protective shield from elizabeth

• catholics were absolved of need to obey the queen

• undermined RA, greater potential for uprisings

how did elizabeth alter her domestic policy following the 1570 excommunication?

• tightened treason laws to ensure her safety

• protestants deemed loyalists, catholics seen as traitors

• reassert royal authority & 1559 religious settlement

what were the 4 key catholic plots against elizabeth (involving mary)?

• 1571 Ridolfi

• 1583 Throckmorton

• 1585 Parry

• 1586 Babbington

what year was the ridolfi plot?

1571

who was ridolfi?

an italian banker → puppet/figurehead for foreign affairs

what happened during the ridolfi plot?

• ridolfi led conspiracy to marry mary to the duke of norfolk & overthrow elizabeth

• land spanish troops in essex

• march on london

• discovered when messenger was caught by spy network

what alternative interpretation do some historians make about the ridolfi plot?

• never truly a threat to elizabeth

• example of faction within nobility

• possible set-up by cecil to catch duke of Norfolk

  • ultimately removed norfolk from power

consequences of the ridolfi plot

• cecil to executed norfolk for treason → faction!

• greater paranoia after 1569 northern rebellion & 1570 papal excommunication

• no evidence of widespread support in england or spain

when was the throckmorton plot?

1583

who led the throckmorton plot?

spanish ambassador - mendoza

events of the 1583 throckmorton plot

• mendoza planned spanish landing in sussex

• then overthrow elizabeth & replace with MQoS

• hoped to gain support of nobility

• failed due to efficiency of walsingham’s spy network

which nobility did mendoza hope would support the throckmorton plot?

• earl of northumberland

• earl of arundel

what was the predominant

consequences of the throckmorton plot 1583

• creation of the bond of association

• worsened anglo-spanish relations → mendoza expelled

• arundel imprisoned in tower of london

• conditions of mary’s captivity tightened unable to freely communicate

• more serious threat than ridolfi

what did the bond of association do? (1583 onwards)

• incredibly effective in controlling nobility

• if you are aware of a plot against elizabeth and do not report it, are considered an active participant

• led to major culture shift in court

• spies would purposefully ‘leak’ fake plots →

why was the throckmorton plot 1583 more threatening than ridolfi 1571?

• actively attempted to replace elizabeth

• had the support of the nobility

• international influences → mendoza was spanish ambassador