the privy council and parliament to the issues of marriage and succession

How were the parliament and privy council significant in the issue of marriage and succession and why did they want Elizabeth to marry?

They relentlessly pressured Elizabeth to marry and name an heir (petitions as early as as 1559). They believed she needed to marry to produce an heir as otherwise the Tudor dynasty woukd continue to be unstable and there was religous anxiety of a catholic monarch like MQS taking the throne.(made worse in 1562 when she got small pox and nearly died but this eased when she named James as successor). Additionally women were seen incapable of ruling, so do to her gender it was believed she should marry to have a man to advise her and appear more powerful. Political pressure cant be seen by the actions of wentworth in 1576 declaring freedom of speech to speak on matter such as these and figures like William Cecil pushed for marriage to prevent instability. Despite this Elizabeth refused to marry and gaurded her royal perogative and sole authority

Quick recap of all the suitors and briefly why they were important in terms of government (more ind Beth info on next flashcards)

They were significant in her government as they were used as tools of diplomatic and political leverage as she was able to forge alliances, turn foreign powers against each other, and maintain her authority. If she had married Phillip II of Spain or Duke of Anjou, she potentially could have helped ease Spanish relations (which were deteriorating throughout her reign) along with archduke Charles (emperor of Finland) and price Eric of Sweden who would have helped with foreign policy and had skills as monarchs. However there were even notable Englishmen, such as Robert Dudley, who woukd provide income for the queen and support the religous settlement

Why didn’t she marry and what was its impact of domestic and foreign affairs?

Elizabeth didn’t marry as she didn’t want to lose her royal sole authority, due to the patriarchal society at the time, whoever she married would likely gain more influence and take control of policies (However Mary’s marriage act in 1554 power could be limited if Elizabeth proposed a similar act). Additionally as evident in Mary’s reign, her marriage was unhappy and purely for polictical benefit, with most of the country going against the domination of foreign people in courts, however even if she married an Englishman, this would cause resentment amoung other courtiers who may become jealous of the rising influence and favouring of one courtier. Aswell the majority of her suitors did not align with her religous settlement, for example Phillip despite giving her a foreign advantage, was a devout catholic and would likely urge changes to her settlement. Aswell she has personal reasons for not wanting to marry such as potentially earlier psychological problems from witnessing her previous relations marriages and the actions of Thomas Seymour. Despite these reasons parliament pushed for her to marry, stating her lack of heir would be the focus of plots leading to opposition in parliament e.g. wentworth. Additionally catholic powers such as France and Spain, supported MQS as a successor and therefore supported these plots, and her eventual refusal to marry Phillip dramatically deteriorated Spanish relations

Evidence she used her refusal to marry advantageously

By having many suitors, she could balance powers by playing marjor countries against each other therefore reducing the threat of an invasion, and it helped improve foreign policy as alliances were made without committing to any potential prob;emetic marriage. Aswell, domestically she could bind men to her and ensure their loyalty, this is evident though Dudley and Hatton. As a women it was especially important she sustained authority, shown through her punishing wentworth for saying there should be freedom of speech for matters such as marriage and succession and maintaining control and order in parliament by not marrying a singular one of her subjects