elizabeth's suitors

religion, power, elizabeth's personal relationship with them, popularity/reputation

king philip II of spain

• Spanish and Catholic

• Didn’t like him - he was married to her sister

• ruled much land in Portugal, Sicily

• Known to be adulterous

• Unpopular in England

robert dudley, earl of leicester

• english and protestant

• childhood friend of elizabeth

• was in a scandal, and was accused of killing his wife

  • this made him unpopular

francis, duke of alencon

• french and catholic

• part of french royal faily

• no previous partners

• elizabeth liked him, but her advisors often warned against marrying him

robert devereux, earl of essex

• english and protestant

• supports elizabeth’s reforms

• known to be adulterous

• spends a lot of money