marriage

what was elizabeth called as a result of not getting married?

the virgin queen, gloriana

How old was elizabeth when she succeeded the throne? why is this relevant?

25 - she was still unmarried, which was considered old to not be married

what is the advantages of marriage?

• could prevent a catholic monarch succeeding elizabeth (esp. MQoS)

• could form a powerful alliance with a foreign country

• produce an heir and continue the tudor line

• she could be come richer if her husband was rick

• marrying catholic could help to quell religious differences

what were the disadvantages of marriage?

• wouldn’t inherently stop MQoS being a threat

• could cause England to come under control of another country (ex. Philip II of Spain did this when married to Mary I)

• childbirth was risky and dangerous at thetime

• marrying an englishman could cause jealousy and other tensions in court (she’d also lose power)

• men ‘owned’ their wives legally

• marrying catholic turns the country catholic - she wanted to stay protestant

when did elizabeth catch smallpox?

1562

what was the significance of elizabeth having smallpox?

she was close to dying, and there was no named heir

why did elizabeth refuse to name an heir?

she thought it’d put herself in danger, and most suitable heir was MQoS, a catholic