Essay The Elizabethan Monarchy

In July 1559, Mary and Francis assumed the royal titles of King and Queen of France since Henry II had died. Her happiness was short, after she learned the death of her mother in June 1560. Six months later, her husband King Francis II was also dead. Mary was devastated and extremely depressed. In spite of these personal tragedies, Mary chose to return to Scotland although it was a different country from the one she had left 13 years ago. In Mary’s absence the Protestant party had gained power in Scotland by abolishing the authority of the pope and forbidding the celebration of the Mass.

The Elizabethan Era was a time where everything flourished. After the Black Plague, England entered a time called the Renaissance. Family life during the time was simple and on a routine. Each day seemed more and more liked the day before. Each member of the family had a different impact on the community and society. Ordinary life in England consisted of being with family, working everyday, going to school, and eating food.

In the stories of “Mary Queen of Scots” and “Elizabeth I”, it is known that Mary and Elizabeth I are two different people, but also the similar in some ways. Both Elizabeth and Mary lived within the same time period and were even related, although their lives ended up completely different. Elizabeth was a well-respected queen with an interesting personal life. Mary on the other hand was convicted of aiding a homicide and had many problems in her personal life. Therefore, Elizabeth and Mary both had some similarities and differences between their early lives and their personal lives.

Cheers rise from the jubilant crowd as the crowning moment we’ve all been waiting for finally arrives. Thousands fill the Mall, craning their necks as Queen Elizabeth II steps out onto her balcony, offering a smile to her adoring subjects. Clad in her bedazzled hat, she surveys the scene: a vast sea of British flags, frantic in their support of sixty years on the throne, waving in time to a raucous rendition of God Save the Queen.

When Mary was the monarch of Scotland, the Calvinist nobles deposed of her, and she fled to England for safety (Spielvogel 408). Since she was the daughter of Henry VIII’s sister, Mary held a legitimate claim to the throne after Elizabeth. In fact, many Catholics saw Henry’s second marriage to Anne Boleyn as improper, making Mary the more fitting queen for England (Sifakis 1). Seeing opportunity in this woman who “had no intention of altering her faith,” the Catholics plotted to place her on the English throne (Black 68). They took part in many failed assassination plots on Elizabeth, one of them being the Babington Plot of 1586. This nefarious plan held Mary’s controversial involvement, leading to her trial, conviction, and execution (Sifakis 2). With a resolve “to end the threats to her regime,” Elizabeth ended her cousin’s life through a beheading (Spielvogel 408). Both Elizabeth’s decision to get rid of Mary and the construction of religious compromise were Machiavellian because of her pragmatic way of thinking to ensure a successful reign.

Queen Elizabeth had to be harsh and strict with Catholics, more than she would have preferred in order to maintain peace in England (Elizabeth R). Although Queen Elizabeth was nice, she could also be very strict. When Catholics rebelled she reacted quickly, she had them killed, took away their properties, or imprisoned them. After years of rebellion and fighting, England became a Protestant Country in the early 1600’s (Pitchard 103). “The significance of the Elizabethan religious settlement is that it was able to hold the vast majority of the people together, despite being a compromise few would have chosen” (Elizabeth I).

The Elizabethan Age (1558- 1603) is an epoch in English history, remembered as a renaissance of classical ideals, naval triumph against the Spanish (which at the time were disliked and considered a rival kingdom) and international expansion. This generated a great wave of English nationalism. The era is marked by the reign of Queen Elizabeth I (1558–1603), and is often hailed as the "Golden Age of England".

Mary, Queen of Scots is the cousin of Elizabeth I and is very impulsive and not reasonable. Scotland becomes Calvinist because of john Knox and creates the radical Presbyterians. Also during Mary’s reign, she gives birth to James VI of Scotland. But in 1587, she conspires against Elizabeth so Elizabeth executes Mary. In 1588, Philip II of Spain loads up the Armada to invade England. He is unsuccessful because he is destroyed by the English and the weather. This is the rise of the English navy when they start to send ships out into the world. James VI of Scotland is now James I of England when the Scottish and English crowns joined who believed in the divine right to rule the Anglican church. James I ruled England until 1603. During James I’s reign, he sent the Catholics and Puritans to America. The Catholics were sent to Maryland and the Puritans were sent to Massachusetts. This sets the stage for the English Civil War.

After Edwards’s death in 1553 his half-sister Mary I (1516-58) became Queen. Mary who was a devout Catholic began to undo the changes that Edward and Henry had started and set the nation back to the Catholic faith. During her reign (1553-1558) hundreds of Protestants, who refused to turn Catholic, were burned at the stake, this led to Mary acquiring the nickname ‘Bloody Mary’ (Steele & MacDonald, 2007).

The Elizabethan era was marked by the rule of Queen Elizabeth I (1558–1603). This era in English history has often been regarded as a golden age of the time. This was due to ideas of national pride, many reforms in areas of society, and the use of theatre alongside William Shakespeare (1564-1616). This society was however set within the confines of patriarchy.

During her brief time as Queen of France, she married her childhood friend Francis II, Prince of France, at the age of 15. Then a year later, France’s king died and Francis II became king and Mary becomes queen, though less than a year after that Francis died.Mary was no longer the Queen of France, so she went back to Scotland. While Mary reigned over Scotland, she tried to resolve the conflicts between Protestants and Catholics in Scotland, but both sides always pushed too far. They rebelled, conspired against her, and even killed some of her closest

Moving on to England; the Elizabethan period was significant for the history of fashion because of all the changes and innovations during that period. The Elizabethan Era is the period related to the rule of Queen Elizabeth I (1558-1603) and is frequently thought to be a brilliant age in English history. It was the height of the English Renaissance. This was additionally the time in which Elizabethan performance center thrived and William Shakespeare, among others, formed plays that split far from England's past style of plays and theater. It was a period of development and investigation abroad.

Mary, queen of Scots was one of the most fascinating and controversial monarchs of 16th century Europe. At one time, she claimed the crowns of four nations - Scotland, France, England and Ireland. Her physical beauty and kind heart were acknowledged even by her enemies. Yet she lacked the political skills to rule successfully in Scotland. Her second marriage was unpopular and ended in murder and scandal; her third was even less popular and ended in forced abdication in favor of her infant son. She fled to England in 1568, hoping for the help of her cousin, Elizabeth I. Her presence was

Sixteenth century England experienced a phenomenon sometimes referred to as the Age of Queens. The decisive power of the country was placed in women’s hands and their reigns were watched with a reasonable doubt. There is contrast of rule in terms of reigns between Queen Mary and Queen Elizabeth of England, both of whom were engaged in a protracted struggle for the English throne. Beside the legitimacy of their claims, there are more significant considerations which predestined them to either increase or lose their power. The rule and attitudes of the two monarchs bore significant influence upon the times in which they lived, including social, political and legal precedents which were being challenged and in some cases reversed. The fact that both Queens encountered situations of striking similarity, serves as a suitable example for a remarkable comparison, helping to analyze the lives of the two Queens and how their lives diverged as a result of such encounters and their actions thereafter. They were both Queens, struggling for the throne, they were women as well as rivals; they both had affairs with married men, however, one managed a narrow escape from the disgraceful situation, while the other failed to do so. Mary grew to hate Anne Boleyn, mother of Elizabeth, because he took the position of her mother Catharine as Queen of England. Before Elizabeth came to the scene, Mary was loved and was the only child of King Henry VIII of

Elizabethan Era is one of many memorable and important events in England. It got its name from Queen Elizabeth, the queen who ruled that era. The Elizabethan age is an era that inspired national pride through classical ideals, poetry, literature, and more. There are three aspects the states that the Elizabethan era as the “Golden Age” and it is their military power, government, and most importantly culture.