Bloody Mary and The Virgin Queen - 1970 Words

Bloody Mary and the Virgin Queen Mary and Elizabeth Tudor were both, by all accounts, strong and intelligent women endowed with many of the qualities that mark a successful ruler. However, only Elizabeths legacy is a positive one; her reign has been called the Golden Age of England, and she remains a heroine in popular history and even modern film. Marys reign is scowled at, and seen by most as a brief unpleasant period preceding the glorious ascension of Elizabeth. To account for this, one can examine each sovereigns maternal influences, governing styles, and choices regarding marriage. Maternal Influence Marys mother, Katherine of Aragon, has been described as a staunch woman of misguided principles (Weir 3).†¦show more content†¦She contracted a matrimonial alliance with her nephew Philip, another Catholic monarch (Erickson 331). Their marriage caused a general outcry; the British did not favor Spaniards and feared that, upon their union, Philip would rule England as king; or that, if she died childless, he would seek to seize the throne for himself and his future heirs (337). This seemed a valid fear in light of Marys traditional feminine deference to male authority, but Mary declared that she would wholly love and obey the man she married, following the divine commandment, and would not in any way act against his will, but if he tried to interfere with the government of the kingdom she would have to prevent it at all costs (Erickson 333). For some, this was not enough; and the marriage contract specified that Phillip could not succeed. Thus, Mary was de termined to have a say in her own government. However, faith could guide Mary even if her husband could not, and she began to be very influenced by Catholic Cardinal Pole (Erickson 390). For all men who minimized her authority, Pole was the most blatant (Erickson 390). Pole gave Mary misguided advice concerning the religious conversion of her realm. He assumed that the religious situation in England was not unlike that in Italy, where the Protestant heresy had taken rather shallow root and had been decisively crushed by the Papal inquisition (Erickson 390). He failed to recognize the importance of the fact that a wholeShow MoreRelatedQueen Elizabeth: The Virgin Queen922 Words   |  4 PagesLizzie Scott â€Å"I am already bound unto a husband which is the Kingdom of England.† -Elizabeth I (Add Intro) Queen Elizabeth was famously known as â€Å"The Virgin Queen† for never marrying. She refused to share her power. Queen Elizabeth was born in 1533 and she and her sister were claimed to be illegitimate by her father, Henry VIII since he was looking for a male heir to his throne. Her mother, Anne Boleyn, was executed by her husband Henry VIII for what historians believe was false charges of adulteryRead MoreElizabethan Age Nationalism Essay1512 Words   |  7 Pageslong before she became one of the most famous queens in history. Elizabeth’s grace and poise were honored from the start, but it was her intellect and vigor that ultimately won her the last word. She was their King, this virgin Queen that defined her life with the love of no man but a country of loyal subjects. England prospered in culture and religion as well as establishing itself as a world power, all during Elizabethan times. During the reign of Queen Elizabeth I, nationalism soared due to t heRead More Queen Elizabeth Essay examples1227 Words   |  5 Pages Queen Elizabeth I Queen Elizabeth, the first, proved to be a very good and loyal monarch to England. She brought about many changes, both good and bad. On September 7, 1533 a baby girl came into the world. 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Now here s whereRead MoreAnne Boleyn950 Words   |  4 PagesAna Bolena – Anne Boleyn 1501(1507)-1536 Queen of England 1533-1536 Mother of Elizabeth I Information about the early years of Anne Boleyn is almost non-existence; her birth has been dated from 1501 to 1507. Although information about her parents is abundant. Her father, Sir Thomas Boleyn, was named Sir in 1503. He was fluent with the languages, which allowed him to travel through Europe under the King’s orders and be part of important meetings. He was one of the bodyguards that took theRead MoreA Brief Look at Queen Elizabeth I1189 Words   |  5 PagesMany people, in England, believe that there has always been one queen to stand above the rest. That queen was Elizabeth the 1st. She has made many accomplishments during her reign. From a compromise about what religion England would follow to defeating the Spanish Armada. Elizabeth was born September 7, 1533 in Greenwich England. She was the daughter of King Henry VII and his second wife, Anne Boleyn. Elizabeth had a half sister from the king’s first wife, Catherine of Aragon, and also had a halfRead MoreHenry Viii And The Church Of England912 Words   |  4 Pagesâ€Å"Roundhead soldiers bursting into the home of a Catholic† (Alchin, 2014, p.1). The soldiers would also inconsiderately invade â€Å"the bedroom of the lady of the house (though this could also allude to a secret chapel, with the Lady in question being the Virgin Mary)† (Alchin, 2014, p.1). Moreover, the old man represents a hidden priest or an elderly of the family, who firmly refused to recite the Protestant English prayers to the soldiers (Alchin, 2014, p.1). In response, the British soldiers drag ‘theRead MoreEssay on Elizabeth I1259 Words   |  6 Pages The long, lasting conflict between Queen Elizabeth and Mary Queen of Scots was the fight over t he throne. Elizabeth and Mary we second cousins and Mary thought she deserve the crown. The conflict between Elizabeth and Mary ended up leading to Mary’s death. Elizabeth I, â€Å"queen of England and Ireland, was the most famous of English Monarchs and one of the most successful women rulers in history.† (Row, 243). â€Å"She was not only concerned with politics, diplomacy, and the religious struggle againstRead MoreKings and Queens: The Tudors Essay1228 Words   |  5 PagesThe Tudors consisted of five kings and queens as well as Lady Jane Grey. The family line began when King Henry V passed away and his wife later on remarried a man named Owen Tudor. The Tudors were known as the most powerful, feared, and inspirational line of people to have lived during their time Owen Tudor, worked for the king within his courts as a Welsh owner, during the time of Owen’s marriage, Owen and the queen ended up having a son named Edward and it was said that he was to be the next inRead More Biography of Queen Elizabeth Essay1102 Words   |  5 PagesBiography of Queen Elizabeth Despite being unwanted by her father, King Henry VIII, Elizabeth managed to overcome obstacles and become one of the most powerful woman leaders of her time. Some of her accomplishments were to defeat the Spanish armada, restore peace between Catholics and Protestants, and lead England to prosperity (Ross 146). The period of time during her reign, fifteen hundred and fifty eight to sixteen hundred and three, is often called the Golden Age since it was