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Elizabeth Unit 2.1 (Legitimacy (Henry VIII's divorce to Catherine…
Elizabeth Unit 2.1
Legitimacy
Henry VIII's divorce to Catherine of Aragon was not approved by the Pope at the time prior to him marrying Anne Boleyn. Catholics, as a result, refused to believe that Elizabeth should be on the throne due to being 'illegitimate'
Many Catholics also questioned Elizabeth's reign due to Mary Queen of Scots having a legitimate claim to the throne, debatabley even stronger than Elizabeth's one.
In the eyes of Catholics, Elizabeth was illegitimate and so Mary Queen of Scots more suited as queen.
In the eyes of Protestants and Puritans, Elizabeth was more than worthy of being Queen.
Gender
Women were not seen as powerful as men and regarded as weaker and incapable of running a country, especially after Mary I's reign
After the reign of Mary I, many were fearful to have another woman in charge due to the last one being so goddamn terrible. There is a clear divide at the beginning of Elizabeth's reign in which she has to mend over time.
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At the time people believed that Elizabeth required a husband to rule the country with efficiency. At the same time women were taught that they couldn't go anywhere without a male escort
Mary Queen of Scots
Mary Queen of Scots, as Henry VII's granddaughter, had a legitimate claim to Elizabeth's throne at the time. Though Elizabeth had a stronger one based on the fact that she was Henry VIII's daughter.
As a Catholic, she did believe that Elizabeth was illegitimate due to the fact that Henry VIII's divorce to Catherine of Aragon was not approved by the Pope before he married Anne Boleyn.She was sometimes called a bastard child.
Mary later gave birth to James II, her son, meaning that if she became Queen of England, there would be an heir to take her place after death.
Mary Queen of Scots had strong influential husbands such as Francis II King of France who, being a man, was believed of being able to support her as Queen which would've made her a better candidate to the throne.
Religion
Religious settlement
Act of Supremacy (1559):
This made Elizabeth the Supreme Governor of the Church of England. This confirmed that the Pope would have no control over religion in England.
This forced all members of the clergy to swear an oath of allegiance to Elizabeth as Supreme Governor.
Act of Uniformity (1559):
This set out a specific way of doing church services, according to the Protestant Prayer Book. This confirmed that England would now be a Protestant country.
This made is compulsory for everyone to go to church once a week. Failure to attend would lead to a fine of 12 pence
Catholic Opposition
Ordinary People
Many ordinary Catholics quietly refused to follow the new Church of England. They could choose not to turn up to church on a Sunday and pay a fine. These people were called 'recusants'.
This was a long-term challenge to the Religious Settlement and was potentially very dangerous. If there was a rebellion, as these people might join the rebellion against Elizabeth.
Catholic Nobility
Many of the oldest and richest families in the north of England were recusants. This included the Earl of Northumberland and the Earl of Westmorland. In 1569, they led a rebellion against Elizabeth called the ‘Revolt of the Northern Earls’.
These people had a lot of power and influence. People like the Earl of Westmorland and the Earl of Northumberland controlled huge areas of land, were very rich and could raise their own armies. They had an army of nearly 5,000 men in 1569.
The Revolt of the Northern Earls was a short-term challenge to Elizabeth’s authority. Although it initially seemed quite dangerous, very few of the Catholic nobility chose to join the Earl of Westmorland and the Earl of Northumberland. In the end, it was quickly defeated.
Catholic nobles would often celebrate Mass in private. They would gather together with other Catholics to have a secret Mass, meeting with other like-minded people.
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Elizabeth's Religion:
Elizabeth was Protestant, after Mary had been catholic. This had a huge effect on the country's unrest as tensions were rising between Catholics and Protestants on whichever religious group should be leading the country.
Puritans
Puritans are a more extreme version of Protestants. They didn't like the fancy ways of catholics. Henry's son Edward I was a Puritan.
Heir
All throughout her reign, Elizabeth remained as the Virgin Queen (however that title is debated on) and during her earlier years she had not been married or had an heir.
The life expectancy of women was not as high as it is now and at the time she became Queen she was nearing a time where she could not have children. She also showed no interest of getting married.
This was a worry for the English people as not having an heir created the possibility of a civil war and fighting to be next in throne.
Threat of invasion
France, Spain and Scotland were Catholic countries that didn't agree with Elizabeth's protestant ways
Mary, Queen of Scots (Another branch on this topic) had come from France after her husband's death and had a claim to Elizabeth's throne