What Extent Was Finance The Major Problem Facing Elizabeth I's Succession In 1558
To what extent was finance the major problem facing Elizabeth I on her succession in 1558?
Upon her succession in 1558, Elizabeth I faced financial problems as well as many other major problems. One such problem was Elizabeth’s gender. In 1558, England had only experience the rule of one female monarch, Mary I, who had fuelled England’s belief that females could not be sufficient rulers of countries. Mary had fuelled this belief by being £300,000 in debt by the end of her reign, being in a war with France, murdering around 300 people due to her religious beliefs and marrying foreign royalty which handed her husband (Phillip II of Spain) joint rule over England. These problems made England believe that women were not capable of ruling countries adequately. The main issue England had with female monarchs was that they ‘needed’ to marry and in Mary I’s case, this meant that England became an ally of Spain (as she married Phillip II of Spain) and …show more content…
Although the issue of illegitimacy threatened to remove Elizabeth from the throne, I believe finance was a bigger problem as it affected the entire population of England, no matter which religion they followed, unlike the illegitimacy problem, which primarily affected Catholics only. Gender was another large issue because of marriage and the threat of foreign royalty getting joint power over England and pulling England into their countries affairs and problems, which could lead to war. Similarly, the problem Elizabeth faced with Parliament not backing her was the prospect of a civil war breaking out. War seems to be a large factor which runs through most problems Elizabeth faced and it seems war was primarily a problem because of England’s failing finances. All these points ultimately make finance the major problem which Elizabeth faced on her succession in
Upon her succession in 1558, Elizabeth I faced financial problems as well as many other major problems. One such problem was Elizabeth’s gender. In 1558, England had only experience the rule of one female monarch, Mary I, who had fuelled England’s belief that females could not be sufficient rulers of countries. Mary had fuelled this belief by being £300,000 in debt by the end of her reign, being in a war with France, murdering around 300 people due to her religious beliefs and marrying foreign royalty which handed her husband (Phillip II of Spain) joint rule over England. These problems made England believe that women were not capable of ruling countries adequately. The main issue England had with female monarchs was that they ‘needed’ to marry and in Mary I’s case, this meant that England became an ally of Spain (as she married Phillip II of Spain) and …show more content…
Although the issue of illegitimacy threatened to remove Elizabeth from the throne, I believe finance was a bigger problem as it affected the entire population of England, no matter which religion they followed, unlike the illegitimacy problem, which primarily affected Catholics only. Gender was another large issue because of marriage and the threat of foreign royalty getting joint power over England and pulling England into their countries affairs and problems, which could lead to war. Similarly, the problem Elizabeth faced with Parliament not backing her was the prospect of a civil war breaking out. War seems to be a large factor which runs through most problems Elizabeth faced and it seems war was primarily a problem because of England’s failing finances. All these points ultimately make finance the major problem which Elizabeth faced on her succession in