Why Is Elizabeth 1 Important

Elizabeth I was the daughter of Henry VIII and Anne Boleyn. When she succeeded the throne, after her half-sister Mary in 1558, she came with “the Tudor concept of strong rule and the realization that effective rule depend[s] upon popular support” (1). With Elizabeth’s rule, England united as a nation, and became a great European power with a strong navy, and notable figures such as William Shakespeare, Francis Bacon and Francis Drake. There was a vast expansion of trade and a significant development in the arts. During her reign, Elizabeth established Protestantism to be the official faith, supported new social and economic developments, and created short term peace between the neighboring countries (1). However, Elizabeth I wanted to marry
However, in Elizabethan England it was believed that the best service a queen could give was to produce an heir. Nonetheless, Elizabeth refused to follow this custom, and was confident that she was chosen to be queen, and no man would get in her way. She also often stated that she was ‘married to England’, therefore she could not take a second husband. Although she may have considered marriage at some point in her life, she was scared of dying in childbirth, as it was a main cause of death for women at that time (5). If Elizabeth was to marry, she was advised to marry a man that would bring prosperity to the kingdom. If Elizabeth would marry a foreign monarch then she could be drawn into costly wars, that her subjects were then expected to pay for. These wars could also potentially create many new enemies for England. Also, if the king took the queen into his own territories, then England would be ruled from afar, decreasing the monarch's’ power over the people. Elizabeth learned from her sister, Mary I’s, mistakes and creation of big debts, to avoid marrying a powerful monarch, like Philip II. Elizabeth I, as
As England is a Protestant country, marrying a Catholic monarch would create religious division and potentially create civil wars. However, if Elizabeth I would marry a Catholic, the promoters of the marriage believed that the husband would change his religion. In the meantime, difficulties existed over the conditions of which a Catholic consort husband would be able to do. Was the wedding ceremony supposed to follow the Protestant or the Catholic service? Did the husband have to attend public services? And, was the husband allowed to here Mass? (8)A strong suitor was Philip II of Spain. However, he was a Catholic king, who believed that it was his duty to convert the Protestants in England, back to Catholicism. However, when Elizabeth I make Protestantism the official religion, England and Spain were mortal enemies until Elizabeth’s death (8). Heated discussions between the Council, the advisors of Elizabeth I, increased as Henry of Anjou asked for Elizabeth’s hand. However, Henry refused to to make any concessions at all, and insisted to hear public Mass, and not attend the Protestant services (8). The greatest issue was the question of Mass, which the Council was divided on. Elizabeth I then determined that she would not marry a Catholic as it created too many divisions and conflicts. In addition to the creation of many conflicts, if Elizabeth I died in childbirth then the