The Elizabethan Court (WJEC Eduqas GCSE History): Revision Note

Who was Elizabeth I? - Summary

Henry VIII divorced his first wife, Catherine of Aragon, in 1533. As Pope Clement VII refused to grant this divorce, Henry VIII decided to leave the church in Rome and created the Church of England, which gave him the power to divorce Catherine.

As Henry VIII still needed a son to continue the Tudor dynasty, he married Anne Boleyn just five months after his divorce from Catherine of Aragon. Anne was previously a member of Catherine’s household and the daughter of the Duke of Norfolk. Anne also failed to provide Henry with a male heir; she gave birth to their only child, Elizabeth I, in 1533. After three years of marriage, Anne was accused of adultery and was executed for treason in 1536.

In 1536, Elizabeth was declared illegitimate and removed from the line of succession. She spent much of her childhood away from court and was educated by a variety of tutors and raised by governesses. However, in 1544, her legitimacy was restored by the Third Act of Succession. Under the reign of Edward VI, she was treated more favourably and returned to court life. However, during the reign of Mary I, Elizabeth was viewed with suspicion as she was a Protestant. She was briefly imprisoned in the Tower of London and later kept under house arrest until Mary I died in 1558.    

The Coronation & Popularity of Elizabeth I

The Coronation of Queen Elizabeth I  

• After the reign of Queen Mary I, many people were hoping that Elizabeth I would be a fair and popular queen

• The coronation ceremonies started on 12^th January 1559

  • On the 12^th, Elizabeth went from Whitehall to the Tower of London in a ceremonial barge across the River Thames

  • On January 14^th, Elizabeth went on a coronation procession through the streets of London

    • During the procession, she stopped to watch pageants and musicians play

• Elizabeth was officially coronated at Westminster Abbey on Sunday, 15^th January 1559

  • She was appointed by the Catholic Bishop of Carlile, Owen Oglethorpe

  • Elizabeth’s coronation ended with a banquet at Westminster Hall

Elizabeth’s popularity

• Elizabeth was the second child of Henry VIII

  • Her mother was Anne Boleyn, who was executed in 1536 when Elizabeth was three years old

• Elizabeth was:

  •  A devout protestant

  • Well-educated 

  • Charismatic

  • Liked by courtiers  

Image

Portraits of Elizabeth

• Elizabeth believed in the importance of the image of power and majesty

• She took great care of her appearance throughout her reign by wearing fine

  • Clothes

  •  Jewellery

  • Ornaments

• Elizabeth also had many official portraits created of her  

  • They were used for propaganda as they created an image of Elizabeth, who was

    • Ageless

    • Strong

    • Powerful

    • Wise

    • Successful

• Many nobles and courtiers showed their loyalty to Elizabeth by displaying these portraits in their homes

Royal Progresses

• A royal progress usually happened in the summer months

  •  It involved Elizabeth touring the country

• The royal court travelled with Elizabeth during her progresses 

• On these progresses, Elizabeth would stay at the homes of the wealthiest nobles

  •  This was considered both an honour and a hindrance 

    • They were considered an honour as they would have the privilege to house, cook and entertain the queen  

    •  They were a hindrance because progress was often expensive and could put those hosting in debt 

• A royal progress could include:  

  • The entire royal court, which was 1000 people

  • Over 400 wagons filled with Elizabeth’s belongings 

• Progresses were important to Elizabeth as they 

  • Helped Elizabeth save money

    • The hosts would be expected to pay for her stay  

  • Were a form of propaganda

    • Elizabeth would be seen by the people of England and create a relationship

  • Prevented rebellions

    • Allowed Elizabeth to remind people whose loyalty should belong to her  

  • Allowed her to get away from the heat of London

    • London summers were often smelly, and the countryside provided a cooler climate, which was better for Elizabeth’s health

Royal Court

• The royal court was the centre of royal and political power

• The court met mainly at Whitehall Palace, London

  • However, Elizabeth’s royal court met wherever she was

• The royal court was made up of 

  • Officials

  • Ladies-in-waiting 

  • Servants 

  • Advisers

• Approximately 1,000 people were in Elizabeth’s royal court 

• Elizabeth used her royal court to: 

  • Demonstrate her power and wealth 

  • Hold feasts, parties, dances and general entertainment 

  • Control the nobility and gentry 

  • Reward loyalty 

• Elizabeth maintained loyalty in the Royal Court by granting patronage

  • Patronage was essential to Elizabeth as it allowed her to manage court rivalries and competition 

• Elizabeth gave loyal courtiers patronage through:

  • Titles

  • A monopoly

  • Power

  • Money

  • Land 

Factions at Court

• The system of patronage created rivalries, which resulted in court factions

• Until the 1590s, Elizabeth successfully controlled these factions and used them to her advantage

  • Elizabeth used her power of dismissal to control and manage both courtiers and privy councillors

• Before the 1590s, the main rivalry at court was between Robert Dudley and William Cecil

  • Cecil and Dudley clashed as:

• Cecil was cautious with his decisions, whereas Dudley was rash

•  Dudley was a Puritan, and Cecil was a moderate Protestant

Privy Council & Councillors

• The Privy Council was a group of advisors and ministers appointed by the queen to help her rule the country

• Councillors were usually

  • Gentry

  • Nobility

  • Archbishops

•  Elizabeth’s Privy Council had approximately 19 members

•  Councillors met approximately two or three times a week to:

  • Give Elizabeth advice on key decisions

  • Enact her wishes

  • Monitor the other government organisations, e.g. the Justices of the Peace (JPs)

• Elizabeth was not always present for these meetings

William Cecil, Baron Burghley

• William Cecil served in the court of Edward VI as a Secretary of State under the Lord Protector, the Duke of Northumberland

• Whilst Mary I was queen, Cecil withdrew from her court

• William Cecil returned to court when Elizabeth became queen

  • He was one of Elizabeth's most trusted advisers

• In the Elizabethan government, Cecil 

  • Served as Secretary of State twice 

  • Was a Member of Parliament (MP)

  • Was a member of the Privy Council

Francis Walsingham 

• During the reign of Mary I, Francis Walsingham was in exile in Switzerland 

• In 1573, Walsingham returned to England 

• Upon Walsingham’s return, he became 

  • A member of the Privy Council 

  • Principle secretary 

• Throughout Elizabeth’s reign, Walsingham was

  • Secretary of State 

  • ‘Spymaster’ 

    • Walsingham was a very successful spymaster 

    • He played a pivotal role in the trial and execution of Mary Queen of Scots in 1587

• Francis Walsingham was also a prominent Puritan in Elizabeth’s royal court 

Robert Dudley, Earl of Leicester

• Robert Dudley was a member of the nobility and a childhood friend of Elizabeth I

• Robert Dudley was a favourite of Elizabeth's and a possible suitor 

• In the Elizabethan government, Dudley was:

  • A Knight of the Garter 

  • A privy councillor 

  • Master of the Horse 

  • Lieutenant and Captain General of the Queen’s armies and companies 

• Like Walsingham, Robert Dudley was a prominent Puritan in Elizabeth’s royal court

Sir Christopher Hatton

• Christopher Hatton was a moderate Protestant and a member of the nobility

• He was the vice-chamberlain of the household

•  In 1557, he became a member of the Privy Council

  • Hatton was given the responsibility of organising Elizabeth’s royal progresses

• From 1587 – 1591, he was the Lord Chancellor

Robert Devereux, 2^nd Earl of Essex

• Robert Devereux was a member of the nobility and a Puritan

• Devereux became a member of Elizabeth’s court in 1584

• In 1593, he became a Privy Councillor

• He was an experienced fighter

  • Elizabeth gave him the responsibility of commanding the attacks on Spain and Ireland

•  In 1601, Devereux was executed after the unsuccessful Essex Plot

Robert Cecil

• Robert Cecil was the younger son of William Cecil

• After the death of Walsingham in 1590, Robert Cecil took over his duties as Secretary of State

• Cecil became a Privy Councillor in 1591

• He was responsible for the succession of James VI of Scotland as king, after the death of Elizabeth I in 1603