Queen Elizabeth I: Education and Upbringing

Elizabeth I, Queen of England and Ireland from 1558 to 1603, reigned during a pivotal era known as the Elizabethan Age, a period marked by England's rise as a major European power in politics, commerce, and the arts. Born on September 7, 1533, she was the daughter of Henry VIII and his second wife, Anne Boleyn. Elizabeth's early life was fraught with challenges and uncertainties, shaping her into the shrewd and formidable ruler she would become.

A Tumultuous Childhood

Elizabeth's early years were far from auspicious. When she was just two years old, her father had her mother beheaded on charges of adultery and treason. This event had a profound impact on Elizabeth's life, as she was declared illegitimate and removed from the line of succession. Her title was downgraded from 'Princess' to 'Lady', and she was largely neglected by her father.

Following her mother’s execution, Elizabeth was neglected for a number of years until Henry's final wife Catherine Parr took charge and made sure she was educated to the highest standards and, crucially, taught the art of public speaking by renowned Cambridge scholar Roger Ascham.

Despite these hardships, Elizabeth's precocious seriousness was noted, with observers commenting on her mature demeanor even at a young age.

The Influence of Catherine Parr

It wasn't until Henry married his sixth wife, Catherine Parr, that Elizabeth was welcomed back into the family. Catherine played a crucial role in Elizabeth's upbringing, ensuring she received a rigorous education alongside her half-brother Edward.

When Elizabeth is caught in an embrace with Parr’s husband Thomas Seymour, she is banished from the house. In 1548 Catherine dies in childbirth and Seymour is subsequently executed for plotting to marry Elizabeth and kidnap Edward VI. When Elizabeth is questioned by the authorities she protests her innocence and escapes prosecution.

A Rigorous Education

Under the tutelage of distinguished scholars like Roger Ascham, Elizabeth received an education typically reserved for male heirs. Her studies centered on classical languages, history, rhetoric, and moral philosophy. Ascham noted her exceptional intellect, stating, "Her mind has no womanly weakness, her perseverance is equal to that of a man, and her memory long keeps what it quickly picks up."

In addition to Greek and Latin, she became fluent in French and Italian, attainments of which she was proud and which were in later years to serve her well in the conduct of diplomacy. Thus steeped in the secular learning of the Renaissance, the quick-witted and intellectually serious princess also studied theology, imbibing the tenets of English Protestantism in its formative period.

This comprehensive education equipped her with the intellectual tools necessary to navigate the complex political landscape of her time.

Perilous Times Under Edward VI and Mary I

With her father’s death in 1547 and the accession to the throne of her frail 10-year-old brother Edward, Elizabeth’s life took a perilous turn. Her guardian, the dowager queen Catherine Parr, almost immediately married Thomas Seymour, the lord high admiral. Handsome, ambitious, and discontented, Seymour began to scheme against his powerful older brother, Edward Seymour, protector of the realm during Edward VI’s minority. In January 1549, shortly after the death of Catherine Parr, Thomas Seymour was arrested for treason and accused of plotting to marry Elizabeth in order to rule the kingdom. Repeated interrogations of Elizabeth and her servants led to the charge that even when his wife was alive Seymour had on several occasions behaved in a flirtatious and overly familiar manner toward the young princess. Under humiliating close questioning and in some danger, Elizabeth was extraordinarily circumspect and poised.

Following Edward's death in 1553, Elizabeth's half-sister Mary, a devout Catholic, ascended the throne and sought to restore Catholicism to England. This led to a period of religious persecution and political turmoil, placing Elizabeth in a precarious position. As a Protestant, she became a target of suspicion and was even imprisoned in the Tower of London on suspicion of plotting against Mary.

Arrested and sent to the Tower of London after Sir Thomas Wyatt’s rebellion in January 1554, Elizabeth narrowly escaped her mother’s fate. Two months later, after extensive interrogation and spying had revealed no conclusive evidence of treason on her part, she was released from the Tower and placed in close custody for a year at Woodstock.

Despite the dangers, Elizabeth maintained her composure and navigated the treacherous political landscape with remarkable skill.

Accession to the Throne and the Return to Protestantism

Following the death of her half-sister Mary, Elizabeth succeeded to the throne at the age of 25. She inherited a country divided by religious strife and facing numerous challenges. One of her first acts as queen was to reinstate Protestantism as the dominant religion in England.

Elizabeth has inherited a country wracked by religious strife and knows she needs public support to remain queen. The celebrations for the coronation the following year are spectacular. As her procession makes its way through London on its way to Westminster she pauses to listen to congratulations and receive flowers from ordinary people on the street.

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Elizabeth reinstates the Church of England, and declares she does not want to make "windows into men's souls". She removes the Pope as head of the English church and instead becomes its Supreme Governor. She introduces a new Book of Common Prayer and republishes an English translation of the Bible. Elizabeth takes a pragmatic view of her subjects’ personal faith and religious orthodoxies are not strictly enforced.

This decision shaped the future course of the nation and solidified her position as a Protestant queen.

A Skilled and Cunning Ruler

Elizabeth was known for her intelligence, quick wit, and exceptional skills of persuasion. She surrounded herself with carefully chosen advisors and ministers who helped her rule effectively. Despite facing prejudice as a female ruler, she proved to be a strong and formidable leader, capable of cunning and ruthlessness when necessary.

Many people in the 16th century believed that a woman wasn’t fit to rule, but Elizabeth was quick to prove them wrong! She could be as cunning and ruthless a leader as any king who came before her, and she was a strong, formidable leader.

Parliament refuses to grant Elizabeth any further funds until the matter of her marriage is settled. This angers the Queen and, using her skills of rhetoric, she lambasts members of Parliament saying the welfare of her country is her priority, not marriage and Parliament should keep out of her personal matters - she will marry if and when it is convenient.

The Question of Marriage

Over the years of Elizabeth’s rule, she was often encouraged to marry. In 1566, Parliament even tried to force Elizabeth’s hand by refusing to give her any more money until she married. Elizabeth refused to back down, saying, “I am already bound unto a husband which is the Kingdom of England”. The Queen felt strongly about her reasons not to marry. If she married a foreign prince to create a link with another European country, it may have benefitted the other country more than England and made her less powerful.

She understood that marriage would mean sharing power, and she was determined to maintain her authority as the sole ruler of England.

The Threat of Mary, Queen of Scots

Mary was the granddaughter of Margaret, the older sister of Henry VIII. She was the Queen of Scotland from 1543 until 1567, when she became very unpopular and was forced to abdicate (give up the throne). The next year she came to England, hoping to be welcomed by Elizabeth. Mary was a Catholic, and many Catholics thought she should be Queen of England.

Many advisors encouraged Elizabeth to execute Mary, Queen of Scots, to prevent any uprisings and rebellions from people who wanted Mary on the English throne. Elizabeth refused for many years. However, things changed when Francis Walsingham - one of Elizabeth’s most important ministers - uncovered a plot to overthrow Elizabeth in 1686. Walsingham’s spies discovered that Mary was sending messages to Catholic plotters. Using some clever tactics, they intercepted one of the letters and faked Mary’s handwriting at the end of it, asking for the identities of the plotters. Elizabeth could no longer put off Mary’s execution.

The Spanish Armada and a Golden Age

Mary’s execution angered Catholics in Europe. In 1588, Philip sent a fleet of 130 ships, known as the Spanish Armada, to England. The English fleet met the Armada in the English Channel, and sent burning ships into the midst of the Spanish ships, forcing them to split up and scatter. The Spanish retreated, intending to sail around the British Isles and back to Spain. This was a great triumph for Elizabeth - she even commissioned a portrait of her celebrating the victory (above). The English believed that this showed that God approved of the Queen.

Elizabeth’s reign is looked back on as a ‘Golden Age‘ in British history. It was a time of great exploration by men such as Sir Francis Drake and Sir Walter Raleigh, who discovered new lands and set up new colonies overseas. Poetry, music and literature flourished, and London opened its first theatres.

Death and Legacy

By the early 1600s, Elizabeth’s health had been failing for some time. Frail and melancholy over the deaths of many of her close friends and advisors, she would stand for hours, refusing to rest. She was balding, had bad breath due to her rotting teeth - eww! On 24th March 1603 Elizabeth I died, having reigned for 44 years as a very popular queen. As she had no children, and therefore no direct heir to the throne, she was the last Tudor monarch. The cause of her death was never determined. But whilst no theory has been proven, many people think Elizabeth may have had blood poisoning from the make-up she wore.

Her refusal to marry lead to her being remembered as the ‘Virgin Queen.’ She knew that marriage would mean sharing power with her husband, and even becoming the less powerful of the two. Lastly, she is arguably the most famous child of Henry VIII. What do you think of our Elizabeth I facts? 'Good Queen Bess'Elizabeth I is one of England's greatest monarchs - perhaps the greatest. Her forces defeated the Spanish Armada and saved England from invasion, she reinstated Protestantism and forged an England that was a strong and independent nation.

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