Comment On The Issue Of Elizabeth's Marriage example essay topic

'Pray God would send our mistress a husband. ' A statement made by Lord Cecil in 1566. During the reign of Elizabeth I it was commonly expected that Elizabeth would marry, for many reasons, but primarily to produce an heir to safeguard the future of the Tudor Dynasty, which would have been considered the duty of a Queen. Many historians have suggested that Elizabeth chose to remain unmarried, fairly early on in her reign. The historian Elton made this comment on the issue of Elizabeth's marriage, '... Elizabeth privately determined never to marry.

' At the same time other historians have suggested that at no time in her reign did she rule out the prospect of marriage, 'There is very little evidence to support the view, ... that the Queen hade made a conscious decision to remain unwed... ', a statement made by the historian Susan Doran. With these conflicting arguments, can we really be sure that Elizabeth really made the conscious decision to never marry, or was it simply that the right man never came along?!? Marriage was a highly important issue in the reign of Elizabeth. Firstly, people expected her to marry in order to produce an heir, 'God incline your majesty's heart to marriage... therein that we nay see the fruit and child that may come thereof.

' The question of the succession is very closely linked to that of marriage. It was assumed that once Elizabeth married, she would very quickly produce an heir, which in turn would help to solve other problems facing Elizabeth. For example, Elizabeth producing an heir, would continue the Tudor Dynasty and stop any other threatening claims to the throne, from Mary queen of Scots or Lady Catherine Grey. The issue of marriage became even more elevated and imperative, during the 1560's as Elizabeth had come close to death several times, catching small pox in 1562 and the flux in 1564. The privy council became worried that Elizabeth may die, without an heir, leaving the country in chaos. Elizabeth's marriage would effectively solve the problem of her succession, and therefore was a particularly important issue during her reign.

Elizabeth's marriage was also very important, as it would provide her with social stability. It was a popular belief that women were secondary to men, and that women were incompetent and unable to rule a country successfully, as stated by the historian C. Haigh, ' a woman might rule her own kitchen, but surely not her own kingdom. ' People would be keen for Elizabeth to marry as strong leadership tended to be equated with kings, and Queens had a somewhat bad reputation, due to the dismal failings of Mary I's reign. Elizabeth marrying, would provide England with a male figurehead, in whom they could instil confidence, and who could, 'relive her of those labours which are only fit for men. ', Phillip of Spain 1559. From this, it is evident that a lot of emphasis was placed on marriage in Elizabeth's reign and it was seen as one of the most important issues Elizabeth had to address.

Further adding to Elizabeth's social stability, Elizabeth's marriage was also seen as a useful tool in creating friendly foreign alliances. Elizabeth had many suitors from Europe, and in marrying one of these, she would create friendly foreign alliances, a very important factor in reducing the threat of war. A foreign marriage could also help boost England's trade with Europe and therefore improve England's economic prosperity. For these reasons marriage remained very important in Elizabeth's reign. During her reign, parliament put a great deal of pressure on Elizabeth to marry.

This may have been because, Parliament and her privy council consisted of only men, and therefore they hoped and expected Elizabeth would marry, 'To require both marriage and stablish ing of succession is the uttermost that can be desired... most plausible to the Queen's majesty. ' Cecil 1566. However, this may have been untrue as despite the then, popular belief that women were secondary to men, not even her councillors believed that Elizabeth would hand over her political powers to her husband on her marriage. Nevertheless, they persistently pushed for marriage, to the extent that on 28th January 1563 parliament proposed to petition the queen to marry, so that Elizabeth could produce a son and ensure political stability. Marriage was also seen as very important to Elizabeth as it would help her solve the problem of religion. Elizabeth's marriage would define the country's religion, and help her to maintain a firm religious position, as long as she married a protestant.

It would also ensure religious stability for the future as in her marrying and producing an heir, it would abolish the threat of a disputed catholic succession. The example of Mary I marriage to Phillip of Spain, highlighted the troubles to which a queen's marriage could lead, and so not only Elizabeth's marriage but her choice of husband was of up most importance during her reign. It has been suggested that Elizabeth I made the conscious decision not to marry. In 1563, Elizabeth said that her inclination was to be, 'a beggar woman and single far rather than queen and married. ' From this statement one could argue that Elizabeth and mild aversions to marriage. At the start of her reign, she was a new female ruler and therefore had to assert her power and status as queen, she could not afford to upset her council and people with such a bold statement that she would never marry.

Elizabeth was also aware of people's doubts over her capability as queen. However as her reign progressed, Elizabeth began to feel more secure in her position as queen, and her independent and determined nature may have fuelled her decision to remain 'single', along with her determination to prove people wrong, and herself that she could be a successful monarch without a husband. Historians have argued that Elizabeth did make the conscious decision not to marry after an initial period of indecisiveness. In 1561 Elizabeth came close to marrying Robert Dudley, but after his wife died in 'mysterious' circumstances, to kill any rumours of 'foul play', Elizabeth heeded Cecil's advice not to marry Dudley. It has been argued it was at this point, when seemingly Elizabeth lost the chance to marry the one love of her life, Elizabeth chose to never marry.

Christopher Haigh sees 1561 as a turning point for Elizabeth I, 'It was probably at this point that Elizabeth decided not to marry... there were still twenty years of international courtships to go, they were diplomatic manoeuvres for political advantage. ' C. Haigh's view that, Elizabeth decided not to marry as she could use marriage as a political bargaining tool, is a popular one, and her courtships were not only a vital part in the game of international politics, a part in which she excelled, but a substitute for an emotional life she missed. Many historians argue that initially Elizabeth had every intention to marry, but due to her indecisive nature she simply could not decide on a suitor, 'her almost pathological dislike of making decision was her most discomforting trait. ' A quote from the historian Randell..