Queen Mary example essay topic

In 1554, Queen Mary I attempted to restore Catholicism as a single faith in England. Under Mary's reign, Protestants were either executed or they fled abroad. Despite the fact that Elizabeth had supported Mary's accession and attended Catholic services, Mary believed Elizabeth was leading Protestant conspiracies to take the power. Before her death, Mary tried to convince Elizabeth to defend the Catholic faith. Elizabeth was captive in the Tower of London and in danger of execution, and then she placed under house arrest. Then, Elizabeth lived at north of London until she became queen because of her half-sister's death.

There was a highly charged religious situation when Elizabeth inherited and she handled the situation with a great skill. She returned the Protestantism to England and she had to contend with opposition from both Catholics and radical Protestants. England broke with the pope, Catholic services were forbidden, priests could marry, and some decorations are removed from the churches. At the Vatican, the Holiness declared Elizabeth a servant of weakness and decreed any men who murder the queen, will be welcomed to heaven.

This exercised authority caused the Sussex's, Gardiner's, and Arundel's death, and Lord Robert's suffering. When Elizabeth became Queen, England has no army, is bankrupt, and it is under serious threat from abroad. Trying to find a solution, Chief adviser Sir William Cecil recommended the young Queen to forget personal matters and instead address the country's pressing problems. Consequently, at the beginning of her reign, she wanted to send emissaries to solve problems and avoid war. Unfortunately the final decision to fight leads to a humiliating defeat in France where the military power was devastating. As the conspiracies gather and the possibility of assassination came out, Elizabeth stroke out at her enemies and put her trust in Walsingham.

Elizabeth presented herself in the traditional images of the monarchy, such as carrying the sword of state. Nonetheless, she realized that in order to rule effectively, the cooperation of powerful men would be more secure. As a queen, she rejected Philip II, her sister Mary's husband who was king of Spain. Phillip II wished to remain allied with English naval power and also some eligible European royal bachelor, including a future king of France.

In fact, Elizabeth was never able to make a decision to marry with a man. It seems she had no desire to share power with a husband and married with England at the end of the movie. One of the great periods of English history ended when Elizabeth died. More than 40 years of rule shaped the future of England as a stable monarchy. The roles played by Parliament and the justices of the peace were solidified during her reign.

These roles were indispensable on the years that came. Elizabeth was the longest-reigning English monarch, and therefore, she was the first woman to effectively occupy the English throne. Elizabeth firmly established Protestantism in England, encouraged English enterprise and commerce, and defended the nation against the powerful Spanish naval force.