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Britain 1500–1750

Elizabeth I and Marriage

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Learning objectives

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Who should Elizabeth marry?

What did Elizabeth decide to do and what were the consequences of her choice?

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Over the course of her reign, Elizabeth considered marriage proposals from over 20 men!

What would you advise Elizabeth to do?

Elizabeth’s suitors

Imagine you are a member of the Privy Council (the group that advised Elizabeth).

On the next slide, you will see information about some of the more serious possibilities.

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Elizabeth’s suitors

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Who to marry

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In fact, Elizabeth never married, although she continued to consider her different suitors until she was in her 50s!

Instead, she said she was married to her country, telling parliament:

What did Elizabeth decide to do?

I have already joined myself in marriage to a husband, namely the kingdom

of England.

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The consequences of Elizabeth’s choice

There were advantages to the Queen’s decision not to marry.

However, Elizabeth’s refusal to marry meant uncertainty over the succession. This led to plots against her, especially centred on replacing her with the Catholic, Mary, Queen of Scots.

Parliament hounded Elizabeth to name a successor. Eventually, she named James VI of Scotland, ending the Tudor dynasty.

She was free to rule without the interference of a husband or the distraction of children. In some ways this led to stability, as the Crown was not tied to any European royal families.