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Elizabeth I - Part 2 of 2 - The People’s Queen

© Katie Anne Gustafsson

Elizabeth I - Part 2 of 2 - The People's Queen

Crowned Queen in 1559, Elizabeth came to the throne of England when the country was once more in religious turmoil, and so her most urgent problem was how to restore the balance of religion in England. First her half-brother, and then her half-sister had tilted the country in one direction, and then in the opposite with their extreme religious beliefs. Convinced that the answer lay midway between the two extremes, Elizabeth endeavoured to bring about a compromise that would satisfy most of her people. Unfortunate, it was never quite accomplished because of pressure from the Pope in Rome, and from the Puritan Protestants within England, who strove to undermine her religious plans.

The line of succession was now much the topic of the Court of Elizabeth, and owing to her reluctance to marry and share the throne; it remained so for her entire reign. Suitors lined up to court her from around Europe, including Philip of Spain, Eric of Sweden and a couple of Archdukes from Habsburg. Once she almost relented on her youthful oath that she would never marry, and it became certain that she would settle with the Duke of Alencon, thus securing an alliance with France. However, once more religion intervened in Elizabeth's life as the Protestant fraction within England objected to the match, and her Catholic Duke was sent on his way. The main love in Elizabeth's life was Lord Robert Dudley, who was appointed Master of the Horse. Unfortunately, Dudley had been married and as his wife had died under uncertain circumstances, a match between them was not to be considered. Her love for him, who she called "Eyes" remained throughout the years until his death. Another Englishman with an eye on the throne who caught the attention of the maiden Queen was Christopher Hatton. She referred to him as "Lids" and made him Lord Chancellor. Raleigh, who planted a colony named after his Queen in North America (Virginia), idolised Elizabeth and he fascinated her, until his marriage to Bess Throckmorton earned her great displeasure and they were banished from court. Of all, it was Dudley, who in time became Lord Leicester, who remained the love of Elizabeth's life and upon his death she locked herself in her rooms and would see no-one.

Amidst this romantic speculating, and wondering about who would succeed Elizabeth to the Crown of England, came a contender who was thought by some to be the rightful Queen instead of Elizabeth. Mary, Queen of Scots. The two Queens never met, but the fight for the throne of England made them enemies and ultimately ended in Elizabeth having Mary held prisoner in the Tower of London, being personally involved in the Babington Plot which would take Elizabeth's life. Despite this, Elizabeth was reluctant to send Elizabeth to the scaffold, and when the Scottish Queen was executed at Fotheringhay, Elizabeth put the responsibility for the death order onto her Staff.