Queen Elizabeth I: 10 Fascinating Details About the Final Tudor Monarch
advertisement
VOICE OVER: Kirsten Ria Squibb
WRITTEN BY: Joe Shetina
From her tumultuous early life to her legendary reign, discover fascinating details about England's most celebrated Tudor monarch. Journey through Elizabeth I's remarkable life, including her dangerous childhood, linguistic talents, famous relationships, and lasting cultural impact on the English Renaissance. Learn about her relationship with Anne Boleyn, her multilingual abilities, encounters with Thomas Seymour, conflicts with Mary I and Mary Queen of Scots, and her decision to remain unmarried. Explore how she transformed England into a cultural powerhouse and left an enduring legacy as the last Tudor monarch.
Welcome to MsMojo, and today were delving into some of the reasons why Elizabeth I became one of the most iconic and well-known of the British monarchs.
The six wives of King Henry VIII are legendary, but if youre not a student of British history, it might surprise you that Anne Boleyn was actually the mother of Queen Elizabeth I. Henrys doomed second wife, he destroyed Englands relationship with the Catholic Church to marry her. Their relationship soured after she failed to produce a son, and he eventually had her executed. Henry declared Elizabeth illegitimate soon after. This all but ensured she would never claim the throne for herself. However, the king changed his mind before his death, placing her third in line behind her younger brother, who would become Edward VI, and her sister, who would become Mary I.
Like her siblings, Elizabeth Tudors education was of paramount importance. From her teenage years, she was writing and speaking several European languages, and even many regional British dialects. The true number of languages she spoke varies from source to source. She was more than proficient in Italian, French, Latin, and more. Not only that, but she frequently tested her skills by translating English texts into different languages. These skills probably gave her a huge advantage in diplomacy and international relations, as she could speak directly to her foreign allies, or adversaries, in their native tongue.
After Henry VIIIs death, his widowed queen, Catherine Parr, married Thomas Seymour, a high ranking official under the new king, Elizabeths brother, Edward VI. The orphaned princess found herself a stepchild in their household. Unfortunately, this saw her pursued by her stepmothers manipulative husband. Seymours actions during this period were so suspicious to the crown that he was later executed for treason, with his political opponents accusing him of trying to murder the king. Elizabeth was nearly charged with treason for entertaining a potential marriage to him. Enduring a prolonged interrogation, it was only by her own wits and cleverness that she escaped charges. She was fifteen years old.
She escaped that treason charge which could have resulted in death. But Elizabeth came much closer to death by another sibling, when her elder sister Mary ascended the throne. During Marys reign, Elizabeth lived virtually imprisoned at Hatfield House. The queens devout Catholicism meant that Elizabeths Protestantism was treasonous. Marys hardline religiosity earned her many enemies, and all of them saw her sister as the answer to their problems. As long as Elizabeth was alive and Mary was Queen, each knew they were in danger. Although Elizabeth had no involvement in the 1554 rebellion in her name, she once again narrowly avoided a trial. Four years later, Mary would be dead, and Elizabeth would begin her reign.
Once Elizabeth took the throne in 1558 at the age of 25, the kingdom began to transform in ways that allowed the arts to flourish. Elizabethan England saw a booming economy and the rise of romanticism in the arts. It also saw the emergence of now legendary playwrights, musicians, poets, and painters. William Shakespeares career began in the latter half of her reign, a period that would later be captured in Shakespeare in Love. Artists were falling all over themselves to immortalize the queen in their work. Poet Edmund Spensers The Faerie Queene, an ode to the queens eternal youth and beauty, earned him a lifelong pension from Elizabeth.
The nature of Elizabeths relationship with Robert Dudley, a man from a disgraced but once powerful family, was widely discussed at court and abroad. Once she became queen, she restored him to his former glory, and he was counted among her most trusted advisors. They even had adjoining apartments in her palace. However, Dudleys marriage to Amy Robsart presented a problem. Her sudden death led to speculation that she had been murdered to make a marriage between Elizabeth and Dudley possible. This, along with Elizabeths insistence on not marrying a political ally, fueled damaging gossip about everyone involved.
Threats to Elizabeths power didnt end with the deaths of her siblings. Religious partisanship continued as many Catholics maneuvered to install Elizabeths Catholic cousin, Mary, Queen of Scots, in her place. Elizabeth initially considered aligning with Mary, especially once she was forced to step down from the Scottish throne. When the embattled Mary arrived in England for help, the Queen and her council had her imprisoned. This didnt stop rebellions in Marys name, and in 1587, nearly 20 years after she arrived in England, Mary was beheaded. The intrigue surrounding their relationship inspired several retellings in literature, on stage, and on screen. Shockingly, the two never met in real life.
Not only was it customary for women to marry in the 16th Century, but Elizabeth Is reign and the stability of the Tudor dynasty was assumed to depend on it. While the moniker of the Virgin Queen may have been necessary to protect her reputation, Elizabeths decision not to marry was often challenged. It was long assumed Elizabeth would make a politically advantageous marriage with a foreign ruler of equal stature, like former brother-in-law, Philip II of Spain, Mary Is surviving husband. By never marrying, she could be free to engage in political agreements as she saw fit, without having to consider a husbands preexisting entanglements.
Paintings of the era seem less concerned with realism compared with written documentation of what Elizabeth actually looked like. However, her white makeup was true to life. She adopted this extreme look after smallpox scarred her face beyond repair. Some claim that she used Venetian ceruse, a popular cosmetic of the time that included lead in its ingredients. Ironically, these concoctions tended to age the skin even faster. A myth that the blood poisoning that eventually killed her was due to the buildup of lead in her system over time has never been proven. But its true that contemporary makeup and makeup removers were loaded with ingredients like lead, mercury, and other toxic chemicals.
Despite constant threat of usurpation or rebellion, Elizabeth never named an heir to the throne in her lifetime. Without marriage or royal issue, the Tudor dynasty would die with her. As she became more withdrawn and depressed in her final years, the topic of succession was handled, mostly in secret, by her advisers. In 1603, Elizabeths death saw the arrival of James Stuart, king of Scotland, and the son of Elizabeths former political rival, Mary, Queen of Scots. After six rulers, 118 years, and 45 years of sovereignty by Elizabeth alone, the Tudor Era ended.
Did any of these facts surprise you? Tell us in the comments.
#10: Her Mother Was a Famous & Doomed Queen
The six wives of King Henry VIII are legendary, but if youre not a student of British history, it might surprise you that Anne Boleyn was actually the mother of Queen Elizabeth I. Henrys doomed second wife, he destroyed Englands relationship with the Catholic Church to marry her. Their relationship soured after she failed to produce a son, and he eventually had her executed. Henry declared Elizabeth illegitimate soon after. This all but ensured she would never claim the throne for herself. However, the king changed his mind before his death, placing her third in line behind her younger brother, who would become Edward VI, and her sister, who would become Mary I.
#9: Fluent in Several Languages
Like her siblings, Elizabeth Tudors education was of paramount importance. From her teenage years, she was writing and speaking several European languages, and even many regional British dialects. The true number of languages she spoke varies from source to source. She was more than proficient in Italian, French, Latin, and more. Not only that, but she frequently tested her skills by translating English texts into different languages. These skills probably gave her a huge advantage in diplomacy and international relations, as she could speak directly to her foreign allies, or adversaries, in their native tongue.
#8: She Almost Married Her Stepmothers Husband
After Henry VIIIs death, his widowed queen, Catherine Parr, married Thomas Seymour, a high ranking official under the new king, Elizabeths brother, Edward VI. The orphaned princess found herself a stepchild in their household. Unfortunately, this saw her pursued by her stepmothers manipulative husband. Seymours actions during this period were so suspicious to the crown that he was later executed for treason, with his political opponents accusing him of trying to murder the king. Elizabeth was nearly charged with treason for entertaining a potential marriage to him. Enduring a prolonged interrogation, it was only by her own wits and cleverness that she escaped charges. She was fifteen years old.
#7: Her Half-Sister Almost Had Her Executed
She escaped that treason charge which could have resulted in death. But Elizabeth came much closer to death by another sibling, when her elder sister Mary ascended the throne. During Marys reign, Elizabeth lived virtually imprisoned at Hatfield House. The queens devout Catholicism meant that Elizabeths Protestantism was treasonous. Marys hardline religiosity earned her many enemies, and all of them saw her sister as the answer to their problems. As long as Elizabeth was alive and Mary was Queen, each knew they were in danger. Although Elizabeth had no involvement in the 1554 rebellion in her name, she once again narrowly avoided a trial. Four years later, Mary would be dead, and Elizabeth would begin her reign.
#6: Her Reign Was a Golden Age in the Arts
Once Elizabeth took the throne in 1558 at the age of 25, the kingdom began to transform in ways that allowed the arts to flourish. Elizabethan England saw a booming economy and the rise of romanticism in the arts. It also saw the emergence of now legendary playwrights, musicians, poets, and painters. William Shakespeares career began in the latter half of her reign, a period that would later be captured in Shakespeare in Love. Artists were falling all over themselves to immortalize the queen in their work. Poet Edmund Spensers The Faerie Queene, an ode to the queens eternal youth and beauty, earned him a lifelong pension from Elizabeth.
#5: The Virgin Queens Favourite
The nature of Elizabeths relationship with Robert Dudley, a man from a disgraced but once powerful family, was widely discussed at court and abroad. Once she became queen, she restored him to his former glory, and he was counted among her most trusted advisors. They even had adjoining apartments in her palace. However, Dudleys marriage to Amy Robsart presented a problem. Her sudden death led to speculation that she had been murdered to make a marriage between Elizabeth and Dudley possible. This, along with Elizabeths insistence on not marrying a political ally, fueled damaging gossip about everyone involved.
#4: She Executed Her Own Cousin
Threats to Elizabeths power didnt end with the deaths of her siblings. Religious partisanship continued as many Catholics maneuvered to install Elizabeths Catholic cousin, Mary, Queen of Scots, in her place. Elizabeth initially considered aligning with Mary, especially once she was forced to step down from the Scottish throne. When the embattled Mary arrived in England for help, the Queen and her council had her imprisoned. This didnt stop rebellions in Marys name, and in 1587, nearly 20 years after she arrived in England, Mary was beheaded. The intrigue surrounding their relationship inspired several retellings in literature, on stage, and on screen. Shockingly, the two never met in real life.
#3: She Never Married
Not only was it customary for women to marry in the 16th Century, but Elizabeth Is reign and the stability of the Tudor dynasty was assumed to depend on it. While the moniker of the Virgin Queen may have been necessary to protect her reputation, Elizabeths decision not to marry was often challenged. It was long assumed Elizabeth would make a politically advantageous marriage with a foreign ruler of equal stature, like former brother-in-law, Philip II of Spain, Mary Is surviving husband. By never marrying, she could be free to engage in political agreements as she saw fit, without having to consider a husbands preexisting entanglements.
#2: The Myth That Makeup Killed Her
Paintings of the era seem less concerned with realism compared with written documentation of what Elizabeth actually looked like. However, her white makeup was true to life. She adopted this extreme look after smallpox scarred her face beyond repair. Some claim that she used Venetian ceruse, a popular cosmetic of the time that included lead in its ingredients. Ironically, these concoctions tended to age the skin even faster. A myth that the blood poisoning that eventually killed her was due to the buildup of lead in her system over time has never been proven. But its true that contemporary makeup and makeup removers were loaded with ingredients like lead, mercury, and other toxic chemicals.
#1: She Never Named a Successor
Despite constant threat of usurpation or rebellion, Elizabeth never named an heir to the throne in her lifetime. Without marriage or royal issue, the Tudor dynasty would die with her. As she became more withdrawn and depressed in her final years, the topic of succession was handled, mostly in secret, by her advisers. In 1603, Elizabeths death saw the arrival of James Stuart, king of Scotland, and the son of Elizabeths former political rival, Mary, Queen of Scots. After six rulers, 118 years, and 45 years of sovereignty by Elizabeth alone, the Tudor Era ended.
Did any of these facts surprise you? Tell us in the comments.
