Early Elizabethan England, 1558-1559: Elizabeth's Succession and Character
Elizabeth's succession and early character are the starting point of early Elizabethan England: she became queen of England on 17 November 1558, on the death of her half-sister Mary I, and was crowned in January 1559. She was the daughter of Henry VIII and his second wife, Anne Boleyn, and had been declared illegitimate by Act of Parliament after her parents' marriage was annulled, though the Third Act of Succession of 1544 restored her to the line of succession behind her half-brother Edward and half-sister Mary. Elizabeth received a rigorous humanist education from tutors including Roger Ascham, becoming fluent in several languages, and she survived a dangerous period under Mary's reign, including imprisonment in the Tower of London in 1554 on suspicion of involvement in Wyatt's Rebellion. This background shaped a cautious, intelligent and politically skilled ruler who used image, ceremony and careful decision-making to secure a throne that many at home and abroad expected a young, unmarried, Protestant woman to struggle to hold.
Before you start
No specific prerequisites - this is a good place to start.
Method
- Learn the basic facts of the succession precisely: Elizabeth became queen on 17 November 1558, aged 25, following the death of Mary I, and was crowned in January 1559.
- Learn why Elizabeth's legitimacy could be questioned: Catholics who did not recognise Henry VIII's divorce from Catherine of Aragon regarded Elizabeth as illegitimate and therefore as having no valid claim to the throne, which strengthened the rival claim of Mary, Queen of Scots.
- Learn at least two facts about Elizabeth's character and preparation for rule: her humanist education under Roger Ascham gave her command of Latin, Greek, French and Italian, and her imprisonment in the Tower of London in 1554 taught her caution and the danger of factional politics.
- For 'describe two features of' questions on Elizabeth's accession or character, choose two distinct, factual features (e.g. her age and education; her survival of danger under Mary) and add one piece of supporting detail to each rather than writing a single general paragraph.
- For 'explain why' questions about doubts over Elizabeth's rule, treat gender, religion and legitimacy as separate, nameable factors and explain how each one specifically created a problem for her in 1558-59.
- For 16-mark judgement questions, plan three developed paragraphs before writing: one giving the strongest point for the statement, one giving a genuine counterpoint, and a third (or a conclusion) that weighs the two and states a supported judgement rather than sitting on the fence.
Worked example
Explain why many people in 1558 had doubts about Elizabeth's ability to rule successfully. You may use the following in your answer: her gender, and her religion. You must also use information of your own.
- Plan two given factors plus one of your own: gender, religion, and a third factor such as her age and lack of experience or her disputed legitimacy.
- Develop the gender point: many Elizabethans believed a woman was unsuited to rule because contemporary ideas held that women were subordinate to men, and England had no recent tradition of a successful queen regnant.
- Develop the religion point: Elizabeth was a Protestant inheriting a country Mary I had spent her reign trying to return to Catholicism, so any change of religious policy risked serious opposition at home and hostility from Catholic powers abroad.
- Add the own-knowledge factor: Elizabeth was only 25 and unmarried, with no direct heir, so her line of succession was immediately unclear, and Mary, Queen of Scots had a strong rival claim.
- Link the factors in a short conclusion: gender, religion and the succession problem combined to make Elizabeth's position appear fragile from the very start of her reign, explaining why contemporaries doubted she would rule for long or effectively.
Practice questions
Try each question, then tap to reveal the answer.
Q1In what year did Elizabeth I become queen of England?Show answer
Answer: 1558 (17 November 1558), on the death of her half-sister Mary I.
Q2Who were Elizabeth's parents?Show answer
Answer: Henry VIII and his second wife, Anne Boleyn.
Q3Why did some Catholics regard Elizabeth as illegitimate?Show answer
Answer: Because the Catholic Church did not recognise Henry VIII's annulment of his first marriage, so it did not accept his marriage to Anne Boleyn, Elizabeth's mother, as valid.
Q4Give one reason Elizabeth's education helped prepare her to rule.Show answer
Answer: Her humanist tutors, including Roger Ascham, gave her a strong command of languages and classical learning, which helped her deal confidently with foreign ambassadors and advisers.
Q5What happened to Elizabeth in 1554, and why?Show answer
Answer: She was imprisoned in the Tower of London by Mary I on suspicion of involvement in Wyatt's Rebellion, a failed uprising partly aimed at preventing Mary's marriage to Philip of Spain.
Q6Why was Elizabeth's lack of a husband or heir in 1558-59 a political problem?Show answer
Answer: Without a clear heir of her own, the succession remained uncertain, and rivals such as Mary, Queen of Scots could be seen by some as a legitimate alternative if Elizabeth died or was removed.
Exam-style questions
Written in the style of a GCSE History exam paper, with a full mark scheme.
Describe two features of Elizabeth I's position when she became queen in 1558.
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Explain why many people in 1558 had doubts about Elizabeth's ability to rule successfully. You may use the following in your answer: her gender, and her religion. You must also use information of your own.
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Tick each line you got. Your score builds from the marks on the scheme.
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'Elizabeth's greatest strength in 1558 was her own character and abilities.' How far do you agree with this statement? Explain your answer. You may use the following in your answer: her education, and the problems she inherited. You must also use information of your own.
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See real GCSE History past-paper questions, with official mark schemes →
Free printable worksheet
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