Why did Elizabeth never marry?

 

Key Points:

• Parlaiment and Privy Council members consistently pressurised Elizabeth to get married.

• Elizabeth gained from never having to consider her husband’s wishes on issues

• Elizabeth was put at a disadvantage as she grew old and people speculated about the succession.

KEY WORD – the succession – the selection of the next monarch.

 

Parliament’s role

During Elizabeth’s reign some in Parliament expressed worry that she was not providing the country with an heir. Elizabeth had nearly died early on in her reign from Smallpox. By this time Elizabeth was 30 years old and not married. By 1566 Parliament started openly discussing the issue. This annoyed Elizabeth, who felt it was a private matter. One MP in particular was punished by Elizabeth for his comments on her marriage – Peter Wentworth. He ignored Elizabeth’s orders not to discuss her marriage and he was sent to the Tower of London.

 

What did Elizabeth gain from not marrying?

1. A Husband who was a foreign prince might drag England into a war (as happened to Mary with Philip of Spain)

2. A Husband who was English would have to come from the nobility (such as Robert Dudley). By raising one noble to the position of king it would create jealousy amongst the others.

3. An unpopular foreign king might damage Elizabeth’s reputation and cause a rebellion

4. Most of the candidates for marriage that were suitable were Catholic

5. Henry VIII’s marriages ended badly, but not marrying Elizabeth avoided such problems

 

What did Elizabeth lose from not marrying?

• A strong alliance with another European country to protest England from enemies such as Spain

• Elizabeth was unable to provide an heir, so the Tudor line would die out

• Without an heir it encouraged plots against the queen to put a Catholic like Mary Queen of Scots on the throne.

• As Elizabeth entered old age, she lost some of her influence as many looked to her cousin James, who would become James I

Who were the possible candidates for marriage?

Phillip of Spain

 

• King of Spain

• Very wealthy

• Catholic

• Was Mary I’s husband

 

Robert Dudley

 

• Was Elizabeth’s childhood friend

• Rumoured to be Elizabeth’s lover

• His wife Amy died in mysterious circumstances.

• Unpopular amongst many at court

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Francois Duke of Alencon

 

• Younger brother of the French king

• Wealthy

• Catholic

• Many in England were against Elizabeth marrying a Frenchman.

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William of Orange

 

• Leading a rebellion against the Spanish

• Protestant

• Wealthy