Concetti Chiave
- Elizabeth I ascended to the throne in 1558, re-establishing Protestantism and aiming to create a stronger England.
- The Act of Supremacy in 1559 named Elizabeth as "Governor" of the Church of England, distancing from her father's title.
- Mary Stuart, a Catholic rival to Elizabeth, faced political and religious turmoil, leading to her execution in 1587.
- Conflict with Spain was driven by threats to England's independence and trade, culminating in the defeat of the Spanish Armada in 1588.
- During the Tudor Period, English seamen ventured into colonization, challenging Spanish dominance and engaging in piracy.
The Rise of Elizabeth I
In 1558 Elizabet I ascended the throne, she was a daughter of Henry VIII and Anne Boleyn. She re-established the Protestant religion, because she wanted to create a modern stronger England.
In 1559 Parliament passed the second Act of Supremacy and she maned herself “Governor” and not “ supreme Head on Earth of the Church of England” as her father had done. From 1559 thanks to the Act of Uniformity, English people could use the Cranmer’s Prayer Book.
Rivalry with Mary Stuart
The Elizabeth’s greater rival was Mary Queen of Scots, in fact they were many different. Mary was the grand-daughter of Henry VIII’s sister, Margaret. Since, in 1548 was sent to France, she knew and in 1558 married the Dauphin of France, Fancis II. Since then Scotland was still a Catholic country. When Francis died, she returned to her country in 1561 and thus found a Protestant country. In this situation John Knox preached the Protestant doctrines, helped of Queen Elizabeth, who was afraid of a Catholic Scotland and of many of the nobles. Mary in 1567 married a descendant of the Tudors, Lord Darnley, who was murdered after three months, and she married a Scottish lord who was suspected of the murder of Darney. For this reason all abandoned the Queen. And after in 1568 was taken prisoner, up to 1587, when the 8th February was beheaded.
Inevitability of Conflict with Spain
The reasons that had combined over the years to make conflict inevitable were:
The balance of power in Europe would have been tilted in favour of Spain, the succession to the English throne was claimed by Philip of Spain, England’s independence, its trade, its potential for playing colonies were now threatened by the power of Spain.
In 1588 the Spanish Invincible Armada was met by the English fleet, sailing for England. Even if the English fleet were inferior in number, defeated the Spanish. This war continued till 1603.
English Monopoly and Colonization
The monopoly of colonization and commerce in Africa, Asia and America to the hands of Queen Elizabeth, in the 15th century passed in the hands of Portugal and Spain. Nevertheless, in the Tudor Period, the English seamen crossed the ocean and reached to rich lands. Then it was necessary to fight a private war with the Spanish, in which English sailors were pirates, who attacked Spanish ships with cargoes of precious metals.
Domande da interrogazione
- How did Elizabeth I re-establish Protestantism in England?
- What was the nature of Elizabeth I's rivalry with Mary Queen of Scots?
- Why was conflict with Spain inevitable during Elizabeth I's reign?
- How did English seamen contribute to England's colonial ambitions during the Tudor Period?
Elizabeth I re-established Protestantism by passing the second Act of Supremacy in 1559, naming herself "Governor" of the Church of England, and implementing the Act of Uniformity, which allowed the use of Cranmer’s Prayer Book.
Elizabeth I's rivalry with Mary Queen of Scots stemmed from their religious differences and political tensions, as Mary was a Catholic with a claim to the English throne, which threatened Elizabeth's Protestant rule.
Conflict with Spain was inevitable due to the threat Spain posed to England's independence, trade, and colonial ambitions, as well as Philip of Spain's claim to the English throne, culminating in the defeat of the Spanish Armada in 1588.
English seamen contributed by crossing oceans to reach new lands, engaging in private wars with Spain, and acting as pirates attacking Spanish ships, thus challenging the Spanish and Portuguese monopoly on colonization and commerce.
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