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Roman Catholics were at a disadvantage when seeking Elizabeth I's hand.

Britain: Elizabethan England - Accession And Marriage

Explore how Elizabeth I secured her throne, handled marriage proposals, and managed Parliament while keeping everyone guessing about who would succeed her.

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Fascinating Fact:

Parliament repeatedly petitioned Elizabeth to marry and name an heir. She avoided firm decisions, which allowed her to keep control over her councillors and possible successors.

In GCSE History, this Elizabethan England topic explores Elizabeth I’s accession in 1558, her leading advisers, and how marriage plans affected power, religion, and foreign policy at home and abroad.

Key Terms

Accession: The formal process of becoming monarch and taking the throne.
Succession: The order in which people are entitled to become the next king or queen.
Privy Council: A small group of senior advisers who helped Elizabeth I govern England.

Frequently Asked Questions (Click to see answers)

Why was Elizabeth I’s marriage such an important issue?

Elizabeth I’s marriage mattered because any husband might gain power in England and any children could settle the question of who would rule next, affecting religion, alliances, and stability.

What was the succession problem when Elizabeth became queen?

When Elizabeth became queen there was no clear, widely accepted heir. Different groups supported rivals such as Mary, Queen of Scots, which created uncertainty and the risk of plots and rebellion.

What should I revise for Elizabethan England: Accession and Marriage?

You should revise Elizabeth I’s accession, her main councillors, key foreign and English suitors, the succession issue, and how marriage and heir questions affected politics and religion in England.

Try These Related Quizzes

1 .

Which English suitor's chances as a bridegroom for Elizabeth were reduced when his wife, Amy Robsart, was found dead at the foot of a staircase?

Lord Robert Dudley, Earl of Leicester

Sir Walter Raleigh

William Cecil

Sir Francis Walsingham

There was acute rivalry at the English court for Elizabeth's favour, and even more for her hand in marriage. But she was unlikely to accept an English claimant for fear of fuelling factional disputes

2 .

Who was Elizabeth's heir when she took the throne in 1558?

Mary Tudor

Edward Tudor

Mary, Queen of Scots

James Stuart

Contemporaries worried that Elizabeth might be succeeded by another woman, and by a Roman Catholic one too

3 .

Who was the legal heir to the throne after the execution of Mary, Queen of Scots in 1587?

James Stuart, Mary's son

Henry III of France

Christian of Denmark

Henry IV of France

By the age of 54 Elizabeth could not bear a child, but she still had value as a potential wife

4 .

Which European king, recently widowed, sought Elizabeth's hand from 1558, but later became hostile?

Eric of Sweden

Archduke Charles of Austria

Philip II of Spain

Henry II of France

Many foreign royals wooed Elizabeth as they wanted England's alliance against their diplomatic or military rivals

5 .

Who eventually succeeded Elizabeth on the English throne?

James I

Henry IV of France

Margaret of Denmark

Philip III of Spain

Elizabeth never did marry, so the Tudor line died out on her death. She was succeeded by James Stuart who was already King James VI of Scotland and now became King James I of England

6 .

Charles, Archduke of Austria, threw his hat in the ring for Elizabeth's hand in marriage in 1563. Which religion did he practise?

Islam

Judaism

Protestantism

Roman Catholicism

Religious divisions were crucial in the 16th Century. Non-Christians or Catholics were at a disadvantage in seeking Elizabeth's hand. This factor did not, however, discourage a number from trying

7 .

To which continental family did Francis, Duke of Anjou (previously Duke of Alencon) belong?

Bourbon

Valois

Hapsburg

Guise

Foreign candidates welcomed the chance to marry the English queen as they valued an English alliance against rival European states. Naturally Elizabeth was an even more valuable catch while she was of child-bearing age

8 .

Mary, Queen of Scots was a serious contender for the throne until her execution in 1587. Why was she put to death?

Plotting with Roman Catholics to overthrow Elizabeth

Following the Roman Catholic faith

Inviting the French king to invade England

Urging Scottish nobles to make war on Elizabeth

Mary's persistent Catholicism and her secret contacts with foreign powers put her in danger of treason charges

9 .

Ambassador de Feria pressed his monarch's claim for Elizabeth's hand. Which sovereign state was he representing?

Portugal

Spain

Italy

Belgium

Diplomats in London were by now often resident in the capital, and were able to arrange audiences with the Queen to seek her hand in marriage on their employer's behalf

10 .

In 1562 Elizabeth nearly died from a contagious disease. Had she died the succession would have been thrown into turmoil. From which illness did she suffer?

Bubonic Plague

Cholera

Polio

Smallpox

As an unmarried woman, with a disputed succession likely on her death, Elizabeth's health was always a major issue

You can find more about this topic by visiting BBC Bitesize - Elizabeth I

Author: Edward Towne