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Why Queen Elizabeth I should be respected

A woman who gave up everything to be a Virgin Queen? Why isn't she a role model?

By Heather WilkinsPublished 4 years ago 7 min read
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Elizabeth Tudor with the defeat of the Spanish Armada portrait. Courtesy of Wikipedia.

I got my hands on this book that was written in 1952 by a man named J.E. Neal. It says he was given special recognition for his autobiography of the Tudor Queen, Elizabeth. The infamous queen, the last known Tudor monarch, ruled for nearly 45 years. While some queens have ruled longer in English history, none of them changed the course of the nation much like that of Elizabeth.

So why isn't this Virgin Queen, known for her unmarried status, taught as a role model for most young girls today?

1. She created the Anglican Church

Elizabeth was a scholar. There are unpublished papers with the royal signature of Elizabeth signed at the bottom of Latin translated texts. She was fluent in several languages ranging from French and German to Italian and Latin.

In the book by Neale, it was said she read more documents on religious texts than any known priest of Protestant or Catholic faith. Elizabeth was reported to locking up the Protestant and Catholic laymen in a room to create a religious branch of Christianity that everyone could use in the English Realm, thus Anglican faith was created.

For some who don't understand this move to create Anglicanism, Elizabeth's younger half-brother and older half-sister had two different views on the matter. Mary Tudor, the half-sister, was a staunch Catholic and was known as "Bloody Mary" for her attacks on Protestants. Edward Tudor, the half-brother, removed many sacred Saint's Feasts and activities to enforce Protestantism. He banned the use of Maypoles and many Catholic holidays that were once Celtic holidays such as Beltane, or May Day.

Many scholars on Elizabeth's policies often see this move as a controversial, but for her to end bloodshed over the same religion seemed more common sense at the time. If you have watched the scene in the Elizabeth movie where Cate Blanchett plays the iconic young Virgin Queen, she cites that Catholic and Protestant faith are just two different ideas from the same Christian vein, meaning that they are one and the same.

2. She Never Had A Master

Queen Elizabeth, I was known as the Virgin Queen for the fact that she was never married. But that doesn't mean she had lovers. It was reported in her old age, around forty-six at the time, that for thirteen days and thirteen nights she spent time with the Duke of Anjou's brother, Henry III of France, in her own private rooms. While the age difference was twenty years, she did fall for him. It is said in her autobiography, written by Neale, that she did offer Henry a ring as a form of a marriage proposal. But sadly he died in the heat of battle before any marriage could take place.

Queen Elizabeth's popular lover to discuss would be Robert Dudley. He often wooed the heart of the young Queen but when she found out from Lord Burghley that he was already married, she was more angry and bitter towards Dudley in later years because of the feeling of being used.

Elizabeth publicly stated in times of her realm that she should never marry or become married. Her mood would often switch between wanting a husband and being a virgin throughout her reign. There was the supporting doubt that for someone like her, the worries of childbirth and husbands would often come between her policies and the people of England.

3. Elizabeth had an affectionate father

We all know that Henry Tudor, Henry VII that is, had six wives. Only a few of his marriages would be deemed legitimate. Those who had issues or those who were there to fill the loneliness of his reign as his health declined following a second jousting accident and the death of his third wife Jane Seymour after bearing him, Edward.

Elizabeth was the result of Henry's marriage with Anne Boleyn. Though Anne's reign was short-lived. Elizabeth often received visits and presents from Henry. Whether Mary Tudor, Elizabeth's sister ever received anything from Henry VII we will never know. Elizabeth often visited her father or attended several court meetings. She excelled in many languages and often conversed or greeted her father in the language she learned for practice. Her excellent use of French would be heard when she was with her father.

It is often reported that Elizabeth held Henry VII in high regard. She thought of him as her father and never liked it when someone criticized her father in any sense.

4. Elizabeth founded Trinity College in Ireland

Queen Elizabeth was a woman of learning and knowledge. She often attended institutional debates and discussions on the current situations in the realm of Oxford and Cambridge. But she never stuck around for religious discussions or debates.

Trinity College was founded in a different location from where the first college was found in Dublin around 1311, it closed its doors at the height of the Protestant Reformation under Henry VII's reign. In the year 1592, a small group of Dublin locals obtained patent letters from Queen Elizabeth I to create a campus known today as Trinity College. It combined several areas in the southeast of Dublin on the grounds of the All Hallows Priory and a rumored University at Saint Patrick's Cathedral in Dublin.

For those who have not been to Trinity College, it hosted the exhibit on the Book of Kells and holds the largest library collection of historical books in the world.

5. Elizabeth tried to spare Mary Stewart's life

Mary, Queen of Scots, and Elizabeth were cousins. In the early part of their lives, they actually were very affectionate and friendly towards one another. This friendly and happy relationship could be due to Mary Stewart living in France from the ages of six to nineteen, or it was based on the royal lineage between the two women.

The relationship changed later when Mary was forced out of France by her mother-in-law Catherine de Medici after the death of Francis II of France, Mary's husband. The marriage did not produce children, there was a recorded miscarriage. Elizabeth warned her about coming back to Scotland because the Reverend John Knox had most of the control of the Scottish Parliament and kept a foothold in the royal powers of Mary's half-brother the Earl of Moray, James. Still, Mary was insistent on going back to Scotland.

Neale describes in the autobiography little character flaws about Mary, Queen of Scots. Mary learned many languages but did not keep up with the practice of said languages. She did speak French and Scottish Gaelic fluently. The Queen of Scotland was also seen doing needlework and crafts in the middle of Parliament while the Lords were discussing the situation of the realm. Mary, Queen of Scots acted more like that of a young girl than a Queen and it was known that her temper and nasty comments prevailed in many of her conversations among courtiers and noblemen. Catherine de Medici and Mary were also noted to never get along. Especially since Mary, Queen of Scots wore white as her wedding dress when Catherine was coming out of mourning, wearing white herself.

The relationship dissolved further between Mary, Queen of Scots, and Elizabeth after Mary refused many of Elizabeth's suitors and married Robert Darnley, a man who had close ties to the English Crown and was an English subject himself. Elizabeth also criticized the public expression of the Catholic faith in a very Protestant Scotland, which angered her and both John Knox. The final straw was when Robert Darnley was murdered by Mary and her lover Lord Bothwell. After Mary bore a son, future English King James I, the relationship between Mary and Robert fell apart. Robert was considered abusive and a drunk, shaming Mary. She was often in much heartache and frustration. Elizabeth knew that the murder of an English subject was punishable by imprisonment or death. But Elizabeth could never murder her cousin.

Elizabeth tried everything to ensure that Mary was spared. Imprisonment in many fine castles often kept Mary at bay, but the final straw was the assassination attempts at Mary's hand. In the end, Mary lost her head and her life. But she died considering herself a martyr for the Catholic fight to the English throne.

Queen Elizabeth is a woman who put her country and it's a success on her shoulders. While the issue of marriage and children would prop up in her life, she pursued the course of nearly 45 years of a peaceful reign. Many admirable and successful political achievements happened in her lifetime. Surely the need to never have a husband, the knowledge and power of language and published works, the need to fortify and create institutes of higher learning, and establish new religious principles and ways of thought were all accomplished by this fiery goddess. It's no wonder she should be taught more as a role model for girls who want to accomplish anything.

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About the Creator

Heather Wilkins

Born in South Carolina, raised in Florida. I enjoy writing for therapy or stress release. Enjoy my ramblings or any updates on cities where I live.

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