Im writing a research paper on why Elizabeth 1 did not marry but having a hard time coming up with the reasons.
2007-06-26 05:06:07 · 11 answers · asked by 1111 1 in Society & Culture ➔ Royalty
One reason could be that she did not want to share her power. She had seen first hand how men in power treated their wives Ex: Henry VIII and Anne Boelyn, Queen Mary and Phillip of Spain, and Mary, Queen fo Scots and all her problems. She knew the direction she wanted to take England, and did not want to be thwarted in that goal. She may also have feared the state of marriage itself. Marriages back then were not usually love matches, and she would not have been allowed to follow her heart at any rate, but, rather, make a political alliance.
2007-06-26 05:30:52 · answer #1 · answered by lyllyan 6 · 4⤊ 0⤋
From what I can understand, the reasons are quite unclear. It was speculated that perhaps she might have been repulsed by the mistreatment of Henry VIII's wives, or she had been psychologically scarred by a rumoured childhood relationship with Lord Thomas Seymour. There's also been some speculation that she may have been suffering from a physical deformity cause by scarring from small pox, though that is completely conjectural. Apparently, though, she was in love with a commoner, Robert Dudley, 1st Earl of Leicester. But, Dudley was married already, and his wife died in 1560 of 'suspicious circumstances'. Even if this is correct, Elizabeth's council refused to consider sanctioning a marriage between the two.
The more likely cause was simply that she didn't want to share the power of the Crown with anyone, fearing that marriage with a foreigner would provoke hostilities, much like that of her sister Mary's marriage to Philip II, which had been a complete disaster. Mary's marriage had spurred some unprofitable and unpopular wars. Also, during this time period, England was not comfortable with the notion of a Queen Regnant. In this capacity, she ruled completely, advised only at her request. Had she married, she may have been expected to give over her power to her husband and take no part in matters of state.
2007-06-26 05:36:26 · answer #2 · answered by Shayna 5 · 4⤊ 0⤋
As others have stated, Elizabeth would have had to give up her power if she had married, in those gender biased times. She had spent her entire life at the mercy of those in power, and she had no intention of relapsing into that state.
At a vulnerable age, she saw the deaths of the women she loved the most, at the hands of their husbands. Whether beheaded, like her mother Anne Boyeyn and her cousin Katherine Howard, or in childbirth, like Katherine Parr. Hardly an example she would care to follow.
A side note - the gowns Elizabeth is wearing mentioned by another answerer, are not pregnancy gowns. Pregnant women continued to wear the same dresses and loosened the bodices, while adding an extra panel to the skirt. The gowns mentioned are what ladies wore for "undress", while not in the elaborate formal dresses of the day. They were loose and comfortable, and need not be worn with stays. The equivalent of today's housedress or kimono.
2007-06-26 06:59:38 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 1⤋
Shana J is correct there was also some speculation that she had married Dudley in secret and due to a few paintings of her in maternity gowns that she may have even bore him 2 children. But as for her reason they went to the grave with her whether it was a purely political move of not willing to share the crown with a foreign prince, or a secret marriage to Robert Dudley, or some psychological reason seeing is how her father beheaded her mother is unknown to us. But if you wish to use the paintings of Elizabeth pregnant and the others of her in family style poses with 2 small boys post asking for it and I will look up the link and and add them for you. I personally would use them all since the reason were unknown why not cover all scenarios.
2007-06-26 06:22:53 · answer #4 · answered by Petra 5 · 0⤊ 1⤋
I would have to say that having seen just how easy it would be for her husband to get rid of her & since her childhood was so perilous maybe she was just tired of having to worry about when & if her husband would kill her. Women in that day and age had no power once they got married, she would have lost her authority and her protection. Who would dare risk a terrible death for killing the Queen? Sure there's always 1 or 2 lunatics that would try it but they are few and far between.
2007-06-26 10:13:21 · answer #5 · answered by Julia B 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
How about she wanted to keep her power? The minute she got married, her husband and probably the rest of the world, would expect that he would take over, even though he would only be a consort.
2007-06-26 06:29:15 · answer #6 · answered by lucy_diamond66 4 · 2⤊ 1⤋
the queen only had the kingly powers when he was away on business trips. Elizabeth thought she could be a better queen if she did everything herself
2007-06-26 12:59:38 · answer #7 · answered by babygirl 4 · 0⤊ 1⤋
The "Virgin Queen" was a real feminist and ahead of her time. She would never marry to share a throne with any man although she had many lovers.
2007-06-26 05:52:15 · answer #8 · answered by DAR76 7 · 0⤊ 3⤋
she had a spiritual awakening she wanted too focas all her energy being the best she could be for the glory of England
2007-06-26 05:15:09 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
#1: She didn't want to. She wanted all the power to herself.
2007-06-26 05:13:16 · answer #10 · answered by Mr. Taco 7 · 2⤊ 1⤋