Woman without her man is nothing Woman without her man is nothing Marriage – what was all the fuss about? To describe reasons for the potential suitors. To explain reasons why negotiations were unsuccessful. To assess reasons why she never married. Woman without her man is nothing Woman without her man is nothing

Female rulers Marriage – what was all the fuss about? To describe reasons for the potential suitors. To explain reasons why negotiations were unsuccessful. To assess reasons why she never married. Female rulers

Did she ever intend to marry? Marriage – what was all the fuss about? To describe reasons for the potential suitors. To explain reasons why negotiations were unsuccessful. To assess reasons why she never married. Did she ever intend to marry? Haigh Doran

Robert Dudley – why not him? Marriage – what was all the fuss about? To describe reasons for the potential suitors. To explain reasons why negotiations were unsuccessful. To assess reasons why she never married. Robert Dudley – why not him? What are the reasons given in the sources?

Other potential marriage suitors: Archduke Charles of Austria Marriage – what was all the fuss about? To describe reasons for the potential suitors. To explain reasons why negotiations were unsuccessful. To assess reasons why she never married. Other potential marriage suitors: Philip II of Spain Archduke Charles of Austria Eric of Sweden Potential problems politically? Potential problems personally?

Marriage – what was all the fuss about? To describe reasons for the potential suitors. To explain reasons why negotiations were unsuccessful. To assess reasons why she never married. Henri, Duke of Anjou French heir to the throne. But relations with France in the 1560s were not strong and Anjou was a passionate Catholic, so negotiations fell apart. By 1572 negotiations were now with Francis of Alencon (Anjou’s younger brother). Good match – good political links, Anti-Spanish, a Valois and therefore enemy of the Guise faction (family of MQS). BUT 24th August 1572 – St Bartholomew’s Day Massacre in Paris. (Coligny dead – leader of Huguenots. approx 3000 Huguenots killed).

Marriage – what was all the fuss about? To describe reasons for the potential suitors. To explain reasons why negotiations were unsuccessful. To assess reasons why she never married. Randell pgs 110-114 Along with the fact that Elizabeth never met Alencon and reports were that he was not good looking and was immature, negotiations put on hold, even though she said not to send support to the Huguenots – * they did rebel against the legitimate monarch, * did not want to tarnish the good political relationship with Catherine de Medici, * not enough resources so therefore hazardous. Which led to marriage negotiation coming to a stand still and unofficial help sent to Hugs. A few year passed and in 1579 marriage negotiation reopened: Reports of Alencon’s looks and immaturity had been exaggerated and Elizabeth became very taken with him and it seemed that Elizabeth was very open to the prospect of marriage to him. Henri III and Catherine de Medici were in favour of the match as Alencon would do anything to gain more power in France so they wanted him out of the way. The Privy Council and a lawyer named John Stubbs launched a propaganda campaign against the French marriage: *

Marriage – what was all the fuss about? To describe reasons for the potential suitors. To explain reasons why negotiations were unsuccessful. To assess reasons why she never married. Elizabeth finally asked Privy Council for advice. She wanted the Privy Council to advise in favour of the marriage (she even sent members of the PC away for a few weeks so they were not there to offer their opinion). The Privy Council advice was: As the PRIVY COUNCIL and PUBLIC highly against it she abandoned the negotiations in 1581 – offered support to Anjou in his campaign in the Netherlands. This failed and he was dead by 1584!!

Why did she not marry? EVIDENCE Marriage – what was all the fuss about? To describe reasons for the potential suitors. To explain reasons why negotiations were unsuccessful. To assess reasons why she never married. Why did she not marry? EVIDENCE Haigh Doran

Marriage – what was all the fuss about? To describe reasons for the potential suitors. To explain reasons why negotiations were unsuccessful. To assess reasons why she never married. Possible arguments Reasons against the argument being valid Psychological reasons Witnessed execution of mother and disastrous marriages of Henry Possible abused by Thomas Seymour Only three when mother executed, under 10 when Henry married other wives. Execution was the ‘norm’ for the time – be careful not to judge her by 21st century psychology. Speculative No-one was suitable Fear of repeat of Mary and Philip Needed a husband of equal rank, not just a Swedish/French/Austrian Prince Marriage Treaty of 1554 showed that this was possible and could work. Was prepared to marry Alencon – he was of a high enough status Religion *Majority of foreign suitors were Catholic Could restrict Catholics to private mass to overcome this problem. Public opinion *The English were xenophobic and wanted an English King, but this meant marrying below status Given a good candidate these problems could be overcome. It was just one was never found. Fear of faction * Could divide her court if she married an Englishman and she wanted the support of her whole Privy Council Less likely with a popular, English, suitor. She would have married Dudley but couldn’t because of the scandal. Personal independence * She wanted to be in charge – contemporary beliefs of female monarchs * Not easy to overcome.