Elizabeth and her court Flashcards
(26 cards)
Why was Elizabeth’s childhood difficult due to her mother ?
Elizabeth’s mother (Anne Boleyn) was executed on the order of her father, when she was three
Why did Elizabeth experience a difficult childhood due to her religion ?
In 1533, Elizabeth’s sister Mary became Queen. She was determined to make England a Catholic country. Elizabeth was a protestant.
When a rebellion broke out in 1554, Mary suspected Elizabeth was involved. She was arrested, charged with treason and kept a prisoner in the Tower of London
How did Elizabeth’s difficult childhood affect her ?
She developed a tough and determined character.
She was also intelligent, could speak many languages and loved music and dancing
What was the Royal court ?
It was the centre of the government.
It was where the monarch brought together the most important people in the country try to give them rewards, settle arguments and ask for advice
What does it mean that the court was not a place ?
The Queen moved round her palaces and visits ed grand houses belonging to the nobles, the court moved with her.
Why did ambitious nobles want to remain near the Queen ?
So they could win her trust and be rewarded with important positions in government
What was expected of the Nobles who attended the court ?
Courtiers were expected to display obedience and loyalty towards Elizabeth at ceremonies
What were the Entertainments at court ?
They included dances, great feasts, plays and musical performances, hunting and jousting
Why were entertainments held at court ?
They were designed to impress people and demonstrate Elizabeth’s wealth and power
How did Elizabeth have immediate power when she become Queen in 1558 ?
People believed that their monarch was appointed by God to run the country
What was it known as when the Queen passed down power, wealth and responsibility?
It happened through a system known as patronage
Why did Elizabeth use patronage to keep the support of the nobles ?
These rich powerful
landowners could rebel against the Queen if they were unhappy. She used the system to reward loyal nobles with important positions in the government
What did the powerful nobles run ?
They run the national government for Elizabeth
What happened to the powerful nobles and the Gentry if they didn’t please Elizabeth ?
Elizabeth could take away their positions, wealth and land
How did Elizabeth not make all the decisions herself ?
She used patronage to control the nobles who helped her govern the country
Who were the nobles ?
The wealthiest landowners
What were the nobles responsibility ?
They expected to be the monarch’s leading advisers. They were also often appointed as Lord lieutenants. This meant they were responsible for running a whole country and making sure their country could provide well-trained soldiers for the monarch whenever needed
Who were the Gentry ?
Knights, lawyers and merchants. They owned land but were less wealthy than nobles
What were the loyalty of the nobles ?
If the monarch kept them happy they were loyal. But unpopular monarchs could be overthrown by nobles who had they own private army
What were the responsibility of the Gentry ?
They ran local government as Justices of peace (JPs). They were about 40 JPs in each country.
Why did JPs do their job if they didn’t get paid ?
It gave them a lot of local power and influence
What did JPs do ?
They collected taxes, set wages, kept law and order and decided in punishments for crimes such as assault or burglary
How was everyone else under the Gentry ?
- Yeomen farmers (who owned their own land)
- Tenant farmers (who rented land from a landowner)
- Craftsmen/ craftswomen
- Servants
- Labourers (in the countryside they worked in agriculture in towns they worked in trades such as textiles
What was the responsibility of the people under the Gentry ?
They worked for people above them. Men served as soldiers when needed
