The strength of Elizabeth’s authority at the end of her reign Flashcards
(17 cards)
Why did political problems cause Elizabeth’s authority to weaken towards the end of her reign ?
By 1600s, Elizabeth’s most loyal and trusted advisers had died. They were replaced at court by young and ambitious men who were desperate for power and oferten dough among themselves. Elizabeth found them more difficult to control
Why did economic problems cause Elizabeth’s authority to grow weaken towards the end of her reign ?
Between 1594 and 1597 there were four terrible harvests. Food prices rose and there was widespread hunger, poverty and crime. There were riots and disorder in some towns
Why did military problems cause Elizabeth’s reign to weaken towards the end ?
England has been at war with Spain for a number of years. Taxes were increase to pay for war, and this was very unpopular. Elizabeth also has to raise money to send an army to Ireland after a rebellion started there
Who was Robert Devereux ?
The son of a leading noble and became the Earl of Essex when his father died. At the age of 17 he went to the royal court and quickly become one of Elizabeth’s favourite courtiers.
What achievements did Robert Devereux make from Elizabeth ?
She made him a Privy counsellor at the age of 26
In 1596 he led a successful attack on the Spanish port of Cadiz (destroying many spanish warships and returning to England a national hero)
Why did politics cause Robert Devereux and Elizabeth to fall out ?
Essex wanted to become Elizabeth’s main adviser and hope that she would trust him to rule the country as she got older. However, whilst he was away attacking Cadiz, Elizabeth made Robert Cecil her Secretary of State
Why did Quarrels at court cause Elizabeth and Robert Devereux to fall out ?
On his return to England, Essex argued with Elizabeth and insulted her by rudely turning back on her. She punched him in the ear. In response, Essex nearly drew his sword and the stormed out of their meeting. Essex was banned from court
Why did Ireland cause Robert Devereux and Elizabeth to fall out ?
Elizabeth sent Essex to Ireland to put down a rebellion, but he went against the Queen’s wishes and made peace with the Irish
rebels. Elizabeth was furious and took away his government jobs.
Why did money and monopolies cause Elizabeth and Robert Devereux to fall out ?
Elizabeth refused to renew Essex’s monopoly for selling sweet wines. Essex now faces financial problems and his political career was in ruins
What was the
plan of the Essex’s rebellion ?
- Essex gathered 300 supporters (unemployed soldiers and nobles in debt or failed to gain influence from court)
- He planned to remove the Queen and Robert Cecil and his supporters from court. Essex wanted to become Secretary of State and for his supporters to control all the
important positions in government
What caused a lack of support in Essex’s plan making it fail?
- Rumours of Essex’s plan spread through London. On 7 February 1601, his supporters put on a performance of Shakespeare’s play (Richard 11) at the Globe Theatre. Elizabeth was furious as the play included a scene where the king is overthrown. She ordered Essex to appear before the privy council
- On 8 February, four privy counsellors were sent to bring Essex to Court. Essex arrested them and locked them up. He then marched into the centre of London with his supports
- Essex hoped that many Londoners would
join him, but none did
What affect did did a quick and strong response from the privy council cause the failure of Essex’s rebellion due to a loss of supporters ?
The privy council responded quickly. They declared that Essex was a traitor but promised his supporters that if they left him, they would be pardoned and not punished. Some of his supporters surrendered.
What was Essex’s
response to
the loss of his supporters and what did this cause ?
Essex decided to return home and use the Privy counsellors he had captured as hostages to make a deal with the Queen. However, the Privy council send spillers to block his route home. There was some fighting, but Essex escaped home.
What caused Essex to surrender ?
When he arrived home, he found that his hostages had been released. Armed spillers arrived to surround his home and Essex had little choice but to surrender.
How long did the Essex rebellion last and did it attract any public support ?
It only
lasted for 12 hours and did not attract public support
What was the result of the Essex rebellion?
Essex was put in trial and found guilty of treason. He was executed at the Tower of London
Why was Essex’s rebellion important ?
- It represented a real threat to Elizabeth - it involved one of her privy counsellors and an experience military commander
- The rebellion occurred in the capital, just a few miles from the royal court. For privy counsellors were held hostage
- It showed that there were serious divisions within the royal court and that by the end of her reign Elizabeth was struggling to keep control of her leading nobles
- The strength of Elizabeth’s authority was not as strong as it had been earlier in her reign and political and economic problems were growing
