Page 34 - All About History - Issue 72-18

ow do th reigns of these two queens compare?
m

RELIGION

time Eli eth ascended the throne, WhileMarywasawayinFrance,Scotlandhadgone
England coul olongercopewithbeing frombeingaCatholiccountrytoaProtestantone.
led back and fo h between Protestantism Consequently,asaCatholicfemaleruler,thecards
uring a tolerant approach
and Catholicism. Favou were stacked against Mary in a rough and male-
Elizabeth’s Religious Set ttlement consisted of the dominated realm. However, just like Elizabeth,
Acts o upremacy and niformity passed in 1559, Mary took a tolerant approach to religion.
whichestablishedam dle ground between the Mary understood that she was not in a
two religions and all wed people to believe in position to fight the powerful Scottish
what they wished, with E lords and so she did not interfere with religion, even
Elizabeth as the Supreme
Governor of the Chu rch of England. Although helping to crush a Catholic rebellion in 1562. Mary
recusants of both ligions resisted the new also wanted to avoid upsetting Elizabeth, in case it
sures, a tentat ve balance was reached. risked her chances of being named heir.

POLITICS

It ell known that loyal and Unlike her cousin Elizabeth, Mary was
eadvisorssuchasCecil not surrounded by men who were
and Walsingham served loyal to their queen and many of
beth for the majority of them were suspicious of her as a
reign, and she relied on Catholic. Her attempts to mediate
heavily. The queen was between her advisors often
to comprise and listen backfired and some of them in
to advisors, for which she particular, namely her half-brother
en commended, but could Moray, had designs on her crown.
strate th em with her indecision, Mary’s fate was sealed thanks to her
en taking months t make a choice. Having disastrous marriages to Darnley and Bothwell,
his, Elizabeth could cert ainly stand her ground who both wanted to seize her power, further
er advisors, even if the id go behind her back. weakening her position beyond repair.
Elizabeth I, Mary,

Queen of England Queen of Scots
SECURING THE SUCCESSION

To the frustration of Cecil and her advisors, Elizabeth constantly flirted with Undoubtedly Mary’s greatest achievement was successfully producing a
the idea of marriage but never committed to it instead choosing to style male heir for the Scottish throne. It was a triumph over Elizabeth, who
herself as England’s ‘Virgin Queen’. In doing so, she never provided England remained childless, with Mary able to show that she had the means to
with an heir and she refused to name one until she was lying on her continue her dynasty. Although she lost her throne and her head, Mary’s son
deathbed. Without a child to succeed her, Elizabeth was forced to leave the James succeeded her in Scotland and he eventually succeeded Elizabeth in
crown to Mary’s son, King James VI, bringing an end to the Tudor dynasty. England,joiningthetworealmsinapersonalunion.

STABILITY

As Queen of England for over four decades, Elizabeth provided England Unfortunately for Mary, her position on the Scottish throne was always far from
with much needed stability after the short and turbulent reigns of stable. She was always perceived to be more of a French queen than a Scottish
her brother, King Edward VI, and her sister, Queen Mary I. Though one, and the Scottish lords resented the fact that France had held so much
Elizabeth’s position on throne was threatened while her cousin remained influenceinScotlandduringtheregencyofhermother.Trappedinavicious
alive and she was targeted by numerous assassination plots, the queen cycle of political intrigue and poor decisions, Mary lost her throne just six years
ultimately prevailed to oversee a golden age in English history. afterherreturn,whichisatestamenttohowunstablehercrownreallywas.

LEGACY

There is no denying that Elizabeth left an enduring legacy that continues to If this rating was about infamy, then Mary would score 5/5, no questions asked. Her
fascinate us to this very day. She dedicated an extraordinary amount of time to downfall and execution was one of the most controversial moments in history and to this
cultivating her image and propaganda, creating some of the most iconic portraits day, there are constantly new films, books and television series dedicated to examining
in English history. Elizabeth left behind a stable and secure England for which she her complicated life. However, losing her crown permanently damaged Mary’s reputation
is celebrated as ‘Gloriana’, forever a symbol of English patriotism and success. as a queen and consequently tarnished her legacy in the centuries since her death.

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