Elizabeth Tudor - Elizabeth I of England

Elizabeth Tudor - Elizabeth I of England - Virgin Queen/Whore Queen

Elizabeth Tudor

Elizabeth Tudor was born at Greenwich Palace, London on 7 September 1533. Daughter to Henry VIII and Anne Boleyn, and was named after her Grandmother, Elizabeth Plantagent - Elizabeth of York. 

Elizabeth was christened in the Church of Franciscan Friars, Greenwich, London. Her Godparent's were Dowager Duchess of Norfolk, Dowager Marchioness of Dorset and Thomas Cranmer - Archbishop of Canterbury.

At just 3 months old, Elizabeth had been given her own Household - as this was common practice at the time - Elizabeth was escorted through the streets of London by her Great Uncle, to her new Home at Hatfield House, Hertfordshire. When Elizabeth was just 3 years old, Henry VIII ordered the be-heading of his Wife, her Mother, Anne Boleyn (on charges for adultery, and treason - which I will cover more off in Anne Boleyn's blog at a later date). 

Even though Elizabeth was next in line to the throne, she ended up being 3rd in line because of her Mothers death, making Elizabeth's birth illegitimate. And if that wasn't bad enough, her Mother and Fathers marriage was then deemed invalid - because of the adultery charges, and that meant Elizabeth was completely removed from the line of succession. Up until her Fathers death in 1547... As he had written in his will that Elizabeth is heir to the throne. 

Elizabeth I of England

Elizabeth was around 10 years old when her education started. She learnt French, Italian, Greek and Latin, she also received education for classical languages, history, rhetoric and moral philosophy - these type of lessons were normally reserved for the male heirs! 

A few speculated that Elizabeth hated her Mother - but then again, wouldn't you if you had lost your place in the line for the throne! 

But apparently, this wasn't at all true, as a few times, while posing for a portrait as a teenager, Elizabeth would wear her Mums "A" pendant - something Henry VIII would have been disgusted by if he had seen! She also wore a pendant in her later life with a picture of herself and her Mother inside. When Elizabeth became Queen of England, she promoted all her Mothers relatives to the best positions in court - maybe Elizabeth was truly a Mummy's Girl but couldn't express her love as her Father had taken that relationship away...

Elizabeth Tudor

Elizabeth never actually married -  for reasons that are unknown. Although, some did speculate that Elizabeth wasn't able to have Children, they even had people check her bed sheets to see if she "was ever bleeding"!!  Some speculated she was secretly a Man, and others believed that Elizabeth was in actual fact, attracted to Woman. 

Whatever the truth is, and whatever Elizabeth's reasons were, she chosen to never marry, and with doing so, birthed no Children - which was worrying back then as she would have had no rightful heirs to the throne. 

Robert Dudley - 1st Earl of Leicester

Rumours did start going around about Elizabeth, and her childhood friend Robert Dudley - 1st Earl of Leicester, and the 5th Son to John Dudley - Duke of Northumberland, and they also shared the same childhood Tutor, Roger Ascham. 

When Elizabeth and Robert were growing up, Elizabeth would confine to Robert quiet often, especially about her Mother, Anne Boleyn. 

Both Elizabeth and Robert remained very close through-out their Adulthood's, and even when Robert had married Amy Robsart, they still kept a strong bond, and sparked rumours by meeting up in private, at any costs. When Elizabeth was made Queen, the first thing she did was appoint Robert to be her Mother of Horse - meaning Robert was the only person who would be allowed to touch the Queen! 

And after just one year of Elizabeth reigning England, she moved Roberts bed chambers next to her private rooms - I can see why people speculated such ideas! 

Then, in 1587, a young Man, named Arthur Dudley appears at Phillip II's Court claiming he's the Son of Elizabeth Tudor and Robert Dudley - his date of birth is said to match up with their private meet ups - but there was no firm evidence to suggest such happenings of them birthing a Child. 

Although it is noted that, Elizabeth had 'fallen drastically unwell and had gained some weight' around the time that Arthur Dudley was said to be born - was this a secret birth, was it a case of a fake baby - just like when the Doctor said her Sister, Mary Tudor was pregnant, or was Elizabeth genuinely just unwell?

Robert Dudley tried everything he could to get his marriage with Elizabeth seen through, they exchanged letters for long periods of time, he bought her gifts upon gifts, but Elizabeth wouldn't cave into such temptations. And after about 10 years he finally given up.

Robert Dudley passed away on 4 September 1588 - something Elizabeth would be affected by for the rest of her life.

Robert Devereux - 2nd Earl of Essex 

Another rumoured 'affair' was with Robert Devereux - 2nd Earl of Essex and Son to Walter Devereux - 1st Earl of Essex, this began about 2 years after Robert Dudley had given up with the idea of marrying Elizabeth. Even though Robert was only 22 at the time, and Elizabeth being double his age, this didn't stop them from being close. They did everything together - including dancing with each during ceremonies and other such events. 

By 1587, Elizabeth made Robert her new Mother of Horse - which meant, Robert was now, the only person who was allowed to touch the Queen!

But sadly, Robert wasn't all that loyal to Elizabeth, as he had an affair, and a Son, named Walter Devereux with one of Elizabeth's attendants, Elizabeth Southwell - she  sent their Son to be raised by his Grandmother, Lettice Dudley. 

Elizabeth didn't know about Robert's disloyalty until June 1595, when she stumbled upon his will, where he had written about his Son. Elizabeth got very upset and was very angry towards Robert as she had no knowledge, or approval of this affair. 

Few years later, Robert begs Elizabeth for her forgiveness, to which she refused and condemned him to death, by execution in 1601.

Elizabeth Tudor

Other speculated romances with Elizabeth were, Phillip II of Spain, King Eric XIV of Sweden, Archduke Charles of Austria - Phillip's cousin, Henry - Duke of Anjou and his brother Francis - Duke of Anjou.

So, it's not really surprising she got given a cruel nickname. As these relationships, real or not, suggests Elizabeth did have a fair few to her name. 

Maybe she just liked the attention and people got the wrong idea of things, or maybe there is some truth to the nickname Whore Queen...?

But is that really a fair statement when she, by paper, never gotten married, and had birthed no Children, and as a result, was handed her second nickname, Virgin Queen...

Elizabeth I of England

Elizabeth Tudor was never actually meant to become a Queen - as you read earlier, but with both her Siblings, Edward and Mary Tudor, and her Father dead, Elizabeth was made Queen of England on 17 November 1558. And was crowned at Westminster Abbey, Carlisle on 15 January 1559. 

Elizabeth believed that 'beauty, amplifies power'. It would take her 4 hours to get dressed for occasions, and even though she worn beautiful vibrant dresses and jewels, her Female attendants on the other hand,were only allowed to wear black, this was so, no matter what room Elizabeth was in, and no matter how busy the crowds were, she would always stand out thus getting the Males attention she wanted and desired. 

Elizabeth also worn make up to 'restore youthfulness', her make-up consisted of painting her hands, neck and face with Venetian Ceruse - white lead and vinegar mixed. Elizabeth would also paint her Lips with a red paste - mixed with Beeswax and plant dye, and line her eyes with Kohl. 

The make up routine also could have been down to the fact, that Elizabeth didn't age well at all, and had black, rotten foul smelling mouth and teeth, was scarred by pox, and using Venetian Ceruse wouldn't have helped, as that was corrosive! 

While the Queens personal dressers were the only ones, allowed by Elizabeth, to see her without. Her former lover, Robert Devereux, snuck into her chambers one evening, and seen her with no make up on, he then joked about with his friends over her 'crooked carcass' - I'm not surprised she didn't accept his apology! 

Whore Queen or Virgin Queen?

Elizabeth Tudor was able to reign England for 45 years before her death. 

In March 1602, Elizabeth became very unwell, and her physical health deteriorated. By Autumn 1602, she had fallen into severe depression after loosing many family and friends. And on 24 March 1603, Richmond Palace, Elizabeth passed away. Her Coffin was carried to Westminster Abbey in a Hearse drawn by 4 Horses all drawn in velvet black. 

She was placed next to her Grandfather, Henry VII. But in 1606, Elizabeth was re-moved to the Henry VII Chapel, in the same vault as her Sister, Mary Tudor.

What do you think about Elizabeth's nicknames?
Let me know below.

Until next time

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