Tudor Queenship: The Reigns of Mary and Elizabeth

Queenship and Power

by Anna Whitelock (Editor), Alice Hunt (Editor)

The essays in this volume contribute to a new understanding of the second half of the sixteenth century when England experienced the unprecedented rule of two successive queens regnant. Focusing on a diverse range of issues, from politics and personnel to ceremony and costume, and from a range of perspectives, Tudor Queenship demonstrates that thinking about both queens at the same time can be highly suggestive, and propels us to revise, develop and understand, and to contextualize, traditional interpretations. From what Elizabeth learnt from Mary, assessments of political acumen and the significance of confessional differences this is the first volume to focus on both Mary and Elizabeth, and to consider them as Renaissance monarchs a European stage. 

Genres: History, Nonfiction, Tudor Period

282 pages, Hardcover

First published May 12, 2010

About the author

Anna Whitelock gained her PhD in History from Corpus Christi College, Cambridge in 2004 with a thesis on the court of Mary I. Her articles and book reviews on various aspects of Tudor history have appeared in publications including the Guardian, the Times Literary Supplement and BBC History. She has taught at Cambridge University and is now a lecturer in Early Modern History at Royal Holloway, University of London.

Reviews

[Elisabeth · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a series of non-fiction essays, by various historians, discussing the reigns of the two Tudor queens, Mary and Elizabeth. Similarities, differences, legacies, all on display. I found them all interesting, but my favorite is the final essay written by Charlotte Merton, regarding the selection of Ladies of the Bedchamber.

[Sinuhe · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great comparative look at the reigns of Mary and Elizabeth Tudor. In pop culture, the two are typically presented as strong contrasts - Mary an oppressive, unpopular ruler enslaved to her husband and forcing a dour Catholicism on her people; Elizabeth a bright and shining figure whose natural accession to the throne brought joy and freedom - but the essays in this text make strong cases for a continuity from one to the other. Section II, "Precedents and Traditions", in particular focuses frequently on ways that Elizabeth followed in Mary's footsteps in terms of iconography or presentation. Section III, "Educating for Rule", is shorter but has some very interesting information on how Mary was eventually given a princely rather than simply princessly education. And Section IV, "Love and War", includes discussion of the way that Protestant propaganda has influenced later views of the realities of Mary and Philip's marriage, which was not as problematic to the English people as we may sometimes think.

I admit that I skipped the first two essays in "Loyalty and Service" (they focused entirely on Mary and Elizabeth's councillors), but the last - "Women, Friendship, and Memory" by Charlotte Merton - may have been the most interesting in the entire book. This essay explores female kinship and friendship networks in the Tudor courts, naming children to express patron/client relationships, letter-writing, fostering, and the privy chamber.

[Jodi · Rating 4 out of 5]

Two successive queens regnant was unique enough as it was; add into the equation the different religious beliefs, leadership styles and societal viewpoints and a varied scope of issues emerge.

This collection of essays presents the ways Mary and Elizabeth dealt with aspects of rule. Mary is given more credit than usual for successful decisions and maneuverings plus what Elizabeth learned from her half-sister. The making of queenship as opposed to kingship was fascinating in the explanations on how the queens had to alter the coronation ceremonies, the Garter investitures, etc. to be palatable to the sensibilities of sixteenth century courtiers while giving the sovereign power to the female regnant.

In Ralph Houlbrooke’s work, “What Happened to Mary’s Councilors?”, his premise that Elizabeth kept very few of the previous reign’s advisers was disagreed with by this reviewer. Perhaps it is because of the Democrat/Republican alteration of power in the United States, but keeping a dozen or more councilors from the previous government seemed generous. Elizabeth understood the need, not only domestically but internationally as well, to keep many of the advisers in transitional roles. To justify Elizabeth’s attitude a quote used by Charlotte Merton on page 240 could be applied: “We are friends, you are cronies, they are faction.”

Excellent citation and the notes were placed at the end of each essay making it convenient to refer to them while reading. The writing by each essayist was scholarly and not so varied in style as to jar the reader when moving from one thesis to the next.