Quen Elizabeth I

Queen Elizabeth I

King Henry VIII was married to Catherine of Aragon when the young girl Anne Boleyn caught his eye. Henry believed himself in love with the young Anne and was determined to end his marriage with the older Catherine. King Henry wanted an annulment from Catherine, yet to obtain one meant having the Pope's approval. Catherine had a powerful connection to many such as the great emperor Charles V, the Pope would not offend such a man and denied King Henry his annulment to his Queen Catherine. King Henry discreetly engaged n an affair with the young Anne Boleyn.

King Henry and his advisors established their own church breaking away from th Catholic Church and formed the Church of England. King Henry now had full ecclesiastical power over England known as reformation. With king Henry's new power over the church he would now obtain his anullument from Catherine of Aragon. 1

In Januaray of 1533 King Henry married his pregnant Anne, who was believed

to be carrinying the male heir to the throne. "Both Henry and Anne believed with their whole heart that the child she was expecting was a boy, and had every reason to as the philosophers and astronomers assured the jubilant king

Scruton 2

that this time he would have a son." (Thomas, par. 4) To the disappointment of the King, Queen and her supporters Anne gave birth to a girl, Elizabeth Tudor. "Elizabeth's birth was one of the most exciting political events in 16th century European history; rarely had so much turmoil occurred on behalf of a mere infant." (Englishhistory) 4 Elizabeth's birth was greeted with little celebration, however three days later she had a grand Christening a Greenwich Palace. 'Henry, beside himself with disappointment, did not attend the christening.' 2

King Henry's attitude towards his young wife changed aftr the birth of his Princess and he openly show his tiredness towards his Queen. His only heir was a young girl, and this was considered undesirable to have a woman ruler. France even had laws to prevent such an occurrence. Anne tried to have a son yet failed to do so miscarrying and then giving birth to a premature dead baby boy. Some have said that she lost her savior 1

As Anne had her second mishap Catherine of Aragon died leaving Henry wanted yet another wife in the hope of producing a male heir. Anne was charge with adultery, witchcraft, and incest in which the jury found her guilty and was sentenced to death by beheadment. Anne was sent to the Tower of London where she awaited her execution, she did request of her husband the King that she be executed by sword rather than ax. King Henry sent to France for the best swordsmen to execute his young wife on the Tower Green may, 19th 1536. The Princess Elizabeth was now motherless at the young age of two and half years.

After the death of Princess Elizabeth's falsely accused mother she was declared a "royal bastard" 1 and a Princess no more. Elizabeth was a bright child, and this change in her title did not slip by her. She exclaimed "how haps it governor, yesterday my Lady Princess, today but my Lady Elizabeth?" (Thomas 1)

Her newly acquired stepmother Jane Seymour gave birth to the King's male heir Edward and died shortly their after. Edward and Elizabeth had much in common now both motherless and living within Hatfield House. The two half siblings were quite close having more in common than with the older half sister Mary, and together obtained a high education. They studied philosophy, history, music, mathematics, and many languages including Latin, Greek, and Spanish.

Elizabeth was motherless once again when Henry had quickly had his marriage to Anne of Cleve annulled, they remained friends and Anne was affectionately referred to as the "King's Dear Sister" 1 His next wife Katherine Howard was a cousin of Elizabeth and the new Queen enjoyed her young stepdaughter. Unfortunately, for Elizabeth her newly acquired stepmother committed adultery and suffered the same fate as her own mother. Elizabeth has had lost her own mother and three stepmothers by the age of eight. The impact of such a whirlwind of marriages leaving an impact of grand proportions on her that would haunt her in the future.

In the year of 1543, Henry marries yet again to Catherine Parr, a motherly woman who enjoyed having children around. Catherine tried to reconcile King Henry ith his daughters, but Elizabeth had ideasof her own. Not much is known as to why, yet she upset her father the King enough that she was banished from the Palace. Catherine softens Henry's heart and Elizabeth is allowed back to Court albeit a bit late. Henry's health had deteriorated and in January of 1547, his health failed