LORDS & LADIES
Hail, all hail, your wonderful characters!
A GUIDE TO ROYAL TITLES
Queen, Duke, Princess, there are a lot of royal and noble titles within the script. But, which is more important than the other? Which one has more power? How does one relate to another? Here's a quick guide on royal titles and their importance, specifically for the British monarchy!
NOBILITY
ROYALTY
VS
Nobility is an Aristocracy. Members of Nobility are people of the highest class. Members of the nobility also have hereditary titles. In this case, royals can also be viewed as a noble because they too are of the highest class. But, it is important to note that royalty is always the most superior.
Nobility is an achieved status. Members of nobility gain their status and privileges from members of royalty. Due to this relationship, the concepts of both nobility and royalty are quite close to one another.
Examples of titles of nobility are Dukes, Duchesses, Barons, Baronesses, Earls, and Countesses.
Members of royalty are people who are direct members of the royal family. To be considered royalty, you must be born into it. This means that being royal is an ascribed status, a title that you are born into.
A great example of royalty are Kings and Queens like Queen Elizabeth. Royalty continues from generation to generation. When the king dies, his heir (a prince or princess) will take the throne.
Royalty was very common in past centuries as most regions and countries were ruled under a monarchy by kings and queens. In the modern world, however, royalty concepts have faded due to different varieties of governments being developed.
KING / QUEEN
His or Her Majesty! These are the head honchos and top of the hierarchy of titles. This is the title of the reigning monarch and leader. The King and Queen are the only ones with the power to grant any titles to other people. This title is earned when the previous monarch either retires, passes away, or leaves the throne. When this happens, the throne is passed on to the previous monarch's eldest child.
Queen Elizabeth II (1926 - 2022)
King Charles III (1948 - Present)
QUEEN CONSORT / KING CONSORT / PRINCE CONSORT
The Queen Consort is the wife of the current reigning monarch. They share the same title as their spouse. They support their spouse during his or her duties as the current reigning monarch. The title of a consort is acquired through marriage.
Consorts have no constitutional power or status, however they have very significant influence due to being the spouse of the monarch. Fun fact, there have only been 11 royal consorts since Britian's union of the crowns in 1707 (8 women and 3 men).
The title of King Consort is rarely used today. But, the King Consort is a title describing the husbands of a Queen Regnant. A Queen Regnant is another title for a Queen monarch that has the same power as a King and possesses sovereign powers.
Prince Consort's are the husbands of a monarch. The Prince Consort may be given the formal title of a Prince. A Prince Consort who's married to a Queen Regnant cannot be given the title of a King Consort because the title is seen as a higher one than Queen.
Queen Consort Camilla (1947 - Present)
Albert, Prince Consort (1819 - 1861)
PRINCE / PRINCESS
The title of Prince and Princess are given to the children of the monarch's at birth. But, the children of the King and Queen aren't the only ones who can get the title of Prince and Princess.
Children who are born to a Prince also get the title of Prince or Princess. A good example of this would be Prince William's children: Prince George, Princess Charlotte, and Prince Louis (The grandchildren of King Charles III).
However, children who are born to a Princess do not get the title of Prince or Princess. An example of this is Zara Tindall and Peter Phillips, who are the children of Princess Anne (The second child and only daughter of Queen Elizabeth II). Why is this? Well, it's because of an age old royal tradition. Only father's may pass on his royal titles and only children with father's in the direct line of succession can be given the titles of Prince and Princesses.
PRINCESS ROYAL
The Princess Royal is a title reserved for the eldest daughter of the monarch. Earning this title is up to the King or Queen. However, traditionally the Princess is given the title after marriage. This is because of an old past tradition where anyone who got intimate with the Princess Royal before marriage and the "I do." would be sentenced to death.
Are there any bonuses for getting the title of Princess Royal? Not really. It's a good reason for bragging rights. Plus, the title of Prince Royal doesn't exist (a further reason for getting bragging rights).
William, Prince of Wales, Catherine, Princess of Wales, and their kids Prince George, Princess Charlotte, and Prince Louis
Anne, Princess Royal (1950 - Present)
DUKE / DUCHESS
Now we get into titles of nobility! Members of the social upper class who are titled nobles become part of the peerage. The peerage are basically people that share responsibilities of the government. The peerage was established in the 19th Century in the United Kingdom following the Act of Union in 1707 (which combined the kingdoms of England and Scotland). These titles are either given to you or inherited. Traditionally, a hereditary noble title is passed down to the eldest son. Titles that are older are seen as more superior.
The peerage has 5 different ranks of noble titles. Duke, Marquess, Earl, Viscount, and Baron. A person can also have multiple titles of different ranks. A good example of this is Prince Phillip. Prince Phillip was the Duke of Edinburgh, Earl of Merioneth, and the Baron Greenwich.
The top of the 5 ranks is a Duke and Duchess. This title is granted to a prince and his spouse upon marriage. A good example of this are the Duke and Duchess of Sussex (Prince Harry and Meghan Markle). Another example of this is Prince William when he was created the Duke of Cambridge by Queen Elizabeth II when he married Princess Catherine. This made Princess Catherine the Duchess of Cambridge.
The title of Duke was created in 1337 when Edward III made his eldest son the Duke of Cornwall. Dukes and Duchesses are also addressed more formally as "His or Her Grace except for those who are members of the royal family. They are instead addressed as "Royal Highness."
Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex, and Meghan, Duchess of Sussex
Prince Edward, Duke of Cornwall (1330 -1376)
MARQUESS / MARCHIONESS
The second highest rank of the peerage is a Marquess (MAAR · kwuhs). This term comes from marchis. This was a Norman word for earls and barons that guarded the Welsh and Scottish border territories. This was to help identify that they ruled outside of the ineer provinces. The title was first used by Richard II. He gave the title to Robert de Vere, the Earl of Oxford, and was the Marquess of Dublin in 1385.
In the 21st Century, there are fewer Marquesses than Dukes and Earls. A woman that holds the title of a Marquess is referred to as a Marchioness (MAAR · shuh · nuhs). Marquesses and Marchionesses are addressed as "Lord" and "Lady".
Currently, Simon Rufus Isaacs, 4th Marquess of Reading, is one of the few people with this title. A new Marquess hasn't been named since Marquess of Willingdon in 1936 and anyone else that has earned the title from their fathers. The title doesn't come with any specific privileges.
EARL / COUNTESS
The third highest rank in the peerage is an Earl. An Earl is the oldest title of the entire peerage system. It originally was the highest title before the creations of Dukes. The origins of the title of Earl can be tracked all the way to Scandinavia. The title appeared in England for the first time during the reign of Canute (1016 - 1035).
The title of an Earl is passed down from father to son. The term Earl comes from an ancient title from the Old English meaning "warrior" or "nobleman". For some reason there is no female equivalent form of Earl. So, instead, the title of Countess is used. An Earl and Countess are formally addressed as "Lord" and "Lady."
Rufus Daniel Isaacs, 1st Marquess of Reading (1860 - 1935)
Prince Edward, Earl of Wessex, and Sophie, Countess of Wessex
VISCOUNT / VISCOUNTESS
The fourth highest rank in the peerage is a Viscount (VAI · kownt). Viscounts are the children of Earls, but it's also a title that can be given. The title was first recorded in 1440. King Henry VI of England and France consolidated the titles of both countries. This made both John, Lord Beaumont, both Viscount Beaumont in England and France. The title of Viscount didn't become popular until the 17th century.
The wife of a Viscount, or a woman that holds the rank, is given the title of Viscountess (VAI · kown · tes). A Viscount and Viscountess are formally addressed as "Lord" and "Lady."
A current good example of a Viscount is Prince Edward, Earl of Wessex's, son James. He was given the title of Viscount Severn at birth (this alludes to the Welsh roots of Sophie's, Countess of Wessex, family.) When Prince Edward also gained the title of Duke of Edinburgh, James gained the title of Earl of Wessex.
James, Earl of Wessex, Viscount Severn (2007 - Present)
BARON / BARONESS
The final and fifth rank in the peerage is a Baron. Both the title of Baron and Baroness can be either bestowed or passed down. The title of Baron was introduced by the Normans. The first ever Baron was John Beauchamp de Holt. He was made Baron Kidderminster by King Richard II in 1387.
This rank was originally created denote a tenant-in-chief to the monarch. This was someone who owned land and used it for feudal land tenure (A system for which land was led by tenants from Lords. Basically, a worker or peasant earned a piece of land in return for serving a Lord or King.) and was someone who was allowed to attend Parliament.
Today, the title doesn't come with all the previous perks. But, there are more Barons than any other title in the peerage system. A woman who holds the rank, or the wife of a Baron, is given the title of a Baroness. Both a Baron and a Baroness are addressed as "Lord" or "Lady."
Prince Andrew, Duke of York and Baron Killyleagh (1960 - Present)
QUEEN ELIZABETH I
Hail, all hail, Her Royal Majesty! Queen Elizabeth I is a prominent character within the story and one of the many lovers of Orlando. In this section of the dramaturgy site will be information about Queen Elizabeth's history and life.
Queen Elizabeth I was born at the Greenwich Palace in England on September 7th, 1553. She is the daughter of King Henry VIII and his second wife, Anne Boleyn (You know the musical SIX? Anne Boleyn sings "Don't Lose Ur Head." Yeah, that's Queen Elizabeth's mother.) Anne Boleyn wound then have a miscarriage in 1534 and then give birth to a stillborn male child in January of 1536. This would lead her to become committed to the Tower of London on May 2nd, 1536, on the charges of adultery with various men and incest with her own brother (also because Boleyn and King Henry VIII's first wife, Catherine of Aragon, (SIX, "No Way") both gave birth to daughters.) Boleyn was beheaded on May 16th, 1536, for adultery and treason. Elizabeth was two-years-old.
King Henry VIII's enemies believed that the birth of Elizabeth was a divine punishment for Henry's divorce from his first wife, Catherine of Aragon. At Henry's instigation, Parliament declared his marriage with Anne Boleyn invalid. This made Elizabeth illegitimate, which made her no longer a Princess. She was moved to live with a small entourage at the royal manor of Hatfield House in Hertfordshire. It's unknown what the emotional impacts were on Elizabeth. It's assumed that no one thought it was worth recording. But, it was worth noting that Elizabeth had a precocious (prematurely developed) seriousness at age six.
Anne Boleyn and Elizabeth
In 1537, Henry VIII's third wife, Jane Seymour (SIX, "Heart of Stone"), gave birth to a son, Edward. Elizabeth's chances of succeeding to the throne would diminish with the birth of Edward. But, she would not be neglected. Even with Henry VIII's extreme cruelty, he regarded all of his children with affection. Elizabeth would be present at ceremonial occasions. She would be declared as third in line to the throne.
Elizabeth spent a lot of time with her half-brother Edward. From age 10 and onward, she got love and attention from Henry VIII's sixth an last wife, Catherine Parr (SIX, "I Don't Need Your Love").
Despite still having an illegitimate status, Henry VIII appointed tutors to manage Elizabeth's education. Elizabeth received education from many tutors, the most known of which was Roger Ascham. Elizabeth's education was the same rigorous education that was normally for male heirs. Her courses consisted of classical languages, history, rhetoric, and moral philosophy. She would go on to learn many languages such as French, Italian, Spanish, Latin, Flemish, Greek, Irish and even Cornish. She would also learn of the Renaissance and theology, learning about English Protestantism.
Catherine Parr encouraged Elizabeth's learning and studies. She taught her about Protestant reform. Elizabeth would read classical texts. Elizabeth would even translate Catherine Parr's essay, "Prayers and Meditations", into Latin, Italian, and French.
Young Elizabeth
"Her mind has no womanly weakness. Her perseverance is equal to that of a man, and her memory long keeps what it quickly picks up. She delights as much in music as she is skilful in it."
- Roger Ascham (1548)
King Henry VIII died in 1547. Elizabeth's half brother, Edward IV, would ascend to the throne at age 10. Catherine Parr would immediately marry Thomas Seymour, the Lord High Admiral. Seymour would begin to plan to become the king of the country. Thomas Seymour would be a terrible guardian and parental figure for Elizabeth. Elizabeth was invited to live with Catherine Parr in Sudeley Castle, where Elizabeth would get early-morning visits from Seymour dressed in his pajamas. Elizabeth would be protected by her governess, Kat Ashley, who would continuously turn Seymour away. Seymour would continuously harass Elizabeth, which would become more dangerous. Catherine Parr repeatedly would find Seymour alone in rooms with Elizabeth, his arms around her. Seymour was 38 years old. Elizabeth was 14.
In January of 1549, after the death of Catherine Parr in childbirth, Thomas Seymour would be arrested for treason. He was accused of planning to kidnap and marry Elizabeth in order to take the rule of the kingdom. Interrogations with Elizabeth and her servants revealed his flirtatious and harassment to Elizabeth while he was married to Catherine Parr. Thomas Seymour would be beheaded two months after his arrest. Upon learning that Seymour was beheaded, Elizabeth showed no emotion.
Edward IV was suspicious of Elizabeth's involvement in Seymour's beheading. So, he questioned her. Elizabeth admitted to him that she knew of Seymour's ambitions, but she never encouraged him. Sir Robert Tyrwhitt would be charged with Elizabeth's questioning. He simply reported the following:
"I do see it in her face that she is guilty." - Sir Robert Tyrwhitt
Mary I, Elizabeth's older half-sister
Edward IV would die in 1553 and Elizabeth's older half-sister Mary would ascend to the throne. Mary was a religious zealot and dead set on returning England to the Roman Catholic faith. Both Mary and Elizabeth would go to London to celebrate Mary's coronation. But, their closeness wouldn't last long.
Mary's religious plans on England would consist on marrying the Catholic King Philip II of Spain. This caused tension and conflict among Protestants. Many leading Protestant courtiers that were originally a part of Edward IV's court faced arrest and possibly worser fates. Many people believed that, because of Mary's marriage, England was now at the hands of a Spanish takeover. But, Elizabeth became the main spotlight for all treasonable plots against Mary. Her life was in grave danger.
During Mary's reign, Elizabeth would spend her time under house arrest in different royal palaces. Mary made Elizabeth the focus of treason because of the restoration of Protestantism. Elizabeth would be arrested after Sir Thomas Wyatt's rebellion in January 1554 (an unsuccessful uprising in England to prevent Mary from marrying King Philip II of Spain.) She would then be sent to the Tower of London on March 17th.
During Elizabeth's imprisonment at the Tower of London, it was actually quite physically comfortable. Elizabeth was allowed in the gardens. She also had four rooms in the palace. But, the Tower of London was also the place where her mother spent her last days before she was beheaded.
Elizabeth would be interrogated and spied upon. No evidence of treason would be revealed, so Elizabeth would be released from the Tower of London two months later. She would be placed in close custody for a year. The years of Mary's reign were unhappy. There would be the countless burning of Protestants. Elizabeth would constantly have to stand up for herself and her innocence, as suspicions against her never went away. It was a constant fight for survival.
Many people, both Protestants and Roman Catholics, would see Elizabeth's presentation of herself as a lie. Elizabeth would manage to keep her own religion a complete mystery. Elizabeth's childhood taught her many useful tactics of how to present oneself, as well as how her presentation would reflect upon others.
On November 17th, 1558, Elizabeth would get word of the death of Mary. Mary was buried under an ancient oak tree, a setting that fit for a Queen that was destined to create an English 'golden age'. But, the fate of England was undetermined. England was divided by religion and politics. Mary's reign resulted in failed military campaigns, food shortages, cold winters, and even the return of the plague.
Elizabeth would ascend to the throne. Her coronation was joyous and celebratory filled with ringing bells, bonfires, and patriotic demonstrations. There was a grand procession! Following the procession there were displays of political courtship.
"If ever any person had either the gift or style to win the hearts of people, it was this Queen, and if ever she did express the same it was at that present, in coupling mildness with majesty as she did, and in stately stooping to the meanest sort." - An enthusiastic observer from Elizabeth's coronation (Britannica)
During Queen Elizabeth's first weeks of her reign she went straight to work. It wasn't about wearing a crown and looking pretty. She began to form her government and issue proclamations. She first reduced the size of the Privy Council (a body of advisors to the sovereign of England). She mainly did this to get rid of some of the Roman Catholic members but to also make it more efficient as a government body. She constructed a balanced need for both administrative and judicial needs influenced by the desires for change in England. She appointed a group of trustworthy advisors. The chief among these advisors would be William Cecil, who would become Queen Elizabeth's Secretary of State for 40 years.
However, being Queen always comes with its challenges. The biggest being Queen Elizabeth's sex. She was a woman, and the Protestant revolution did nothing to change England's viewing of women as 'the weaker vessel', a phrase that was used in the first renditions of the English Bible. During the final year of Mary I's reign, Scottish preacher John Knox would write in his essay called The First Blast of the Trumpet Against the Monstruous Regiment of Women the following:
John Knox
"God hath revealed to some in this our age that it is more than a monster in nature that a woman should reign and bear empire above man." - John Knox
Knox blamed women for the continuous unrest and political division in Europe. He also claimed that the reign of Mary I was cursed by religious persecution and alliance to Spain was definite proof to his statements. Knox's claims were quickly shushed, but still the thought of women being lesser was widespread. Women were seen as less intelligent and morally unfit to govern and this thought was reinforced by education. Women were also seen as 'creatures likely to be dominated by impulse and passion' (Britannica).
But, fun fact, crown lawyers formulated a mystical theory known as "The King's Two Bodies". According to this theory, Elizabeth's whole being was altered when she ascended the throne. Her mortal 'body natural' was married into an immortal 'body politic'. The flesh of her body was subject to imperfections (as well as specifics to being a woman), but the body politic is perfect. The theory stated that Elizabeth's gender would cause no harm and not become a threat to the future of England. Elizabeth would even state in her accession speech:
"I am but one body, naturally considered though by [God's] permission a Body Politic to govern." - Queen Elizabeth I
Elizabeth would be known as the Virgin Queen to her kingdom. Information about Elizabeth's love life would be revealed throughout the years, but it's speculated that its roots begin in the year of 1555. A report reached the French Court that Mary originally planned to have Elizabeth marry the unwaveringly Catholic Duke of Savoy. But, when Elizabeth learned of this, she burst into tears. She exclaimed that she had no intention to marry any husband. There were other proposed matches for Elizabeth, but all of them were turned down. Of course, Elizabeth had valid reasons to not want a husband. When Elizabeth became queen, the conversations of a husband would increase drastically where finding a match for the queen became a national concern.
It was viewed that the proper role of a woman was to be a wife. However, this was a royal marriage. If Elizabeth were to die without bearing any children, her line would come to an end. The nearest heir would become Mary, Queen of Scots, who was the grand daugther of Henry VIII's sister Margaret. Mary, Queen of Scots, was a Roman Catholic who was supported by France and other Roman Catholic countries. In the eyes of a Protestant, she was a nightmare that could be avoided if Elizabeth had an heir.
Marriage for Elizabeth would also provide diplomatic benefits. England was currently very weak. It was heavily in need of alliances. This would be improved with marriage. Many suitors came forward asking for Elizabeth's hand in marriage (one of which was actually King Philip II of Spain, Mary I's previous husband.) Many scholars believed that Queen Elizabeth never intended to marry any suitor. The possible dangers outweighed the possible benefits. She skillfully played her cards, even having negotiations for marriages last for years. Signs of acceptance would then be turned down for a vow of virginity. However... there was one suitor that was different than the rest.
Robert Dudley, Earl of Leicester
Elizabeth had many suitors that courted her. One of which, her personal favorite, was Robert Dudley, Earl of Leicester. He was good-looking, charismatic, and he was even one of the Queen's childhood friends. Both of them were imprisoned in the Tower of London in 1554. He was Queen Elizabeth's Master of the Horse (Someone who takes care of the royal horses). He was a member of the Privy Council. He was the Queen's dancing partner. He displayed romantic affection towards her. But, there was one problem. He was already married.
Amy Robsart would suspiciously die in September of 1950. The cause of her death? She fell to her death down a friend's staircase. She was terminally ill and may have used this as a way to take her own life. This created many rumors of both Dudley and the Queen. Dudley was imagined that his adultery towards the Queen caused him to be the assassinator of his own wife. To Elizabeth, marrying Dudley would have been a political disaster due to all of the constant rumors and gossip. The step to marriage was never taken.
Elizabeth's resistance towards marriage might have been politically motivated. Dudley did have many enemies in the court as well as a distasteful reputation. In October of 1562, Queen Elizabeth would have a close encounter with death by nearly dying of small pox. The desire for having the Queen marry was stronger than ever. However, Elizabeth survived and still remained single.
To this day, Elizabeth's main reasons of remaining single was her resistance to compromise her power. She was loyal, she weighed the advice of her council, but she didn't give in to ultimate authority even when they were trusted. She made all of the final decisions in all of the most important affairs to the country. Spontaneous and unwelcomed advice would become dangerous. For example, in 1579, a published pamphlet threatened Elizabeth stating a proposed marriage to the Catholic Duke of Alençon. The pamphlet's author and publisher, John Stubbs and William Page, were arrested. Their punishment? They had their right hands chopped off.
In 1588, Dudley would pass away. Queen Elizabeth was devastated at the passing of her dear friend. It's speculated that she kept Dudley's last letter in a bedside treasure box for the rest of her life.
Elizabeth's relations with Parliament were very positive. In the early years of her rule, sessions with her and Parliament were very cooperative and efficient. However, sessions would get complicated due to the Queen's desires to stay single. Radical members of Parliament would include the Queen's marriage in areas of debate. The Queen's spokesperson would face problems restricting this discussion. But, Elizabeth had extreme talents with language. She transformed the language of politics into a language of love. She was seen as the mother of England. This strategy was famously used in her 'Golden Speech in 1601. She stated the following when facing Parliament opposition:
"I do assure you, there is no prince that loveth his subjects better, or whose love can countervail our love. There is no jewel, be it of never so rich a prince, which I set before this jewel; I mean, your love: for I do more esteem of it, than of any treasure or riches." - Queen Elizabeth I in her Golden Speech
During Elizabeth's rule, she would successfully restore England to Protestantism. In 1559, Parliament would pass the Act of Supremacy. This would get rid of Elizabeth's illegitimate status given to her from Henry VIII. Not only that, but it declared the Queen the supreme governor of the church. The Act of Uniformity would then create a revised version of the Edwardian Prayer Book. This would become the official order of worship. Priests, officers, and men who were going to university were required to swear under oath to the royal supremacy. If not, they would lose their positions. What would happen if you missed Sunday church? You would get fined.
But, to some Protestants, these measures were too drastic. They demanded for reform of the church. Their demands were obnoxious to Elizabeth, for she felt that anything further would create disorder among the public. Elizabeth also didn't have any interest in the inward convictions of the subjects of England.
In 1576, Edmund Grindal, the archbishop of Canterbury, refused to suppress educational reformist exercises called 'prophesyings' to the Queen's orders. Grindal would become suspended from his position. Upon Grindal's death, Queen Elizabeth would appoint a successor in his place. This would be Archbishop Whitgift. Whitgift would enact the Queen's policy of an authoritarian ecclesiastical regime. Essentially, this was the favor towards the authority of the church.
Mary, Queen of Scots
Elizabeth's control over religion didn't go unnoticed by the English Catholics, either. At first, the opposition was passive. But, this turned into a series of crises in the late 1560s and early 70s. These were dangerous, even fatal. For example, there was a rebellion in 1569 by aristocrats and Catholic followers in north England. This rebellion was put down by brutal military force.
In 1571, Queen Elizabeth's spies would uncover a conspiracy against her own life. This would be known as the Ridolfi Plot. This was a plan to overthrow Queen Elizabeth and replace her with Mary, Queen of Scots. Mary, Queen of Scots, was driven out of her own kingdom in 1568 and was currently taking refuge in England. Why was she in England? Her reputation was destroyed because of her involvement in her second husband's murder. Mary's rule also ended by a palace coup.
Mary, Queen of Scots, being in England posed a problem for Queen Elizabeth. What was she going to do with her, the woman who was seen as the rightful queen of England by the Roman Catholic Church? Queen Elizabeth let Mary stay in England. She deemed it too dangerous for her to leave. Elizabeth rejected Parliament's advice to have Mary be executed. So, Mary remained as a captive under house arrest. Mary's regime in Scotland would be replaced by a Protestant regency. This would be under Mary's infant son, James VI. Scotland would become a potential ally and no longer was a threat. But, that wasn't the only threat to Queen Elizabeth.
Due to the increase in religious tension, Pope Pius V excommunicated Elizabeth and her subjects from any oath of allegiance in 1570. What does this mean? Queen Elizabeth, as well as any of her subjects that allied with her, would be excluded from participating in sacraments and services of the Church. This took immediate effect. The goal was to make life difficult for English Catholics. This was a turning point in Queen Elizabeth's reign. This caused her reign to be filled with rumors of a Catholic Rebellion.
Across Europe, there were terrible massacres resulting from this. One of which was when England got word in 1572 of the St. Bartholomew's Day massacre of Protestant Huguenots. Thousands of families would be slaughtered in their homes in an outrage of mob violence.
But, fears of another assassination attempt against the queen would rise again in 1580. Pope Gregory XIII would proclaim that ridding the world of Queen Elizabeth (in his words, a miserable heretic) wouldn't be a sin. Elizabeth herself would show signs of concern. Elizabeth's Privy Council would sign a Bond of Association. Its signers would, in the event where Queen Elizabeth would be assassinated or attempt to be assassinated, kill not only the assassins but the claimant to the throne on which the interest in the assasination attempt was made. This was made cleary against Mary, Queen of Scots, who it was discovered that she was involved in plots against Queen Elizabeth's life.
In 1586, a plot known as the Babington Plot was discovered. This was another plan to murder Queen Elizabeth. This plot had a trap to liberate Mary and essentially trap her. The plot would run its course until Mary's support was shown. Queen Elizabeth would order for Mary's execution in privacy after much hesitancy.
The Execution of the Babington Plot Conspirators
Our journey travels across the seas, where Catholic enemies were much harder to defeat. In 1585, Spain was gaining its victory against the Protestant Dutch resistance in the Netherlands. King Phillip II was turning his attention to England. England couldn't avoid direct military contact with Spain. Word reached Queen Elizabeth that King Phillip II was assembling an armada that would sail to the Netherlands and then invade Protestant England.
Francis Drake, who was licensed by Queen Elizabeth to raid Spanish ships, attacked the Spanish fleet in Cadiz harbour. Then, in 1588, King Phillip II's armada, consisting of a total of 130 ships, would attempt to break throught he English navy. They would be destroyed in the waters of the Irish Sea. This entire event would become known as the Spanish Armada Crisis.
During this crisis, Queen Elizabeth kept her composure. She gave a speech at Tilbury to inspire her troops. This would be known as the Tilbury Speech. It's one of the most famous speeches in royal history. The Spanish Armada would be defeated.
"I am come amongst you... in the midst and heat of battle to live and die amongst you all. To lay down for God, my kingdom and for my people, my honour and my blood even in the dust. I know I have the body of a weak and feeble woman, but I have the heart and stomach of a King." - Queen Elizabeth I, Tilbury Speech
The last and final years of Queen Elizabeth's reign would, unfortunately, be a bit anti-climatic. Robert Dudley would pass away in 1588. Courtiers would battle it out for influence, which would lead to failed military campaigns and defeats in Spain, France, and Ireland.
Queen Elizabeth's Golden Speech to Parliament in 1601 would protest that there would be 'no prince that loves his subjects better'. However, Elizabeth's reality of England was no paradise. There were still many problems. Unemployment, high taxes, inflation and crime, bad harvests. Queen Elizabeth's popularity would decrease.
Queen Elizabeth I would die quietly at Richmond Palace on March 24th, 1603. She was 69 years old.
Despite the many problems during her final years of her reign, the chronicler John Stow at her funeral reported that:
"There was such a general sighing, groaning and weeping as the like hath not been seen or known in the memory of man." - John Stow
Queen Elizabeth I would be buried in Westminster Abbey in the vault of her grandfather Henry VII. She wouldn't marry a suitor or have any children. With no children to take the throne, James VI of Scotland, the son of Mary, Queen of Scots, would take the English throne as James I. This would join the two kingdoms of England and Scotland together.
James I would erect a monument in Westminster Abbey to Queen Elizabeth I. She would be reburied underneath it in a vault and share it with her older half-sister, Mary I.
Queen Elizabeth was a queen that would avoid controversy whenever she could. But, whenever Queen Elizabeth did speak, it was inspirational. She would command the men who led her government. Elizabeth's works helped spare England from the religious wars that sparked all around Europe. England's stability in this cause created a sense of national self-confidence. The last years of her reign would be filled with disagreements and economic decline. But, not only that, it would consist of one major thing: She was an unmarried queen who didn't provide an heir.
Want to learn more about Queen Elizabeth I? Check out these links!
CONTENT WARNING!
The following portion of this website contains topics of the following: Suicide
Please read at your pace/discretion.
OTHELLO - A QUICK SHAKESPEARE GUIDE
Within the script, there is a brief performance of William Shakespeare's tragedy Othello. The specific scene that is being acted out is the death of both Desdemona and Othello.
A super brief summary of Othello begins with the character Iago being angry that Othello (the general of the army), has promoted Cassio to be his lieutenant instead of him. Othello secretly has plans to marry Desdemona who is the daughter of a senator in Venice. Iago goes to tell Desdemona's father about the secret marriage to purposefully cause trouble for Othello. As a result of this, Desdemona's father makes a formal complaint about Othello's behavior to the Duke of Venice. This complaint is ignored. The Duke of Venice sends Othello to Cyprus to continue fighting in an ongoing war.
Othello, his new wife Desdemona, Iago, and Cassio all go to Cyprus. Whilst there, Iago engouraces Cassio to get drunk while on duty. Cassio ends up getting in a drunken fight. He is demoted from his position as lieutenant. From there, Iago begins to make people suspicious of Othello's mind and his wife's relationship with Cassio. Iago gets a hold of a handkerchief that belongs to Desdemona and hides it in Cassio's room. He pretends that it is proof of Desdemona's unfaithfulness.
Desdemona begs to Othello to give Cassio's job back. Othello takes this as proof that she has feelings for Cassio, but she is entirely innocent. Iago continues to manipulate Othello. This grows to the point where Othello murders Desdemona as punishment for her unfaithfulness.
It is revealed to Othello from Iago's wife, Emilia, that he's been lied to. Othello realizes what he has done and commits suicide over the body of Desdemona as Iago is arrested.
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A HISTORY OF DRAG
Information quoted and provided from BBC and LGBTQAndAll.
"Drag origins can be traced back to ancient civilizations, where cross-dressing and gender-bending were prevalent in various cultural and religious practices. In ancient Greek theater, men often played female characters, as women were prohibited from theatrical performances. This tradition continued throughout history, reaching Shakespearean plays and the British pantomime tradition." (LGBTQAndAll)
"When Shakespearean theatre was shiny and new in the late 16th and early 17th centuries, the stage wasn’t just a place of entertainment. It had strong links to the church and with that came rules that only men could tread the boards. If that play you were in featured a few female roles, then it was up to a couple of the men in the cast to dress as members of the opposite sex so the story didn’t suffer.
The word ‘drag’ is believed to have theatrical origins too. The dresses men wore to play female characters would drag along the floor." (BBC)
"While the fight for LGBT equality continues (it is still illegal to be LGBT in more than 70 countries), someone who seemed to enlighten all around him in 18th-century England was Princess Seraphina.
Otherwise known as gentleman’s servant John Cooper, Seraphina was seen as the country’s first drag queen, in that she was part of John’s daily life rather than an acting role.
She was a regular sight in molly houses, the equivalent of a gay bar. Even though men could be hung at the time if found participating in homosexual acts (three were in 1726, following a raid on a molly house), there are no reports of Seraphina ever being arrested or treated with mistrust. The only scandal she was embroiled in involved the theft of her clothes in 1732 - and even then Seraphina appeared in court as the victim." (BBC)
"As time went on, drag became more about the individual and the queens built up their own fanbases. One of the biggest stars of the earliest 20th century was Julian Eltinge. Whereas many drag queens played on the fact they were men in women’s clothing, Eltinge (as she was often known) had many fans convinced she was not a character, but a genuine actress.
Eltinge emerged from the world of vaudeville, known as variety theatre in the UK, where cross-dressing was very popular. At the end of performances, he would remove his wig and reveal his gender to the crowd, often to cries of disbelief. Hugely popular, for more than 20 years, Eltinge’s career was very much on an upward trajectory, until variety acts fell out of favour in the 1930s. While there was a tolerance, even celebration of drag and LGBT people in the USA during the 1920s and early '30s (known as the 'pansy craze'), American society became more reactionary in the mid-1930s, amid fears surrounding sex crime, which had a negative impact on the way drag was perceived.
After the Second World War, although homosexuality was still frowned upon by society as a whole - even illegal in some cases - there were still drag acts who broke through the negativity and had successful careers. These including Danny La Rue in the UK, who made his name in the 1950s, and Dame Edna Everage, the flamboyant creation of comedian Barry Humphries, who first appeared in the 1960s." (BBC)
"Anyone who gobbled up the US series Pose in one thirsty gulp will be aware of the drag balls which originated in parts of New York in the 1970s. These events involved owning the runway in the finest drag around in order to wow the judges and go home with a clutch of trophies.
This was where the concept of the drag mother took hold. Seasoned queens would take up-and-coming drag artists under their wing, to show them how to work a stage as well as their look. They often provided a home to youngsters who may be going through a difficult time in their lives, and not just those intending to enter the drag world.
This led to drag mothers becoming known as the head of their House, making them responsible for an entire drag family. Whatever the mother’s surname, their drag protégés were allowed to adopt it, or even have their stage name chosen for them by their mother." (BBC)
"The Stonewall Riot of 1969 saw drag queens, most notably Marsha P Johnson, protest against police raids on gay bars in New York City and led to the creation of the Gay Liberation Front. The fight for acceptance and equality grew in profile over the 1970s and 1980s, with Harvey Milk becoming the first openly gay man to be voted in to public office in San Francisco in 1977.
That positive representation gradually bled through into the mainstream. The famed Divine, who died in 1988, appeared in many movies by the director John Waters, which had crossover success (Divine played Edna Turnblad in the original version of Hairspray). And by the early 1990s, RuPaul was on the cusp of global fame, combining a drag persona with a recording career that included a duet with Elton John." (BBC)
"Drag has played a significant role in the LGBTQ+ community, serving as a form of self-expression and empowerment. During the 1960s and 1970s, drag became a prominent feature of the gay liberation movement. Notable figures such as Marsha P. Johnson and Sylvia Rivera, both drag performers and transgender activists, fought for LGBTQ+ rights and visibility.
Today, drag is a powerful tool for activism and self-expression. Drag artists, queens, and kings are visible in the media, and a wider audience celebrates and embraces the art form. It has become a significant part of LGBTQ+ culture and history. Through drag, many LGBTQ+ people have found a safe space to express themselves and be visible. It has allowed many queer artists to use their art to confront complex issues and challenge the mainstream narrative of what it means to be queer.
Drag has become popular recently due to reality television shows like “RuPaul’s Drag Race.” The show has introduced drag to a global audience, showcasing drag performers’ incredible talent, creativity, and resilience. It has given rise to a new generation of drag queens, inspiring countless individuals to embrace their own identities and explore the art of drag.
The show’s success has also led to a greater sense of acceptance for drag, leading to more opportunities for drag performers to showcase their talents in various settings, from stage shows to fashion shows. As a result, drag has become more visible in popular culture, and has enabled drag performers to create a safe and supportive space for themselves and other members of the LGBTQ+ community." (LGBTQAndAll)
"Drag is not about donning extravagant costumes and performing lip-syncs; it is a multifaceted art form that encompasses a range of skills. Drag queens and kings spend countless hours perfecting their makeup, honing their dance moves, and creating stunning outfits.
Their performances often incorporate comedy, drama, and social commentary elements, showcasing their versatility as performers. In addition to performing, drag artists also use their platforms to advocate for social justice, raising awareness for causes such as LGBTQ+ rights and body positivity. They often use their performances to push boundaries and challenge gender norms, enabling them to make powerful statements about the world we live in.
Beyond its entertainment value, drag has profound effects on society. Drag challenges societal norms and expectations surrounding gender and sexuality. It serves as a platform for performers to address social issues such as discrimination, inequality, and LGBTQ+ rights.
Drag performances often act as a catalyst for dialogue, fostering empathy, understanding, and acceptance. By pushing against the gender binary and conventions of mainstream society, drag offers a safe space for people to express themselves and explore their identities without fear of judgment or discrimination.
Drag performances also act as a form of protest against oppressive systems and can bring visibility to overlooked communities and issues." (LGBTQAndAll)
"The art of drag offers self-exploration and self-acceptance. It allows them to embody different personas and experiment with gender identities in a safe and supportive environment. Drag has helped people discover their authentic selves and find a community where they feel accepted and celebrated.
This art form has been especially true for LGBTQ+ individuals who have found solace and affirmation in drag culture. Drag has allowed them to express their true identity without fear of judgment or persecution. It has also provided a platform for them to embrace their unique characteristics and celebrate their individuality.
Drag is not confined to one culture or region. It is a global phenomenon, with drag communities thriving in various countries worldwide. Each culture brings its own unique flavor to drag performances, incorporating local traditions, music, and fashion.
From the glamorous drag artists of the United States to the fierce drag performers of Thailand’s culture, drag celebrates human diversity. In other words, it speaks to the power of drag as a platform for self-expression.
It is a unifying force that brings people together across cultures, genders, and identities. It is a way for people to express themselves creatively and uniquely, and it is a powerful symbol of diversity and inclusion." (LGBTQAndAll)
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