15th & 16th Century Queens FRQ (2002)
PROMPT: Compare and contrast the religious policies of TWO of the following:
Elizabeth I of England
Catherine de Medicis of France
Isabella I of Spain
Queen
Elizabeth I of England
Religious Policies
Similarities
Differences
Anglican
uses religion as a political tool;
Less violent - fewer executions,
Religious tolerations (kinda): tried to avoid
wants to bring unity and stability to
more tolerant; Elizabeth answers
pol. and rel. tensions by not executing many
their country
to no one - as an absolute
Catholics (BUT she did execute Mary,
Elizabeth and Catherine tend more
monarch her religious decisions
Queen of Scots); tries to avoid religious
toward being politiques.
reflected more accurately what she
extremes (pursued a middle ground -
wanted for England
Matthew Parker, Archbishop of Canterbury) -
Elizabeth and Catherine's policies
tolerates Catholicism, tolerates Puritans
are influenced by the Protestant
(Calvinist) and Congregationalists BUT
Reformation itself, while Isabella's
Conventicle Act, 1593; reinstates the Act of
policies were not affected by the
Supremacy; Act of Uniformity, 1559
Reformation.
(revision of Book of Common Prayer); 39
Elizabeth wanted to strengthen
Articles, 1563 (Protestantism is the official
overall unity of England, whereas
religion within the Church of England)
Catherine wanted to secure her
sons position on the throne.
Catherine often switched sides
religiously for political purposes,
while Elizabeth held strong to her
religious and political convictions.
Catherine de Medicis of
France
Catholic - tried to find peace between
Catholic; uses religion as a political
Catherine "answers" to her sons,
Catholics & Protestants BUT she put her
tool; wants to bring unity and
their advisors, the feuding noble
sons and their right to the throne above all
stability to their country
families AND these interactions
else - uses religion as a political tool
Elizabeth and Catherine tend more
drive her decision making process.
Allied with the Protestants: January Edict,
toward being politiques.
Elizabeth and Catherine's policies
1562; Huguenots in Peace of Saint-
Catherine and Isabella had people
are influenced by the Protestant
Germaine, 1570; married her daughter
killed in order to bring religious
Reformation itself, while Isabella's
Margot to Henry of Navarre (1572); aided the stability
policies were not affected by the
Dutch against Philip II, 1572
Reformation.
Allied with Guise (Catholics) - St.
Catherine often switched sides
Bartholomew's Day Massacre, 1572
religiously for political purposes,
while Elizabeth held strong to her
religious and political convictions.
Isabella I of Spain
Catholic - united Spain by converting all
Catholic; uses religion as a political
Isabella "answers" to Ferdinand
(Jews and Muslims) to Catholicism;
tool; wants to bring unity and
BUT they have the same agenda
Created Spanish Inquisition and had more
stability to their country
so her religious policies aren't
control over the Catholic Church in Spain;
Catherine and Isabella had people
affected
exiled practicing Jews and Muslims; due to
killed in order to bring religious
Religiously intolerant when
her policies Spain did not go through the
stability
compared to Elizabeth's toleration
Protestant Reformation as other countries
Elizabeth wanted to strengthen
did; longevity of policies - upheld by Charles
overall unity of England, whereas
V and Philip II
Catherine wanted to secure her
sons position on the throne.