The Elizabethan Court (AQA GCSE History)
Revision Note
Written by: Natasha Smith
Reviewed by: Bridgette Barrett
Who held the power in Elizabethan society? - Summary
When Elizabeth became queen, there was a clear hierarchy of rich to poor in England's population. This hierarchical structure of society is called the feudal system. This helped to maintain law and order within the countryside and towns. A monarch in the Tudor period held more power than monarchs in the 21st century. There was also an organised system of government existed in England.
Queen Elizabeth I was the ruling monarch and had significant authority over political, religious and social matters. Her control was supported by the nobility, a small, elite class who held substantial land, wealth and influence in England. These nobles served as advisers, military leaders, and key figures in the running of the country.
Below the nobility was the gentry. This group comprised of wealthy landowners and influential figures who did not hold noble titles but possessed considerable local power and social standing. They played vital roles in local government and were often involved in national politics.
The peasantry had limited power, however, they made up the majority of the population. They worked the land and produced the nation’s food. However, they had minimal influence over political decisions and were subject to the will of their landlords.
Parliament, while not as powerful as it would become in later centuries, held a growing role in governance. It was responsible for passing laws and granting taxes. Similar to modern times, parliament contained the House of Lords and the House of Commons. Elizabeth held the right to open and close parliament whenever she wished. Her government could advise but Elizabeth held the ultimate decision-making power in England.
What was the Royal Court?
The royal court was the centre of royal and political power
The court met mainly at Whitehall Palace, London
However, Elizabeth’s royal court met wherever she was
The royal court was made up of
Officials
Ladies-in-waiting
Servants
Advisers
Approximately 1,000 people were in Elizabeth’s royal court
Elizabeth used her royal court to:
Demonstrate her power and wealth
Hold feasts, parties, dances and general entertainment
Control the nobility and gentry
Reward loyalty
Elizabethan Government
The government in Elizabethan times had some similarities to our modern government
Each section of government had responsibility over certain areas of running the country
Roles and responsibilities in Elizabeth's government
Area of government | Who worked here? | What role did they have? | Where were they based? |
|---|---|---|---|
Privy Council | Elizabeth chose roughly 19 members. They were her closest nobles, courtiers and members of parliament | They met with the monarch three times a week to:
| The Privy Council lived and worked in the royal court |
Parliament | The House of Lords contained nobles and bishops chosen by the monarch. The House of Commons were nobility and gentry chosen by election. Very few people in Elizabethan England could vote | Parliament held some important powers:
| Parliament met in either the House of Lords or the House of Commons in London. Elizabeth could open and close parliament as she wished. Elizabeth opened parliament ten times throughout her reign |
Court | Members of nobility who the monarch invited. People who attended the court were called courtiers. The court also included the monarch's closest friends and servants | The roles of courtiers were:
| Members of the court lived and worked inside or near the royal palace |
Lord Lieutenant | The queen chose members of the nobility to become Lord Lieutenants. They usually also worked in the Privy Council | Lord Lieutenants held essential powers in protecting the monarchy:
| Lord Lieutenants lived in the county they worked in |
Justices of the Peace | Large landowners chosen by Lord Lieutenants. It was an unpaid, voluntary position. Justices of the Peace held a lot of status and power | Justices of the Peace played a vital role in keeping law and order:
| Justices of the Peace lived in the county where they worked |
William Cecil, Baron Burghley
William Cecil served in the court of Edward VI as a Secretary of State under the Lord Protector Duke of Northumberland
Whilst Mary I was queen, Cecil withdrew from her court
William Cecil returned to court when Elizabeth became queen
He was one of Elizabeth's most trusted advisers
In the Elizabethan government Cecil
Served as Secretary of State twice
Was a Member of Parliament (MP)
Was a member of the Privy Council
Examiner Tips and Tricks
Throughout this topic, there are a lot of key individuals. As part of your revision, you may want to create a profile for these individuals focusing on:
Who they were
What job/ role they had in Elizabethan England
What impact they had on Elizabethan England
Francis Walsingham
During the reign of Mary I, Francis Walsingham was in exile in Switzerland
In 1573, Walsingham returned to England
Upon Walsingham’s return, he became
A member of the Privy Council
Principle secretary
Throughout Elizabeth’s reign, Walsingham was
Secretary of State
‘Spymaster’
Walsingham was a very successful spymaster
He played a pivotal role in the trial and execution of Mary Queen of Scots in 1587
Francis Walsingham was also a prominent Puritan in Elizabeth’s royal court
Robert Dudley, Earl of Leicester
Robert Dudley was a member of the nobility and childhood friends with Elizabeth I
Robert Dudley was a favourite of Elizabeth's and a possible suitor
In the Elizabethan government, Dudley was:
A Knight of the Garter
A privy councillor
Master of the Horse
Lieutenant and Captain General of the Queen’s armies and companies
Like Walsingham, Robert Dudley was a prominent Puritan in Elizabeth’s royal court
Patronage
The royal courtiers attended court to improve their status, position and wealth
Many royal courtiers looked for an opportunity to gain the Queen’s favour
Patronage was a way in which the queen could ensure loyalty
Patronage was essential to Elizabeth as it allowed her to manage court rivalries and competition
Elizabeth gave loyal courtiers patronage through:
Titles
A monopoly
Power
Money
Land
For example, in 1587 the Earl of Essex was given the title Master of the Horse and a sweet wine monopoly, after the death of his stepfather, Robert Dudley
Progresses in Elizabethan England
A royal progress usually happened in the summer months
It involved Elizabeth touring the country
The royal court travelled with Elizabeth during her progresses
On these progresses Elizabeth would stay at the homes of the wealthiest nobles
This was considered both an honour and a hindrance
They were considered an honour as they would have the privilege to house, cook and entertain the queen
They were a hindrance because progress was often expensive and could put those hosting in debt
A royal progress could include:
The entire royal court, which was 1000 people
Over 400 wagons filled with Elizabeth’s belongings
Progresses were very beneficial to Elizabeth
The benefits of a royal progress
Benefit | Why was this important to Elizabeth? |
|---|---|
To save money | When Elizabeth came to the throne, the crown was £300,000 in debt due to previous monarchs’ wars. When on her progress, the nobility or gentry were expected to pay for the entertainment, food and housing of the queen and her court. This saved her a lot of money |
Propaganda | Progresses allowed her to be seen by the people of England as it helped to build a relationship with her people and to gain their loyalty |
To prevent rebellions | Elizabeth would sometimes go on to progress to help prevent rebellions. Attending a certain area or member or nobilities house, served as a reminder to who their loyalty should belong to |
Leave the heat of London | London summers were hot and often smelly! A progress outside of London often provided a cooler climate and better health for Elizabeth and her courtiers |
Worked Example
Explain the importance of the royal court in Elizabethan England.
[8 Marks]
Partial answer:
The royal court was important to Elizabethan England as it created loyalty for Elizabeth. Elizabeth used her royal court to ensure her court was loyal to her. One way she did this was through patronage. Patronage was when Elizabeth gave titles and monopolies to members of her royal court to reward them for her loyalty. For example, the Earl of Essex was given the sweet wine monopoly. This was important as members of the court prospered off such patronage and often could not survive without them, therefore securing their loyalty. This was shown when the Earl of Essex had his sweet wine monopoly taken away from him because of his actions in Ireland. Essex soon became bankrupt.
Examiner Tips and Tricks
Above is a partial answer to an 8-mark “Explain the importance” question. To achieve full marks, you will need to explain two reasons why the royal court was important in Elizabethan England. In the other paragraph, you could explain the privy council and why that was important to Elizabethan England.
For further guidance on this question, you can read this revision note on how to answer the 8-mark “Explain the importance” question.
Last updated:
You've read 0 of your 10 free revision notes
Unlock more, it's free!
Did this page help you?
