In the final scene of Shekhar Kapur’s “Elizabeth”, starring Cate Blanchett, we see Kat Ashley cutting Elizabeth’s hair off and Elizabeth making a dramatic entrance in front of her court dressed as a bride in an elaborate white gown, pearls (which symbolise purity), a red wig, a huge ruff and a whitened face.
When Elizabeth sees her new short hair, she says to Kat, “Kat, I have become a virgin”, and when she appears at court she says to William Cecil, Lord Burghley, “Observe, Lord Burghley, I am married to England.”
It is an amazing final scene. It is incredibly dramatic and emotional and really makes you think about Elizabeth and how she changed into the iconic queen of her later portraits, the Gloriana and the Virgin Queen. In the movie, Elizabeth I is not a virgin. She has an affair with her childhood sweetheart, Robert Dudley, and so the scene at the end is about Elizabeth transforming herself by assuming this new persona and stating her commitment to England by “marrying” England. It is this new stronger Elizabeth who heralds in the country’s Golden Age. So, it is a persona rather than the real Elizabeth.
But what about the real Elizabeth? Whatever your thoughts on Elizabeth’s virgin status, it is clear that she considered herself married to her country and that she made a conscious decision not to marry – but why? Surely it was her responsibility to carry on the Tudor line, to secure the succession and to provide England with an heir, so why would Elizabeth make such a huge decision? Here are some possible reasons but please do share your thoughts in the comments section below:-
- Psychological – It is said that after Catherine Howard’s execution the 8 year old Elizabeth told her friend Robert Dudley that she would never marry. Did she decide not to marry because of what happened to her own mother, Anne Boleyn, and her stepmother, Catherine Howard?
- Mary I’s example – Elizabeth saw the damage that Mary’s marriage to Philip II did to the country. This marriage caused unrest and rebellion and it also broke Mary’s heart.
- Control – In Tudor times, a wife was expected to submit to her husband and Elizabeth, as monarch, may not have wanted to give away any control to her husband, when it was she who was responsible for the running of the country.
- Love – Elizabeth loved Robert Dudley and it may be that she chose not to marry because she could not marry her true love.
- Diplomacy – Remaining unmarried meant that she could enter marriage negotiations and play countries off against each other.
- Fear of childbirth – Two of Elizabeth’s stepmothers, Jane Seymour and Catherine Parr, had died just a few days after childbirth so was Elizabeth frightened of having children?
- Commitment to her country – Elizabeth wanted to do the best for her country and felt married to her country.
- The perfect marriage never came along – Marriage negotiations always seemed to come to nothing because of diplomatic wranglings and problems.
- Medical reasons – In my post “Elizabeth I – A Virago, Genetically Male or Simply a Strong woman?” I looked at R. Bakan’s theory that Elizabeth had testicular feminization syndrome which meant that she looked like a female and would have had female external genitalia but that the uterus and uterine tubes would have been either rudimentary or absent, and that the vagina may also have been absent. She would also have been sterile. If Elizabeth did not have a vagina then she would not have wanted anyone to know about it. I can’t credit this theory at all!
- Elizabeth was a man – I love this theory! According to The Bisley Boy legend, the real Elizabeth died in childhood and a boy took her place. Obviously, the imposter would have been discovered if “Elizabeth” had married!
Related posts:
Robert Dudley to Marry Mary Queen of Scots?
Elizabeth and Leicester – Bess and Robin
The Marriage of Robert Dudley and Amy Robsart
Elizabeth’s Women
Elizabeth, Seymour and Shakespeare
The Legacy of Elizabeth I
Did They or Didn’t They?
Elizabeth I – Queen of PR
Elizabeth I Facts
Did Robert Dudley Murder Amy Robsart?
Elizabeth I’s Suitors
Elizabeth I
realize this comment is a bit late…I love this site and consider myself a bit of a stalker; always reading never posting…but I wanted to share a thought with Elizabeth lovers everywhere…
Even if Elizabeth were intersex it doesn’t change the fact that she was England’s greatest monarch. I consider the theory a theory and therefore credible even if extremely unlikely… one thing we know is that she was NOT replaced by a male!!
But whether or not Elizabeth suffered such a condition changes nothing!! From the moment of birth she was destined for greatness and narrowly cheated death throughout her childhood and reign. I believe it was Devine Providence that gave England the leader they needed at that point in time… and I think all the events of Elizabeth’s early life are evidence of that. And if some one showed me proof tomorrow that my favorite lady in history was intersex I would still think of her as a great lady…
Again I love reading the articles and comments here…. very fun and informative!
I agree, AbbieJean, Elizabeth being intersex would not change how I viewed her either, I just don’t get why people have to make up these theories though, very odd. Thank you for commenting, it’s great to hear your thoughts. Have you seen the new film “Anonymous”?
I haven’t seen it…. isn’t it about the identity of the shakespear play write? I did a paper in college supporting the Bacon theory but now that I’m older and wiser I like to think that Shakespear wrote Shakespear….lol
has anyone else seen it?
Yes, it promotes the Oxfordian theory and of course the idea that Elizabeth had an illegitimate son etc. It has caused quite a stir!
Hi – sorry to come late into this, but I’ve just discovered the site – well done, Claire, so much information on here.
I think the reasons for Elizabeth not marrying are probably mixed. I have some sympathy with the psychological view of her association of marriage and death, and it seems clear that the love of her life was Robert Dudley, whom she could not marry.
Too often I think historians equate the idea of Elizabeth and Dudley’s affair with the assumption of intercourse and children. As we all know, that route would have raised huge problems for the queen. And as we also all know, it is possible to have a very close sexual relationship short of intercourse, which is what I suspect they did, certainly in the early years. Remember when Elizabetth thought she was dying of smallpox in 1563 (? need to check that date I’m going from memory), she left the kingdom to Dudley as Protector and left a large sum of money to the manservant who kept his chamber. Now, why on earth would she do that – what did he know? There is no evidence of course……
I also think the idea of losing power to a husband was a problem for her – although I doubt it would have been allowed (see the marriage treaty drafted for Alencon). Shakespeare says ‘uneasy lies the head which wears the crown’ and her treatment of her potential heirs makes it clear that throughout her reign Elizabeth felt insecure over her succession.
One related aspect no one has mentioned I think is that at no time would her Council agree to support her choice of consort. The furthest they got was a rather tepid ‘if you choose to marry X we will support you’ which is hardly a ringing endorsement to an insecure queen. Neither Dudley nor Anjou/Alencon had their whole support. So her problems were not just personal, they were political. Just a thought.
PS – On Anonymous, the Prince Tudor theory does the Oxfordians no favours, I think. It is outlandish to suggest Elizabeth could have had a child in secret. That doesn’t mean Oxford didn’t write the plays or that Stakepeare did; we have no primary evidence on that one way or the other.
Could it be possible that Elizabeth’s “marriage to England” was fueled by religious reasons?
In what way, Kandace?
Wow–I’m currently doing an essay on Liz. I did not expect to read her name and Vagina in the same sentence.. HA! Oh well, as interesting as it is to read about the Queen’s Vajayjay, I’m not too sure my History teacher would appreciate it. Love the article though great points!! Thank you 🙂
I have just discovered this website! How wonderful! As a student of history, and holder of more than one credential, I find it highly amusing, and at the same time intensely infuriating, that Elizabeth’s gender should be questioned. Strong women have always been feared and slandered, so I guess I can say that it doesn’t surprise me that ‘Good Queen Bess’ would fall victim to such discussion. To say that Elizabeth’s abilities were an anomaly in a pre-modern world is to misspeak. One only has to look at the example of Theodora. Had it not been for her, Justinian would have surrendered his throne. She was a most remarkable woman, and there were many more! But, back to Elizabeth. I suspect many women, today, who have become wiser AFTER years of being expected to “yield to the head of the house” (“I make the decisions here, not you!”), and having their identity, their very personhood, ripped from them, and have made the decision to leave such marriages, can understand why Elizabeth might have taken in all that befell the women in her family and would have chosen to tread that minefield carefully. I’m sure Elizabeth was astute enough to understand that she would be forced to submit to the husband in any marriage, INCLUDING one with Robert Dudley. My favorite quote from Elizabeth is “There will be only one mistress in this house, and no master!” I have it on the wall in my classroom. She will always be my primary heroine, warts and all!
I think multiple factors come into play when figuring out why Elizabeth I didn’t marry. Almost everyone on this board has hit the nail on the head at least once, and I agree on many counts. I believe Elizabeth was born into a family that would make anyone fearful of marrying. Her father beheaded her mother, most likely bore children with her aunt, she witnessed her father go through multiple marriages for the sake of a male heir, yet *Elizabeth I* was queen so all his destruction was in vain. Elizabeth was also her mother’s daughter. I believe she was part Anne and part Mary. With the part of Anne, Elizabeth I would do anything to keep power, yet with the part of Mary, Elizabeth I knew what she was not capable of and what must be surrendered in order live a life as free of danger as possible. She was a Boleyn, no doubt about it. Elizabeth I also saw what childbirth could do to a women as many women of that time died shortly after childbirth or their children didn’t live long. Multiple pregnancies were required most of the time and this led to more likelihood of dying in childbirth. Also, there was the factor that if Elizabeth I did have a child, with all the political danger around her, who isn’t to say that her child would not be kidnapped or killed in order to destroy her reign? If she bore a child, her she would have been that much more vulnerable as queen. In order for Elizabeth I to have had a child though, she would have had to wed and that was a huge problem in and of itself. After witnessing what marriage did to her sister and the country, it was pretty much off the table. I think she knew that marrying would not be successful and would hurt the country after seeing what her sister went through. Marrying for political gain would be so problematic, even if it were a love match, as the other country would look to her to produce a male heir and that pressure, on top of her loss of power as a single woman ruler of her own country, would have driven her to realize it was too much of a plight. It couldn’t be done. I believe, though, that the single most important reason Elizabeth I didn’t marry was because of Robert Dudley. She knew she would never successfully be able to marry, and on top of that childbirth was too risky, so she found love in a simpler way. If Robert Dudley were not available to keep her company, I think there is a chance that Elizabeth I might have tried to marry and her life and the world as we know it would be different. It was almost as if Robert Dudley were her common-law husband and she gained all the affection, support, care, and dependence that one would gain from a spouse, it is just that it was never legal. Robert Dudley gave up many of his marrying days for this role, however I am sure he gained much pleasure from his priviledged lifestyle. I don’t think it matters if their relationship was ever consummated, they did love one another. Robert Dudley was a Cancer man and Elizabeth I was a Virgo woman…so many longstanding romances are found with this astrological match. It is one of the most successful matches, only topped by the match of Cancer man and Scorpio woman, and Robert Dudley did go on to marry a Scorpio woman, his second wife Lettice. I think Robert Dudley’s role in keeping Queen Elizabeth I occupied long enough for her to not feel the need to marry is one of the single most important aspects of history.
Claire, thank you for the wonderful website! I am a huge admirer of Elizabeth I and find her to be one of the greatest examples of female strength and intelligence in the history of the world. I am happy I stumbled upon your website so I can sink my teeth into even more theories and stories about her.
I am outraged at the theory that suggests Elizabeth was actually a man. Like others that have posted here, I find it almost darkly comical that our world can’t comprehend how a figure like Elizabeth could have successfully reigned without being a man. One of the pieces of “evidence” for this theory is a quote that is completely taken out of context. It is argued that Elizabeth was alluding to her “true” gender by saying: “I have the heart and stomach of a king, and of a king of England too.” The quote, when provided in its entirety, renders this “evidence” as complete garbage. The full quote begins with: “I know I have but the body of a weak and feeble woman, but…” While I can’t rule out the possibility of a medical defect or an asexual orientation, I think the theory that Elizabeth was actually a man is nonsensical. Surely, someone would have discovered this hidden truth and been rewarded dearly by providing it to the right person (which could have been just about anybody in Elizabeth’s time).
I have always loved the story of Robin and Elizabeth. To me, they are the quintessential story of impossible love. So many things in life kept them from the relationship I’m sure they actually wanted with each other, and yet, they still found a way to have something, to be something for each other.
I, too, loved the movie “Elizabeth” and its magnificent ending. I thought Cate Blanchett was a perfect fit for the monarch, and the story is relatively accurate. Elizabeth was a personable, energetic, social creature that thrived on the exchange of wits, dancing and games. And yet, she had to come to the realization that her life was first and foremost the property of her people. I think the image of her changing her appearance is a somber yet brilliant way to show her acceptance of the weight of the crown. She couldn’t forever be the girl prancing in fields with Robin, but I’m confident that she was happy with her life and the role she played in bringing about a Golden Age for Britain.
So….
I honestly feel that Elizabeth got twisted in her ways of thinking about marriage. After seeing what her father did , I can’t blame her. I think she wanted to control her own life and never give her power to a man.
Plus, she wanted unity in religion. So, I doubt she would jeopardize her reformers.
ELIZABETH IS NOT A BOY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!