Queen Elizabeth I and Mary, Queen of Scots : women, power, and historiography in sixteenth century Europe

Abstract

The sixteenth century holds an enigma, by which the latter half of the century was dominated by women. For the purpose of this dissertation, the primary focus is on Queen Elizabeth I (1533-1603) and Queen Mary of Scotland (1542-1587). The reversed gendered roles altered the political and social structures of the time, consequentially affecting the European dynamic. The aim of this dissertation is to recapture the histories of Queen Elizabeth I and Mary Queen of Scots through an analysis based on feminist theory in conjunction with gender theory. While both monarchs have had their respective histories analysed over the centuries, the current approach to women in power has in recent years emerged as a topic in need of reinterpretation. This is mainly attributed to a surge in awareness of female empowerment. In re-analysing the histories of the Queen of England and Scotland, this dissertation will be able to consolidate the past with the present approach to further understand women in terms of power. The purpose of this dissertation is to further enhance the histories of Elizabeth Tudor and Mary Stuart, by utilizing the doctrine of feminist and gender theories. The first chapter of this dissertation will act as an introduction to the study, by providing the reader with the fundamentals to the study of writing women’s history and a general historical context of the sixteenth century. This chapter will also include a review of the methodology and historiography utilised throughout this dissertation. The main part of this dissertation will be divided thematically, with the second chapter dedicated to power, focusing mainly on the queenship garnered at the Queen’s court by the Queens and her councillors. The third chapter will follow the question of religion, concerning the lives of Mary Stuart and Elizabeth Tudor and how the religious conflict affected their reigns. The penultimate chapter will focus on marriage, by primarily discussing various scenarios related to marriage or personal relationships of both Queens. The final chapter will serve as a conclusion, in which final remarks shall be discussed.