Was Mary 1 a popular queen?

Answer 1

Elizabeth was very good at inspiring affection in her people. She knew how to talk to her people and how to inspire them.

Her religious settlement was not popular at the beginning of her reign, it pleased neither Catholics nor Protestants, but as her reign progressed the English increasingly were won over to her church of England settlement, and the Catholic religion was identified with foreign interference. Increasing hostility towards the Catholic religion meant that the execution of Mary, Queen of Scots was a popular move on her part. However, Catholic priests were tortured and executed sometimes in such gruesome ways that there was some popular disquiet about it.

She encouraged overseas trade and exploration, and these measures were succesful in increasing the power and prestige of England, which increased her popularity.

The defeat of the Spanish Armada was probably the peak period of her popularity, her inspirational speech to the troops at Tilbury was a major success.

Her prevarication over her marriage was not popular, because most people would have liked to see her marry and produce an heir, but she was persuasive in convincing people that she was, as she put it 'married to my kingdom' and that she was devoted to the interests of the people of England above all. Her image as the 'Virgin Queen' was popular in her later years.

Her popularity declined in the last years of her reign due to the worsening economic situation, rising unemployment etc, but in general she remained popular for most of her reign.

Answer 2

Elizabeth I sister was not beheaded. It was her cousin, Mary Queen of Scots who was executed.