Princess Mary and Princess Elizabeth Tudor
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From the very first moment Elizabeth was born Mary was considered her enemy and rival. Despite the quite few years of affection and companionship between the two sisters, there was always a great hate and numerous differences that kept them apart...
Princess Elizabeth was the second child of King Henry VIII by his second wife,Queen Anne Boleyn, the woman for whom he divorced his first wife Queen Katharine of Aragon.Katharine's marriage to Henry was declared invalid and incestuous due to the Queen's first marriage with Henry's brother.Katharine refused to acknowledge her marriage null and was insisting even until her last days that she was the true Queen of England.She never gave up her rights or those of her daughter's Princess Mary's as heir presumptive.
After Katharine's banishment Mary was strongly opposed to her father's wills to recognize Anne Boleyn as valid and true Queen of England.She would only recognize her mother.After Elizabeth was born the things worsened.Elizabeth was declared true and legitimate heir presumptive and Mary was forced to accept her sister as valid Princess of England and pay respect to her.Mary strongly denied to do this and stated that she knew of no other Princess of England but herself.Anne Boleyn grew furious and demanded that Mary should attend the Princess Elizabeth at her household as maid servant.Mary considered Anne as the reason of her and her mother's destruction but she never accused little Elizabeth for their parents' cruelty.
Mary took an interest in the well being of Elizabeth upon her return to court. Mary loved children and was asked to be a godmother to many through out her life. While Henry lavished attention on his son he neglected Elizabeth. The money needed to clothe and feed her and her household was lacking many a time and on some of these occasions Mary stepped in. She sent her gifts of cloth and pocket money. They spent the holidays together and Mary sent for Edward's minstrels to play for them. She wrote to Henry, "My sister Elizabeth is in good health and, thanks be to our Lord, such a child toward as I doubt not your highness shall have cause to rejoice of in time coming." Elizabeth also sent Mary gifts of hosiery or small pieces of jewelry. They rode together and played at cards and Mary taught Elizabeth how to play the lute and virginals. In the inventory books of Mary's jewelry there are her handwritten notes next to pieces that she gave to "my Lady Elizabeth's grace."
By Edward's death the sisters had not seen each other for five years. As Elizabeth entered adulthood she and Mary had less and less in common. Elizabeth considered Mary's love of display a symbol of the papists and Mary saw Elizabeth as a icon of the new religion. Mary, at first, was magnanimous on her accession and asked Elizabeth to ride with her into the capital. When they entered the city Mary did not realize that the cheering crowds were not just cheering her but also that Elizabeth was her heir. Elizabeth attended the coronation, riding in the coach with Anne of Cleves. For the first few weeks Mary flattered Elizabeth by letting her have place of honor at her side and holding her by the hand when they appeared in public together. Ultimately, though, Mary found it hard to trust the adult Elizabeth - a self confident young woman who carefully played the obedient sister.
On word that Mary was to marry Philip of Spain there was fear that the identity of England would be submerged with that of Spain and the other countries that Philip ruled. There was also the fear that he would exploit England's resources for his own ends. Sir Thomas Wyatt, the son of the Tudor poet who had been in love with Anne Boleyn, was one of the ringleaders and wrote letters to Elizabeth. It is hard to know exactly what her role in the rebellion was but she certainly never put anything in writing. On March 18, 1554 Elizabeth was arrested and sent to the Tower on the charge of complicity in Wyatt's rebellion. She was imprisoned for two months. Wyatt was questioned but never admitted that Elizabeth played any part in the rebellion and when he was executed on April 11 he stated from the scaffold that Elizabeth was innocent. After all the investigations were concluded, Elizabeth was not put on trial for treason as no evidence could be found. Elizabeth wrote, with a diamond from her jewels, on the window, "much suspected of me, nothing proved can be, quote Elizabeth, prisoner." Some of Mary's council still argued for the execution of Elizabeth. If she remained alive she would always be a threat. But Elizabeth was very popular with the people and in that sense more of a threat dead than alive. Mary let her return to Woodstock but under house arrest.
On the insistence of Philip, Elizabeth returned to Court in April 1555. He insisted Mary should treat her as an affectionate sister and as her heir. It was in his best interests that the next queen should be his ally. He did not want Mary Queen of Scots as the next heir, because, although Catholic, she was married to the French Dauphin and the French were the enemies of Spain. Elizabeth had been going through the motions of a Catholic conversion and going to mass while at Court and not opposing Mary's policy. But Mary was suspicious and knew she was a secret Protestant It seemed too convenient how Elizabeth had stomach aches half way through mass and had to leave. Philip ordered Mary to give Elizabeth her jewels and other signs to show she accepted Elizabeth as heir. This was not a choice that Mary would have made on her own but by 1558 Mary was gravely ill and by November she had made her will and accepted Elizabeth as heir.
Elizabeth was at Hatfield when the news of Mary's death reached her. A fitting place to end their relationship - at the site where it began.
SIMILARITIES AND DIFFERENCES BETWEEN THE TWO FIRST QUEENS OF ENGLAND:
Both Mary and Elizabeth were daughters of King Henry VIII of England and entirely beloved by him in their young age.
Both were Princesses of Wales and heirs presumptive
Both had loving mothers who adored them.
Both their mothers were queens but they were divorced and died abandoned.
They both lost favour because their father fell in love with another woman (Mary lost favour because of Anne Boleyn and Elizabeth lost favour because of Jane Seymour)
They both lost their title as Princesses and their father's affections after their mothers' downfall and they were declared bastards.
They returned to court thanks to their stepmothers
They were both close and and affectionate to their brother Edward but they were dismissed in his will as heirs.
They became the first Queens of England
Both Died Childless and they were buried together
Differences between Mary I and Elizabeth I:
1)Princess Mary had her father's affection and favour until her teen years and she actually never lost his love.Henry was also satisfied with her birth and was convinced that after a healthy girl,a healthy boy would surely followed.
When Princess Elizabeth was born Henry was greatly dissapointed and he did not even attended her christening.After her mother's downfall(Elizabeth was just 2 years old),Henry declared her a bastard and was not considering her as his daughter anymore.Even when she grew older and came back to court, Henry never stopped considering her as the *****'s reminder.
2)Mary was the centre of attention and entirely beloved as a princess and heir from the English people.
Elizabeth, like her mother,was never accepted from the English people and she was always called a bastard.
3)Princess Mary made two honorable betrothals in her young age(with the Daulphin of France and the Holly Roman Emperor)
Henry and Anne failed to obtain an honourable marriage for Elizabeth as she was considered a bastard from the whole Europe.
4)Mary was a devout Catholic who strongly hated the Reformers and wanted them dead.
Elizabeth adopetd her mother's beliefs and became a radical reformer
5)Queen Mary married King Philip of Spain.
Queen Elizabeth was never married during her reign and remained a virgin throughout her life.
6)Mary reigned England for only 5 years.
7)Elizabeth reigned England for 45 years and became the most famous Queen of the English History
'Veritas filia temporis'
'Semper Eadem'
'Truth, the daughter of time'
'Always the same'
From the very first moment Elizabeth was born Mary was considered her enemy and rival. Despite the quite few years of affection and companionship between the two sisters, there was always a great hate and numerous differences that kept them apart...
by <a href="/account/aneliza" target="_self" title="aneliza">aneliza</a>
Princess Elizabeth was the second child of King Henry VIII by his second wife,Queen Anne Boleyn, the woman for whom he divorced his first wife Queen Katharine of Aragon.Katharine's marriage to Henry was declared invalid and incestuous due to the Queen's first marriage with Henry's brother.Katharine refused to acknowledge her marriage null and was insisting even until her last days that she was the true Queen of England.She never gave up her rights or those of her daughter's Princess Mary's as heir presumptive.
After Katharine's banishment Mary was strongly opposed to her father's wills to recognize Anne Boleyn as valid and true Queen of England.She would only recognize her mother.After Elizabeth was born the things worsened.Elizabeth was declared true and legitimate heir presumptive and Mary was forced to accept her sister as valid Princess of England and pay respect to her.Mary strongly denied to do this and stated that she knew of no other Princess of England but herself.Anne Boleyn grew furious and demanded that Mary should attend the Princess Elizabeth at her household as maid servant.Mary considered Anne as the reason of her and her mother's destruction but she never accused little Elizabeth for their parents' cruelty.
Mary took an interest in the well being of Elizabeth upon her return to court. Mary loved children and was asked to be a godmother to many through out her life. While Henry lavished attention on his son he neglected Elizabeth. The money needed to clothe and feed her and her household was lacking many a time and on some of these occasions Mary stepped in. She sent her gifts of cloth and pocket money. They spent the holidays together and Mary sent for Edward's minstrels to play for them. She wrote to Henry, "My sister Elizabeth is in good health and, thanks be to our Lord, such a child toward as I doubt not your highness shall have cause to rejoice of in time coming." Elizabeth also sent Mary gifts of hosiery or small pieces of jewelry. They rode together and played at cards and Mary taught Elizabeth how to play the lute and virginals. In the inventory books of Mary's jewelry there are her handwritten notes next to pieces that she gave to "my Lady Elizabeth's grace."
By Edward's death the sisters had not seen each other for five years. As Elizabeth entered adulthood she and Mary had less and less in common. Elizabeth considered Mary's love of display a symbol of the papists and Mary saw Elizabeth as a icon of the new religion. Mary, at first, was magnanimous on her accession and asked Elizabeth to ride with her into the capital. When they entered the city Mary did not realize that the cheering crowds were not just cheering her but also that Elizabeth was her heir. Elizabeth attended the coronation, riding in the coach with Anne of Cleves. For the first few weeks Mary flattered Elizabeth by letting her have place of honor at her side and holding her by the hand when they appeared in public together. Ultimately, though, Mary found it hard to trust the adult Elizabeth - a self confident young woman who carefully played the obedient sister.
On word that Mary was to marry Philip of Spain there was fear that the identity of England would be submerged with that of Spain and the other countries that Philip ruled. There was also the fear that he would exploit England's resources for his own ends. Sir Thomas Wyatt, the son of the Tudor poet who had been in love with Anne Boleyn, was one of the ringleaders and wrote letters to Elizabeth. It is hard to know exactly what her role in the rebellion was but she certainly never put anything in writing. On March 18, 1554 Elizabeth was arrested and sent to the Tower on the charge of complicity in Wyatt's rebellion. She was imprisoned for two months. Wyatt was questioned but never admitted that Elizabeth played any part in the rebellion and when he was executed on April 11 he stated from the scaffold that Elizabeth was innocent. After all the investigations were concluded, Elizabeth was not put on trial for treason as no evidence could be found. Elizabeth wrote, with a diamond from her jewels, on the window, "much suspected of me, nothing proved can be, quote Elizabeth, prisoner." Some of Mary's council still argued for the execution of Elizabeth. If she remained alive she would always be a threat. But Elizabeth was very popular with the people and in that sense more of a threat dead than alive. Mary let her return to Woodstock but under house arrest.
On the insistence of Philip, Elizabeth returned to Court in April 1555. He insisted Mary should treat her as an affectionate sister and as her heir. It was in his best interests that the next queen should be his ally. He did not want Mary Queen of Scots as the next heir, because, although Catholic, she was married to the French Dauphin and the French were the enemies of Spain. Elizabeth had been going through the motions of a Catholic conversion and going to mass while at Court and not opposing Mary's policy. But Mary was suspicious and knew she was a secret Protestant It seemed too convenient how Elizabeth had stomach aches half way through mass and had to leave. Philip ordered Mary to give Elizabeth her jewels and other signs to show she accepted Elizabeth as heir. This was not a choice that Mary would have made on her own but by 1558 Mary was gravely ill and by November she had made her will and accepted Elizabeth as heir.
Elizabeth was at Hatfield when the news of Mary's death reached her. A fitting place to end their relationship - at the site where it began.
SIMILARITIES AND DIFFERENCES BETWEEN THE TWO FIRST QUEENS OF ENGLAND:
Both Mary and Elizabeth were daughters of King Henry VIII of England and entirely beloved by him in their young age.
Both were Princesses of Wales and heirs presumptive
Both had loving mothers who adored them.
Both their mothers were queens but they were divorced and died abandoned.
They both lost favour because their father fell in love with another woman (Mary lost favour because of Anne Boleyn and Elizabeth lost favour because of Jane Seymour)
They both lost their title as Princesses and their father's affections after their mothers' downfall and they were declared bastards.
They returned to court thanks to their stepmothers
They were both close and and affectionate to their brother Edward but they were dismissed in his will as heirs.
They became the first Queens of England
Both Died Childless and they were buried together
Differences between Mary I and Elizabeth I:
1)Princess Mary had her father's affection and favour until her teen years and she actually never lost his love.Henry was also satisfied with her birth and was convinced that after a healthy girl,a healthy boy would surely followed.
When Princess Elizabeth was born Henry was greatly dissapointed and he did not even attended her christening.After her mother's downfall(Elizabeth was just 2 years old),Henry declared her a bastard and was not considering her as his daughter anymore.Even when she grew older and came back to court, Henry never stopped considering her as the *****'s reminder.
2)Mary was the centre of attention and entirely beloved as a princess and heir from the English people.
Elizabeth, like her mother,was never accepted from the English people and she was always called a bastard.
3)Princess Mary made two honorable betrothals in her young age(with the Daulphin of France and the Holly Roman Emperor)
Henry and Anne failed to obtain an honourable marriage for Elizabeth as she was considered a bastard from the whole Europe.
4)Mary was a devout Catholic who strongly hated the Reformers and wanted them dead.
Elizabeth adopetd her mother's beliefs and became a radical reformer
5)Queen Mary married King Philip of Spain.
Queen Elizabeth was never married during her reign and remained a virgin throughout her life.
6)Mary reigned England for only 5 years.
7)Elizabeth reigned England for 45 years and became the most famous Queen of the English History
'Veritas filia temporis'
'Semper Eadem'
'Truth, the daughter of time'
'Always the same'