When Elizabeth Tudor inherited the throne following the death of her sister Mary in 1558 the threats she faced included further war with France, religious unrest and loss of power if she married. Elizabeth I’s personality, intelligence and her choice not to marry enabled her to bring stability to the political situation in England with a very high degree of success.
The French threat in 1558 was very real. Mary Queen of Scots was married to the French heir to the throne and many believed that her claim to the English throne was more legitimate than Elizabeth’s. France was a longstanding ally of Scotland and joint military action by France and Scotland could have been disastrous for England. England lost Calais to the French in January 1558 and there was no money to fight a lengthy war.
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