Why did elizabeth 1st have all her hair cut off?

Question

Why did elizabeth 1st have all her hair cut off?

Answer 1

She was heartbroken by her first love, the Earl of Leichester, who secretly married another, then committed treason against her. She was under tremendous pressure to marry, yet was trapped with no choices that she could trust. Her  suiters were rediculous poseurs, wishing to marry her for political reasons. After a plot against her life, she was forced to have her guards kill those that tried to kill her, some of them Catholic priests. She spared the Earl, who was unwittingly duped into the plot, she said, "to remind myself how close I came to danger".  She never saw him alone again. Afterwards, she was impressed that there were so many who would die for their loyalty to the Virgin Mary. Inspired by this, and wanting the same loyalty from her subjects for herself, she decided to become like the Virgin Mary in her peoples hearts. So she cut off her hair as a symbol of leaving behind her maidenhood, her love of the Earl, her attractiveness, her vulnerability to love, and as a commitment to having no man as her master, but being her own master. By cutting her hair she also became more like a man, or king, without the need to marry. Then, renaming herself the Virgin Queen, she married herself to England, just as a nun marries the church.

These are partial lyrics to a song by Richard Thompson  illustrating this moment, written from the perspective of the Earl of Leichester who is still in love with his Queen.

"She cut off her long silken hair"

Midnight in her room

There was music and incense and mirrors all round

By the light of the moon

Her silver dress slipped to the ground

Then she knelt like St Joan

And invisible armies attended her there

And her knife brightly shone

As she cut off her long silken hair

Trapped, I suppose

Lied for my sake

Crushed like the rose

That somebody picked by mistake

Oh I knew it would come

I knew she would leave me for some better start

Oh I knew it would come

She was too well rehearsed in her part

And I measured my life

And my heart fairly broke with the sorrow and care

As she took down the knife

And she cut off her long silken hair

Oh there's some who believe

Oh there's some who believe there are reasons to lie

And there's some who deceive

And the truth is right there in their eyes

Oh but I don't see why

In all of my life I've seen nothing so fair

And I don't see why

She cut off her long silken hair

I don't see why

I don't see why

Answer 2

Or, did it just fall out?

Answer 3

Well bathing was not fashionable in those day's and people caught fleas and lice easily, so it was fashionable to cut your hair off and wear a wig. One of Queen Elizabeths1st Lords said to her "Madam! you stink more than I do" her reply is quoted, but I have not read it. Have a great day.

Answer 4

It was common that time, many had lice and wigs where available.

Also she had serious neck problems, that's why they invented that big collar.

Answer 5

During the late 15th century, the unhygienic conditions of the time meant that hair attracted head lice, a problem that could be much reduced if natural hair were shaved and replaced with a more easily de-loused artificial hairpiece. All English arisotrocrats wore wigs as a means of compensating for hair loss or improving one's personal appearance.

Answer 6

she had lice?

Answer 7

I don't claim to be an expert, but from reading a great deal about Tudor history I have learned that Elizabeth I cut her hair, and made herself less attractive as a woman because of all the turmoil that came about during the beginning of her reign because she was unmarried, very attractive and couldn't possible rule England as a woman.

To make her point clear, she cut her hair, made herself less attractive(in those days a woman's hair was her beauty), and told her 'people' that no one other than herself would rule England.  Thus she became 'the virgin queen'.

Answer 8

because she hated herself

Answer 9

That was part of her becoming the virgin queen.

Answer 10

she was going through menopause?

Answer 11

Well , Queen Elizabeth the First actually cut off her hair to show that she would remain a virgin. If you see the movie she mentions that she wants to remain a virgin and that is why she also wear white make up to represent her innocence.

xx

Answer 12

I'm not sure that was historically accurate. but i was discussing this with my BF, and i think its so she could have any hairdoo she wanted (wig) without having to sit and have her hair pulled for hours, wasting time, you know?