Why does queen elizabeth I cultivate her image as the virgin queen?

Question

according to the movie

Answer 1

Well, I'm no expert on the period. But I can think of a couple of reasons.

Firstly, marriage was politically powerful in the Renaissance. Marriage formed bonds between dynasties and, in certain cases, nations. The marriage of monarchs creates large empires. Why might this be a problem? Well, had the queen married, say, the Spanish monarch, then there would be fears that England (Britain, per se, doesn't exist until the treaty of Berrick) might be politically subjugated. In the case of marriage into a Catholic Empire, English Protestantism would almost certainly be eliminated - that would be quite a contentious issue! That the English monarch was wife to another would only seal English satellite status (the obedience of a wife was just as important in royal marriages as domestic ones).

Besides that, the notion of an asexual queen would also put aside any concerns that male courtiers were influencing the state through some secret relationship with the queen.

There's a couple of reasons - I'm sure other corespondents can think of several more.

Answer 2

Surely that shoudl be "Why DID". Elizabeth I died in 1603. The Current Queen is Elizabeth II.

Answer 3

Oh, I thought you wanted a real historical answer. Watch the film if that's what you want to know.

Answer 4

Haven't seen the movie yet, but I would assume because since she was the first woman to rule a major power in the modern western world, most thought she couldn't do it. That's why Henry killed so many wives and broke with the Catholic Church--he wanted a son as an heir. I believe that's why she never married lest her husband assume the crown and take her power and so a son couldn't be corrupted by bad influences and, perhaps, start a civil war for control of the throne.

Answer 5

She never married.

Answer 6

When Elizabeth became queen in 1558, she rode at once to London from her country home, traveling in a slow procession to give the people a chance to see her. Guns boomed, bells rang, and the people cheered her and scattered flowers in her path.

At the beginning of her reign England was in despair. The country had been weakened by war and religious strife, and the treasury was empty. Spain and France were powerful, and both wanted to rule England. The people hoped their young queen would soon marry a strong man who would guide her.

But Elizabeth at once took the government into her own hands; and, though she had many suitors and close friendships with several men, she steadfastly refused to marry. The young queen chose as her chief minister Sir William Cecil (Lord Burghley), who was cautious and conservative like herself. For 40 years he was her mainstay in both home and foreign affairs. Her favorite courtier was the charming and handsome Robert Dudley, earl of Leicester. When she died at the age of 69, she was still called the Virgin Queen. By then rich and secure, England was enjoying its greatest literary period. English ships were sailing into all seas, and the island kingdom had begun to establish its position as a world leader

dont go by movies as writers always distort historical fact to fit their works

Answer 7

I seem to recall that it's because she doesn't want to seem feminine. She wants to seem masculine/sexless, because she feels it gives her a more powerful image. Being a virgin and not having had s*x with a man would make one less "womanly," among other things. It also comes with implications of being frigid and unemotional, good traits if you want people to think you're manly and respect your rule. Plus, being a virgin would mean she didn't "submit" to a man.

Answer 8

She was doing a man's job in a man's world.  Why would it be to her advantage not to marry?  Think about it...lot of power and diplomacy stuff here.  It really has nothing to do with virginal status, but everything to do with matrimonial status.  I bet you can answer this yourself now that you have a few things to think about.

Answer 9

cuz

shes a virgin.

idk!!

Answer 10

it made her sound exciting and mysterious,beckoning men to her boudoir,but she was far from virginistic.

Answer 11

She wanted to present herself to her people as a holy icon, The way Mary, the mother of Jesus is a holy icon to Catholic people.  

Catholic people believe that Mary remained a Virgin her entire life (even though she and her husband went on to create a bunch of children after she gave birth to Jesus.)

Sorry, neither Mary nor Queen Elizabeth went to her grave as a virgin.  Good question.

Answer 12

she almost got it on with the Spanish Pirate.

Answer 13

Queen Elizabeth I declared herself the Virgin Queen, when she married herself to England after she took the english throne. This was all a propoganda to settle the confrontations between the Protestants and the Catholics. Queen Elizabeth I was a conservative protestant, and she believed that the only way to establish peace between the two religions is to make herself appear as the "Virgin Mary" figure." The Parliament believed that this strategy will somehow ease the Catholics resentment towards Protestants and see that both religions share the same beliefs to a certain degree. It is only a symbol rather than a reality. The queen was probably not a virgin, and it was widely known that she and Robert Dudley were true lovers. She died on March 24,1603 with a love letter from Robert Dudley in her hands.

Answer 14

well i think because she believed in ultimate power and couldnt love anything purely except power

Answer 15

i believe it was because she wasn't that attractive and she had a terrible personality( love me or die kinda thing)

so she never had s*x

Answer 16

Simply because she never married.

I highly doubt she was a virgin.

In a book my friend is reading, it says that Elizabeth made love to Catherine Parr's second husband

I'm sure as queen she did some stuff with men but had to be careful so she wouldn't get pregnant.

Answer 17

She didn't get married because she didn't want to share the throne with someone else. And of course back then people assumed you were a virgin if you were unmarried since that was the expectation.