The Court of Elizabeth I
How Elizabeth I ruled through her court: the glittering royal court and its courtiers, patronage used to keep powerful nobles loyal, and the Privy Council and ministers who ran the government day to day.
Use it, the way the marks are given
Free interactive practice at using the material, which is what the marks are for.
Start revising freeWhat you'll cover
Ruling through the court
Elizabeth I had no police force and no standing army, so she ruled through people. The royal court drew the most powerful nobles to her side, and she used gifts of land, titles and posts to keep them loyal and competing for her favour. A small Privy Council of trusted ministers ran the government. This module works through the court, patronage and the council, and how she used them to stay in control.
Court words to know
Learn these before you enter the palace.
The court against the council
Two parts of Elizabethan rule with different jobs.
Explain patronage as control
In the exam, treat patronage as a tool of control, not just glamour. Show how a gift of rank, land or a lucrative post made a powerful noble depend on royal favour, so he stayed loyal and rivals competed rather than plotted. Point to a leading minister and to the council, and say what they actually did to keep the crown secure. Explain how the reward bought the loyalty, do not just describe the feasting.
Match the term
- royal court
- patronage
- Privy Council
- courtier
- the nobles and servants around the monarch
- giving titles and jobs for loyalty
- the close group of advisers to the queen
- a noble seeking royal favour
Match the role
- William Cecil
- the Privy Council
- patronage
- the royal court
- her most trusted minister for many years
- advised her and ran the government
- kept nobles loyal and dependent
- displayed the power of the crown
How did patronage keep control?
How did Elizabeth use patronage to stay in control?
- By rewarding nobles with titles and jobs so they stayed loyal
- By giving her power away to Parliament
- By refusing to see any nobles at all
- By selling off all the crown lands
True about the court
Select the TWO true statements about the court and government.
- Patronage was the granting of titles and jobs in return for loyalty
- The Privy Council was a group of the close advisers to the queen
- The royal court had no political importance
- William Cecil was an enemy she had executed
Count the appointments
The queen appoints 3 new officials in each of 4 counties to reward loyal supporters. Multiply the number per county by the number of counties to find how many officials she appoints in total. What is the answer?
Order the patronage chain
Put the way patronage worked in order, earliest first.
- A noble seeks royal favour at court
- The queen grants him a title, land or a post
- The noble grows richer and more powerful
- In return he stays loyal to the queen
Complete the story
The nobles and servants around the monarch are the royal _____. Granting titles and jobs in return for loyalty is _____. The close group of advisers to the queen was the _____ Council. Her most trusted minister was William _____.
Spot the tools of control
Tap the TWO ways the court and patronage helped Elizabeth stay in power.
- rewarding loyal nobles with titles and land
- keeping powerful rivals competing for her favour
- giving her powers away to the nobles
- ignoring everyone at the court
Judge the case
Read each case and choose the best answer.
- Elizabeth gives a loyal noble a valuable title and some land. What is this an example of?
- Which group of close advisers helped Elizabeth run the government from day to day?
- Why did handing out rewards keep nobles loyal to the queen?
Explain the court and patronage
Explain how Elizabeth I used her court and patronage to keep control.
- Describe the royal court and the role of a courtier
- Explain how patronage worked as a tool of political control
- Name a key minister and explain the role of the Privy Council