Faction Throughout her reign Elizabeth 1 controlled her

Faction Throughout her reign, Elizabeth 1 controlled her ministers with masterly political skill Assess the validity of this view

A definition of faction

Key points from article • Explanation/definition of faction varies: • A group of people who seek objectives that are primarily personal • Must include a struggle for economic rewards • A political group whose members are bound to a leader by personal informal ties and vie for power with other groups

Traditional - Neale • Leicester held sway – puritan faction, • - vast amount of patronage, Cecil and Leicester –competition at court ceaseless. Did not harm Elizabeth until 1590 s • “court factions were essential to the well being of the government system

Revisionist -Haigh • faction as feuding • Lesser men trying to gain power around Burghley and Leicester • Elizabeth unable to control • Threatened control in rivalry between Norfolk and Leicester in 1565 -6 • Threat to stability but Elizabeth able to assert her authority

Post Revisionist - Adams Elizabeth able to control faction • Leading figures worked closely together but tensions – squabbles over policy • Court settled and peaceful

Post revisionist – Guy and Alford • Council relatively unified • Elizabeth as a woman • Cecil manipulates Elizabeth – religious settlement his

Post revisionist - Doran • Elizabeth more assertive • Rarely overruled by Council; • Used variety of techniques

But – The Last Decade • All agree court became a battleground for factional struggle • Essex and Robert Cecil