Speech To The Troops At Tilbury Analysis

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Queen Elizabeth’s Political Strategies: The Speech At Tilbury At the young age of 25, Elizabeth I was crowned Queen of England. As Mary I successor, Elizabeth I began her reign of England facing many political challenges created during her half-sister’s 5 year reign. During this short time as Queen, Mary I married Phillip II of Spain in an effort to prevent Elizabeth from taking the throne after her death. The marriage between Mary I and Phillip II created an alliance between England and Spain, but soon brought about a war between England and France. It was during this war that Mary I died, and Elizabeth I was appointed Queen. Elizabeth was by far not the most popular choice for the job, considering her reglious beliefs and the simple fact …show more content…
Politically speaking, this speech was largely influential and a key peiece in showing the world, and France especially, that England is a major superpower and she a powerful ruler. As of this time period, Elizabeth I was only the second woman to hold the throne in the history of the English monarch. This being said, Queens were not generally looked at as strong and powerful political leaders, but rather unstable and weak. For this reason many believed Elizabeth would not be able to lead effectivly in the fight against France. “The Speech to the Troops at Tillbury” was Elizabeth’s way in making a strong polictical statement that not only she was not weak, nor unstale, but in fact a strong and confident leader ready to fight for her people. In this famous speech Elizabeth states, “I know I have the body of a weak, feeble woman; but I have the heart and stomach of a king, and of a king of England too”(). Elizabeth used this quote to send a message that she contained the same strength and courage as a king, even though she is a woman. Elizabeth knew that the troops at Tilbury, along with the people of England, needed to be inspired and provided with a strong cause to fight for. This statement established Elizabeth as that powerful ‘cause’, and provided the inspiration to troops before their battle against the French. “In spite of this glancing reference to feminine weakness, she speaks with all the authority and power of her real voice--as a queen.” (Green, “I My

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