In this episode, we’ll explore the challenges Queen Elizabeth I faced as a female monarch in a male-dominated society. We’ll discuss the pressure she faced from Parliament to marry and produce an heir, aimed at securing the succession and preventing civil unrest. We’ll examine how marriage posed a threat to her authority and how religious considerations complicated her choice of a husband. Finally, we’ll consider Elizabeth’s decision to remain unmarried, allowing her to retain power but leaving the question of succession unresolved.

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