Xaire Davis, Group #3: 2002 Exam
 Thematic Essay: 2002: Compare and contrast the religious
Policies of TWO of the following:
 Elizabeth I of England
 Catherine de Medici of France
 Isabella I of Spain
 Critical Trigger Words: Compare (find similarities)
Contrast (find differences) Religious Polices (religious
influence on government)
 Two Step Direction Phrase: Focus on the polices of two of
the women and how their religious beliefs influenced
their way of governing. Name check polices enforced.
Introduction:
The introduction of
Catherine de Medici
and Elizabeth I of
England and how
they governed with
great religious
influence.
Religious dominance
within the European
government
Catherine
de Medici
and
Elizabeth I
of England
Transition: Assess
both the policies of
Catherine and
Elizabeth and detail
the similarities and
differences between
them both
Introduction
 Religion was the driving force within European
government during the sixteenth century. Rulers
used religion as tactical devices to manipulate the
people to gain greater power. Two rulers who were
notable of doing these tactical devices were
Catherine de Medici and Elizabeth I of England.
Both of these leaders ruled using religious strength
as their backbone. In assessing both the polices of
Catherine and Elizabeth, their similarities and
differences will be discovered.
Body One
The policies of
Catherine de
Medici and how
she controlled
power
The polices of
Elizabeth I of
England during
her reign.
Polices of
both
Catherine de
Medici and
Elizabeth I of
England
Transition:
push towards
the similarities
in the following
paragraph
Body One
 Catherine de Medici and Elizabeth I of England had outstanding policies of
governing their empires. Catherine was a regent of her son Coligny in
France. Her objective was to keep the Medici monarchy in power and
prevent the Guise from gaining any authority. She did this by playing both
sides of Protestantism and Catholicism. When the Catholic Guise family
began to gain power she joined forces with the Protestants and created the
January Edict. This granted Protestants the privilege to worship outside of
the town. When her son finally came into power and the Protestants gain
increasing dominance in governmental affairs she joined forces with the
Catholic Guise. She took part in the St. Bartholomew’s Day Massacre of
Protestants and killed thousands of them; then she made the Protestants
conflict amongst one another. Elizabeth inherited the throne following her
sister Mary I. She tried her best to placate both Catholics and Protestants,
which resulted in the creation of the Anglican Church. This was a church,
which was Catholic in appearance but followed protestant doctrine. She
also established settlements that prevented religious differences from
destroying England. Both of these ladies ran their emperors in very similar
strategic ways.
Body Two
Revisions that
were done in
favor of
Protestants.
Religion
played a key
role in
establishing
their empires.
The
similarities
between both
Catherine and
Elizabeth
Their use of
clever tactics
to help them
remain in
power.
Body Two
 Catherine de Medici and Elizabeth I had many commonalities.
For example, they both enacted governmental policies, at some
point in their reigns, that were in favor of Protestants. Catherine
created the January Edict and Elizabeth created the Anglican
church, which both gave greater acceptance of Protestantism.
Another similarity between the two was the influence religion
played in both of their empires. They both used the power of
religious beliefs to maintain their own power. The last thing they
had alike was strategy. They both knew how religious matter
worked and they both used it to the best of their advantage.
Elizabeth and Catherine were both aware of the constant battle
between Catholicism and Protestantism and ruled accordingly to
it. Even though they had these things in common the way they
went about enforcing them and governing were on two opposite
sides of the spectrum.
Body Three
Elizabeth was a
Elizabeth wanted
to maintain order
within Europe
while, Catherine
wanted to maintain
her family’s power.
Elizabeth
politique while
Catherine was a
manipulative
regent.
Differences
between
Catherine
and
Elizabeth
Elizabeth was a
Protestant who
didn’t want to isolate
Catholics while
Catherine was
catholic but played
off both sides to her
benefit.
Body Three
 Even Though both of these rulers did outstanding jobs at
maintaining their empires they took two different approaches and
were focused on two individual desires. One difference would be
the fact that Elizabeth was a politique while, Catherine was a
manipulator. Elizabeth tried to pacify both the protestants and
Catholics within England to maintain a stable government.
Catherine on the other hand played both sides to maintain her
family’s dominance and prevent the Protestants or Catholic Guises
from gaining power. This is exactly another difference they had.
Catherine just wanted her family to be powerful, but Elizabeth
wanted a tranquil England. Another difference was their religious
following and how they went about showing them. Elizabeth was
Protestant, but she did not enforce her religion to make Catholics
feel isolated. Catherine, however, was a Catholic who played off
both Catholics and protestants to make conflicts among them.
Conclusion:
Review of their
similarities and
differences
Forward ahead to
the age of
religious wars,
specifically the
Thirty Years’ War
to come
A recap of
Catherine and
Elizabeth
Looking
a
head…
Conclusion
 Evidently, Catherine de Medici and Elizabeth I of
England were two very powerful forces. Their
religious policies proved to be efficient in stabilizing
their power. They may have similar ideas on the use
of religious influence, but they way they went
through with things were completely opposite. The
battle between Protestantism and Catholicism that
was apparent within their empires was also the same
through out all of Europe. This increasing conflict
would lead to what was known as one of the
destructive of all religious war, the Thirty Years’ War.
Miscellaneous:
 Think of it in three parts…
 Analysis the polices of both leader during their times
of reign.
 Take what you already know and mode how they
have some of the same traits of way of going about
things.
 Demonstrate the differences in their goals and
religious positions.