Page "Elizabeth I of England" Paragraph 28

From the start of Elizabeth's reign, it was expected that she would marry and the question arose to whom.

She never did, although she received many offers for her hand ; the reasons for this are not clear.

Historians have speculated that Thomas Seymour had put her off sexual relationships, or that she knew herself to be infertile.

She considered several suitors until she was about fifty.

Her last courtship was with Francis, Duke of Anjou, 22 years her junior.

While risking possible loss of power like her sister, who played into the hands of King Phillip II of Spain, marriage offered the chance of an heir.

However, the choice of a husband might also provoke political instability or even insurrection.