Elizabeth’s family and as a result, her childhood was an extremely dysfunctional time. Her family line’s escapades on the throne were hectic. The Tudor dynasty originally did not have a strong claim to the throne until Henry Tudor, Elizabeth's grandfather, killed King Richard III in battle (Adams 10). Henry VIII, Elizabeth’s father, knotted up the family line with six marriages in an attempt to produce a male heir; two of which he divorced, one that died of childbirth, and two that he executed for various reasons (Adams 11). Elizabeth's earliest enemies were her own family. Her father was extremely distanced after her mother was executed; her older stepsister Mary blamed Elizabeth for all her suffering and misfortunes. As soon as her father passed, Lord Thomas Seymour, wanted to marry the very young Elizabeth, but other nobles opposed this. He married her stepmother, Katherine Parr, in order to get closer to her. He attempted to rape her, but Katherine Parr stopped him and sent Elizabeth to the countryside. When he attempted to marry Elizabeth again, he was arrested for treason (Adams 16, 17).Elizabeth’s childhood and early life …show more content…
After Edward Tudor’s death, Mary Tudor eventually became queen. Still harboring spite for Elizabeth, was sent to the Tower of London, in response to a revolt Mary believed Elizabeth took part in (Adams 27). After Mary’s death in Elizabeth’s childhood shaped the way she eventually ruled in a number of ways. "She was an excellent judge of people. However, her childhood experiences made her distrustful and wary in her dealings with them" (Adams 31). The very intellectual princess had grown into her role of Queen and despite vanity and a quick-temper; Elizabeth had a charming personality and managed to earn lots of respect (Adams 31). “And despite the presence of the great men who were her peers, the era was dominated by a woman: Elizabeth Tudor” (“Elizabeth I” par