The marriage of Philip of Habsburg and Mary Tudor and anti-Spanish sentiment in England : political economies and culture, 1553-1557
This thesis examines the early part of Mary I's reign, focusing on her marriage to Philip of Habsburg and the marginalisation of their co-monarchy in Tudor historiography. By looking at the diplomatic background and political opposition in England, I interrogate the notion that anti-Spanish sentiment was a central cause of the Wyatt rebellion, arguing that instead its aetiology lay in female sovereignty and the constitutional uncertainties produced by it. Dynasticism tended to alienate power from familiar, local and territorial sources of political authority. Infant mortality and the vicissitudes of the marriage market in this context threatened discrete 'national' identities with an incipient imperialist internationalism. I analyse in detail the marriage contract and 'Act declaring that the regal power of this realm is in the Queen's Majesty', using them as evidence to show that anxieties about property rights were not related to the repudiation of the Supremacy, repeal of Henrician legislation and return of papal jurisdiction. The staging of the wedding harped on Philip's inferior status, inverting that which the marriage ceremony rehearsed. The Castilian writing of England as a romance of chivalry sublimated
Samson, Alexander Winton Seton
History
The marriage of Philip of Habsburg and Mary Tudor and anti-Spanish sentiment in England : political economies and culture, 1553-1557. This thesis examines the early part of Mary I's reign, focusing on her marriage to Philip of Habsburg and the marginalisation of their co-monarchy in Tudor historiography. By looking at the diplomatic background and political opposition in England, I interrogate the notion that anti-Spanish sentiment was a central cause of the Wyatt rebellion, arguing that instead its aetiology lay in female sovereignty and the constitutional uncertainties produced by it. Dynasticism tended to alienate power from familiar, local and territorial sources of political authority. Infant mortality and the vicissitudes of the marriage market in this context threatened discrete 'national' identities with an incipient imperialist internationalism. I analyse in detail the marriage contract and 'Act declaring that the regal power of this realm is in the Queen's Majesty', using them as evidence to show that anxieties about property rights were not related to the repudiation of the Supremacy, repeal of Henrician legislation and return of papal jurisdiction. The staging of the wedding harped on Philip's inferior status, inverting that which the marriage ceremony rehearsed. The Castilian writing of England as a romance of chivalry sublimated
marriage habsburg mary tudor anti spanish sentiment england political_economy culture examines early_part mary reign focus marriage habsburg marginalisation monarchy tudor historiography look diplomatic background political_opposition england interrogate notion anti spanish sentiment central cause rebellion argue instead aetiology lay female sovereignty constitutional uncertainty produce tend alienate power familiar local territorial source political_authority infant_mortality marriage market context threaten discrete national_identity incipient imperialist internationalism analyse_detail marriage contract act declare regal power realm queen use evidence show property_right relate repudiation supremacy repeal legislation return papal jurisdiction stag wedding inferior status invert marriage ceremony rehearse castilian write england romance chivalry