"Courting the Virgin Queen: Queen Elizabeth I and Her Suitors" shows how Elizabeth I used the game of courtly love to her political advantage and how she would not let herself be ruled by men. She would skillfully evade questions she didn't want to answer, and would often use male pronouns as a show of power. I found the discussion about her wanting to find the balance between her natural and political body fascinating. Overall this was a very engaging read, however as it was not written in a chronological format but rather laid out by theme, it did get a little confusing at times.

Thank you Netgalley and the publisher for providing an e-Arc!

#TudorNonfictionCallenge hosted by @cha_ye on StoryGraph

I would rate this 3.5 out of 5.

Thank you to Netgalley and Pen and Sword books from whom I received an advance review copy for free. I am leaving this review voluntarily.

Brief Summary: Lloyd examines the intricacies of Elizabeth Tudor’s approach to romance and marital negotiations. Examining both her personal and political approaches within the wider context, Lloyd paints a picture of what it meant to be a potential suitor of England’s Virgin Queen.

Thoughts: This book gave a lot of things that I enjoyed, but not a lot of things that I wanted.

I wanted detailed discussions and examinations about the men who sought to marry Elizabeth. First-hand sources, detail discussions of the potential benefits and drawbacks to these matches. How the men on her council viewed the matches. Details about how long each courtship lasted and if there were any lavish gifts or ridiculous poetry. While some of these things do make appearances throughout the book there is not nearly as much detail as I had hoped would be in this book.

I understand that Elizabeth Tudor's romantic life if one can even call it that, is difficult to describe. She was never able to make her own decisions in the matter as she was either the property of her father, her brother, or the state. And she did not keep a journal outlining intimate thoughts about the men she was interested in. However, there has to be a little more information regarding Prince Eric of Sweden, Prince Henry of France, and Archduke Charles than the brief bits of information that came through in the text. Even if it’s just Cecil complaining about them or Elizabeth not agreeing.

Lloyd does an excellent job of discussing how most of Elizabeth's relationships were merely courtly love matches (e.g., Christopher Hatton, Essex, Walter Raleigh). Some of the poetry that these men wrote was…interesting. However, I think it highlighted the tightrope that all of these men had to walk. You had to pay deference to Elizabeth because she was the Queen, but she was a beautiful and vivacious woman and spirit that likely drew men in like her mother.

I did find it strange that Lloyd discussed the aspects of courtly love that she inherited and implemented from her mother. In part, this is strange because Elizabeth was only three at the time of her mother's death and I'm not entirely sure courtly love is something you can be passed genetically.
I do think that the focus on Elizabeth's experiences watching her various step-mothers was important for understanding her formative years. I had not considered how she didn’t want to marry anyone she had not met and might have been heavily influenced by the way the Cleves marriage played out for her father. Since she was about 5 or 6 at the time of those events it seems unlikely that she would realize that much of the narrative around the Cleves marriage spread by her father and the members of his court. If you are already weary of marriage and you have a very prominent example of how it has gone wrong without a proper meeting you might be willing to die on the hill of requiring an interaction before agreeing to marry anyone. However, this thought process arguably begins to become a bit more complicated when the example of Prince Eric that Lloyd discusses comes into play.

I did feel like the juxtaposition between Elizabeth’s own decisions and those of Mary, Queen of Scots did take up too much of the book. I know that the politics of their relationship had spillover effects into other areas, but it did feel a bit to compare and contrast for my liking. Elizabeth wanted to avoid the downfalls that Mary experienced, but Lloyd even says that Elizabeth was better at picking loyal advisors. I do not see Cecil or Walsingham throwing Elizabeth over the way that Moray and Arran did to Mary when James was born. Tensions as a woman in power were high during this time, but I cannot imagine that Elizabeth had such little faith in her advisors to think that this was a good reason to avoid the issue altogether. I do understand that she was (willingly?) used as a pawn in the Wyatt Rebellion and she did not want someone to be her heir and used the same way, but I think that Elizabeth could have understood the different political dynamics of her court versus Mary’s.

I enjoyed this book and I think that anyone trying to learn about the complicated dynamics of attempting to woo the Virgin Queen. Lloyd’s writing is engaging and easy to follow. However, if you are looking for an in-depth look at the people that were doing the courting this is not necessarily the book for that.

Content Warnings

Graphic: Infidelity, Misogyny, Sexism, Xenophobia, Religious bigotry, Death of a parent, Murder, War, and Pandemic/Epidemic

Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Death, Infertility, Forced institutionalization, Grief, Colonisation, and Classism

I have read this ARC with a view to providing a review
All opinions and thoughts are my own

A new author to me and the Tudors are a particular favourite of mine
A wonderful read

Loved it

Carol Ann Lloyd’s Courting the Virgin Queen offers a fascinating deep dive into the life and reign of Queen Elizabeth I, focusing on the many courtships and suitors who sought her hand in marriage. As one of the most powerful monarchs in European history, Elizabeth’s marital status was not just a matter of personal choice but an ongoing political question that shaped the course of her reign and the destiny of England.

From her earliest days, Elizabeth’s life was steeped in the politics of marriage. As an infant, she was presented as a potential bride to foreign powers, with ambassadors evaluating her for possible political unions. Lloyd masterfully chronicles Elizabeth’s formative years, including the tumultuous environment of her father Henry VIII’s many marriages, the rise and fall of her stepmothers, and the constant shifts in her own status within the royal family. This early exposure to the political games surrounding marriage undoubtedly influenced Elizabeth’s view of courtship as a tool rather than a purely personal endeavor.

The book expertly navigates the complexities of Elizabeth’s reign, highlighting how she used her status as an unmarried queen to maintain power and control over her court and foreign alliances. Lloyd paints a vivid picture of the various suitors who sought Elizabeth’s hand, from English courtiers like Robert Dudley to foreign monarchs like Philip II of Spain and François, Duke of Anjou. Each suitor represented not just a potential husband but a possible alliance that could either strengthen or destabilize her rule.

What makes Courting the Virgin Queen stand out is its exploration of how Elizabeth masterfully wielded courtship as a political weapon. Lloyd emphasizes that Elizabeth's choice to remain unmarried was not merely a personal preference but a deliberate and strategic decision that allowed her to maintain autonomy and avoid the complications of sharing power with a husband. The pressure for her to marry never ceased, as foreign powers and English nobles alike saw her marriage as key to securing alliances and the Tudor succession. Yet, Elizabeth remained resolutely single, preserving her identity as the "Virgin Queen" and cementing her devotion to her true love: England.

Lloyd’s portrayal of Elizabeth is multifaceted, showing her as a shrewd politician, a skilled diplomat, and a woman deeply aware of the limitations placed on her by her gender. The book effectively conveys the unique challenges Elizabeth faced as a female ruler in a male-dominated world. Her refusal to marry allowed her to defy expectations and navigate her role as monarch with unprecedented control over her destiny. This decision, however, was not without its personal cost, as many of the men she was closest to—like Robert Dudley—remained figures of unrequited love or politically inconvenient relationships.

The book is also rich with historical context, situating Elizabeth’s courtships within the broader political landscape of 16th-century Europe. Lloyd vividly depicts the delicate balancing act Elizabeth performed to maintain England’s independence, avoiding entangling alliances through marriage while using the prospect of marriage as leverage in diplomatic negotiations. Whether fending off the ambitions of Philip II of Spain or managing the ambitious courtiers at her own court, Elizabeth’s ability to control the narrative around her marital status was key to her success as a ruler.

Lloyd writes with a clear and engaging style, making the historical complexities accessible to readers without sacrificing depth. The book is well-researched and offers fresh insights into the familiar story of Elizabeth’s courtships, examining the intersection of gender, power, and politics in her reign. The emotional toll of remaining unmarried, as well as the immense pressure she faced, is skillfully portrayed, making Elizabeth’s story not only one of political savvy but also of personal strength and sacrifice.

Final Thoughts:
Courting the Virgin Queen is a captivating exploration of Queen Elizabeth I’s life, focusing on how she used courtship as both a political tool and a means of personal empowerment. Carol Ann Lloyd provides a well-rounded and nuanced portrayal of Elizabeth as a ruler who deftly navigated the pressures of marriage, succession, and diplomacy. This book is perfect for readers interested in Tudor history, political strategy, and the life of one of England’s most remarkable monarchs. Through its compelling narrative and sharp historical analysis, it reinforces Elizabeth’s legacy as a monarch who shaped her own destiny in a world determined to control it.

Elizabeth I (7 September 1533–24 March 1603) was Queen of England and Ireland from 17 November 1558 until her death in 1603. She was the last monarch of the House of Tudor.Elizabeth was the only surviving child of Henry VIII and his second wife, Anne Boleyn. When Elizabeth was 2yo, her parents' marriage was annulled, her mother was executed, and Elizabeth was declared illegitimate. Henry restored her to the line of succession when she was 10, via the Third Succession Act 1543. After Henry's death in 1547, Elizabeth's younger half-brother Edward VI ruled until his own death in 1553, bequeathing the crown to a Protestant cousin, Lady Jane Grey, and ignoring the claims of his two half-sisters, the Catholic Mary and the younger Elizabeth, in spite of statutes to the contrary. Edward's will was set aside within weeks of his death and Mary became queen, deposing and executing Jane. During Mary's reign, Elizabeth was imprisoned for nearly a year on suspicion of supporting Protestant rebels.Upon her half-sister's death in 1558, Elizabeth succeeded to the throne and set out to rule by good counsel.One of her first actions as queen was the establishment of an English Protestant church,of which she became the supreme governor. This era, later named the Elizabethan Religious Settlement, would evolve into the Church of England. It was expected that Elizabeth would marry and produce heirs; however, despite numerous courtships, she never did.Because of this she is known as the "Virgin Queen".As she grew older, Elizabeth became celebrated for her virginity.A cult of personality grew around her which was celebrated in the portraits, pageants, and literature of the day. Elizabeth's reign became known as the Elizabethan era. After the short, disastrous reigns of her half-siblings, her 44 years on the throne provided welcome stability for the kingdom and helped to forge a sense of national identity.
Elizabeth is acknowledged as a charismatic performer ("Gloriana") and a dogged survivor ("Good Queen Bess") in an era when government was ramshackle and limited, and when monarchs in neighbouring countries faced internal problems that jeopardised their thrones.

Sometimes it feels like there are too many topics about the Tudors. That's why it's refreshing to see things from a different perspective, like in the case of "Courting the Virgin Queen." The title might seem sensational, but it's just meant to grab attention. Readers can expect a well-researched text with lots of interesting facts, such as Tudor's desire for more than just political marriages.

Carol Ann Lloyd give us yet another Tudor book with a fresh angle: Elizabeth I’s ‘dating history’.
Told with great pace in a very entertaining way, this is another one for the must-haves.

Courting the Virgin Queen: Queen Elizabeth I and Her Suitors explores the intricate courtships that shaped Queen Elizabeth I’s reign. The book delves into how her romantic and political decisions influenced her rule as England’s Virgin Queen. Elizabeth’s upbringing involved continuous courtship, and the lessons she learned about love and marriage were influenced by her father, Henry VIII, and his relationships with her stepmothers. Both political and personal factors influenced her potential marriages. In the sixteenth century, it was considered unusual for a woman to rule without a man by her side. Yet, Elizabeth remains the only monarch in England to have ruled as an unmarried adult. As her potential suitors and close companions passed away, she remained devoted to her true love, her country, England.

As someone who has always been drawn to biographies and histories covering the Tudor family, I found this book’s coverage of Elizabeth’s connections/relationships to grandfather, father, mother, and half-siblings, particularly Mary, to be enlightening. I appreciated the depth of Lloyd’s research and the historical facts presented. However, I found the thematic organization of the book to be less engaging. While understanding the politics that drove history was necessary, I would have preferred a chronological narrative to avoid the repetition, which became tedious. These redundancies could make the reading experience less engaging for some readers.

This book is a must-read for anyone with a strong interest in women’s and British history. Thank you, Pen & Sword History, for providing me with a DRC book for review via NetGalley. Please be aware that all the opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.

Pub Date: 30 July 2024
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This book reveals how Elizabeth I skillfully navigated courtship and marriage proposals as political tools throughout her reign. From her early days as a potential bride to her final years as the “Virgin Queen,” Elizabeth strategically used her marital status to forge alliances, quell rebellions, and solidify her power in a world dominated by men.

This book is arranged thematically rather than chronologically, bringing a new perspective to a familiar story. It’s entertaining and easy to read.

Thanks, NetGalley, for the ARC I received. This is my honest and voluntary review.

As humans, we love a good love story. Tales of courtships, grand confessions of love, over-the-top weddings, and marriages that last decades. These seem like high expectations, especially when we compare these expectations to royal courtships of the past. The majority of royals married and they were more focused on political matches instead of love. However, few chose a different path altogether, they decided to be single. One of the most famous monarchs with a single status was Queen Elizabeth I of England, the Virgin Queen So why did Elizabeth stay single throughout her reign, and how did she navigate her numerous suitors? Carol Ann Lloyd tries to answer these questions in her latest book, “Courting the Virgin Queen: Queen Elizabeth I and Her Suitors.”

I want to thank Pen and Sword Books and Net Galley for sending me a copy of this book. I enjoyed Lloyd’s previous book, “The Tudors by the Numbers,” so when I heard about this book and that it would be about Elizabeth I and her romances, I knew I wanted to read it.

Lloyd breaks her book down into sections focusing on the suitors and the aspects that made her reign rather unique. While she was a child, Elizabeth's primary purpose was to create a powerful alliance with another country, however, issues of legitimacy and religion hampered any real chance of her marrying anyone before she became queen. Once she was crowned, the marriage market became even more complicated as she not only had a great number of eligible suitors both in England and abroad, she needed to make sure her kingdom was secure and that she remained in power. She had to balance her natural and her political body of a ruler, a task that was difficult for a man to accomplish let alone a queen whose legitimacy and religious standings were on shaky grounds.

I think Lloyd did a great job of presenting new information about Elizabeth I, her suitors, and how different aspects of courting affected how the queen ruled. I will say that the way the book was organized did hinder my enjoyment of this book a little bit. I think it would have made more sense to have the aspects of Elizabeth’s courting and how it affected her reign before diving into her numerous suitors and why things didn’t go so well, which led to Elizabeth becoming the titular Virgin Queen.

Overall, I did find this a rather informative and fascinating read. If you want a solid book about Elizabeth I and her numerous romances, I recommend you read, “Courting the Virgin Queen: Queen Elizabeth I and Her Suitors” by Carol Ann Lloyd.

I have read several books about Elizabeth 1 but her romances tend to be confusing due to her vacillating ways and tendency to use them to shore up alliances and worry rival countries. However, Carol Ann Lloyd studies this queen’s relationships with each of her suitors forensically, including her long affair with her favourite Robert Dudley and the long romance with the much younger Duke of Anjou. She discusses the ‘two bodies’, the urging of parliament for Elizabeth to marry and have a successor and Elizabeth’s seemingly ever-changing thoughts about marriage.

Perhaps, they were only ever-changing on the surface because she said that she was married to England shortly after becoming Queen? I am inclined to wonder if she would have married Dudley if not for the huge scandal of the death of his wife.

This was an extremely engaging book, especially if you love to read about the fascinating Tudors.

I received this free ebook from NetGalley in return for an honest review.

A biography of Elizabeth I through the lens of all the candidates for her hand in marriage and the people who pushed for those marriages - and how hard Elizabeth had to work to stay single.

Lloyd shows how from her cradle to almost her death bed, marriage with this, that or the other prince/king/noble was discussed, and people were continually surprised that she held firm to that 'no'. Despite all expectations and pressure to marry, Llyod lays out all the many, many factors that would have convinced Elizabeth early on to runaway very fast from the very idea of marriage - and events just kept piling up throughout her reign to underscore that.

Lloyd also does a good job of showing how Elizabeth didn't merely say 'no' to marriage - she managed to turn it into a political tool, keeping everyone, both at home and abroad, dancing to her tune, as she first let everyone think she might marry them, and then, later, creating the persona of the venerated Virgin Queen, creating awe and power out of not doing what everyone expected and flourishing as a monarch.

A controversial figure who never expected to rule the country Elizabeth I ran a ring around her court, her courtiers and many of the rulers of Europe. She was the focus of many countries who knew that access to the Queen would mean many advantages for their own countries. The religious differences. Between the Protestants and the Catholics was another reason that countries did not want to see the ascendancy of England.

Elizabeth walked a tightrope to the end balancing the need for what was good for her country, putting aside personal gratification (in public). In private the rumours were varied and colourful.

A good story for those who like Tudor England and its history.

Even though I was eager to get my hands on this as I love anything related to Anne Boleyn and her daughter, I found this piece a bit tedious and repetitive at the beginning.
The timeline goes back and forth at times, making it a bit confusing to follow up as well, until halfway through the book, where the author starts to shine in an action-filled sequence that had me glued 'til the very end.
The first half made the reading experience a little bit more difficult and unenjoyable, which really saddens me, as it's clear a whole lot of investigation has taken place and one can find so many details and pieces of information here that one might not get anywhere else. Though I really wish there had been less mentions of Archduke Charles' courtship, it got somewhat recurrent through the book.
I enjoyed it, regardless.
Overall, I'd recommend it.

Favourite quotes: "Attacking a woman's virtue and ability to achieve the lofty status of motherhood was a common way to destroy her reputation and her worth, and this was no different with the queen"
"Elizabeth, even when standing alone in that all-male group of parliament and council members, stood firm. She wouldn't commit to marry —'at least not now, and certainly not when compelled to do so by ordinary men'."

Courting the Virgin Queen - Queen Elizabeth I And Her Suitors by Carol Ann Lloyd is a refreshing, insightful account of the personal life of Queen Elizabeth I, daughter of Henry VIII and last of the Tudor line

Despite being bandied about as chattel from an early age as nearly all women were in the Tudor era, and multiple suitors throughout her life, Queen Elizabeth I never married, her sense of duty being to her greatest love, that of her country and her loyalty to it. It is easy to see from the narrative of this very interesting book, how growing up in the household of Henry VIII would give any woman pause for thought with regard to choosing a potential husband, especially in an era disproportionately favourable to men

Utterly fascinating, highly recommend

Thank you to NetGalley Little, Brown Book Group UK | Sphere and Alexandra Wilson for this excellent ARC. My review is left voluntarily and all opinions are my own

Thank you Pen & Sword for the ARC!

Courting the Virgin Queen is a good addition to the literature on Tudor-era and Elizabethan England, focusing on her suitors and decision to remain unmarried. It is well-researched and thorough about these topics.

I rated it 3 stars (3.25 on StoryGraph, where I love the 1/4 star option) because it gets a little repetitive. I appreciate that the chapters are laid out by theme, rather than linearly, but it meant that some ground was trod two or even three times. I would still recommend it if anyone interested in British history and women’s history, but that was my mild critique of how it reads from start to finish.

A must read for fans of Tudor history!
I’m her book “Courting the Virgin Queen” Carol Ann Loyd gives a well rounded account of Elizabeth’s ever changing and highly political marriage tapestry. Her introductory chapters set the scene perfectly for the intricate and frustrating marriage options thrusted upon England’s queen. Her writing is full of details yet easy to read and guides the reader on the ins and outs of Elizabeth’s delicate situation. She not only reinforces the Queen’s power and commitment to lead her own life but also shines a bright light on the potential alliances and issues she had to face throughout her reign. What a treat for Tudor fans!

I am a huge fan of the Tudor dynasty, particularly Queen Elizabeth I. So I tend to want to read anything new about her, and the dynasty as a whole. Most times it's worthwhile, but this time, it was not! What I was expecting is not what I saw. Author Carol Ann Lloyd spent way too much time talking about politics of the time, while essentially glossing over what should have been the meat of the book: the courtships of Queen Elizabeth I. Another aspect I did not like was how often Lloyd posed questions without really answering them. Questions used in that manner put the onus on the reader to decide the answer, and I don't feel I should have to do that as one who is reading for personal enjoyment. In short, I did not enjoy this book at all. It just didn't have the necessary pop to keep one's attention...at least not in a good way.

Thanks to NetGalley and Pen&Sword for this arc. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Thanks to Pen & Sword for the ARC!

As a lover of history and European monarchies, I knew I wanted to get my hands on this book.

To go over all the countless courtiers Queen Elizabeth I had within her lifetime you not only have to go from her infancy to her death. Lloyd also understood that you must explore her half-sister, mother, father, and grandfather's legacies to fully understand why Elizabeth might have made the choices she did during her life and more importantly her reign.

While I enjoyed much of the history and facts surrounding Courting the Virgin Queen I often was pulled out of the story when there were redundancies and tangents. I felt like these tangents could have had more information to go along with the topics that we were exploring but we were cut short on those and went back to the original topic at hand.

Overall this is a great exploration on Queen Elizabeth I the last of the Tutor monarchs.

‘Elizabeth’s first suitor arrived when she was still an infant, when she was considered as a possible bride for the son of the French king.’

After reading The Tudors By Numbers and loving it, I knew I needed to get my hands on Carol’s next book.

I admire Elizabeth for her courage to remain ‘the virgin queen’ despite the constant pressure from the moment she was born to her later years in life to marry and provide an heir.

‘She well understood the values and the dangers of marrying and the cakes and dangers of remaining single.’

Carole has done a great job and I defiantly just want to read ALL of her work in the future!