Introduction
Elizabeth: The Golden Age (2007) is a historical drama directed by Shekhar Kapur, depicting the reign of Queen Elizabeth I of England (Elizabeth Tudor). From a historical standpoint, the movie centers on King Philip II’s plans to invade England, the Babington Plot to assassinate the queen and install Mary, Queen of Scots, on the throne, and depicts the political tension between English Catholics and Protestants. The film has several crucial historical inaccuracies that can distort the understanding of the events, particularly regarding the arrival of the Spanish Armada and the roles of Sir Francis Drake and Sir Walter Raleigh. The “oh wow” moment of the movie is the Babington plot, a known event, but its adaptation to the big screen made it much more compelling.
Historical Inaccuracies
The Armada Arrival
One of the significant historical inaccuracies in the movie is the depiction of the supposed surprise at the arrival of the Spanish Armada. In contrast to the plot, accounts indicate that preparations for it were underway in the majority of European countries, while the timing of the invasion in England and other countries was a subject of public debate. Therefore, at the time when the Armada set its sail for England, there was a little surprise among its citizens. Notably, the primary strategy that the Armada planned to implement when targeting England is described fairly accurately; however, once it appears in the English Channel, the events in the film begin to diverge from historical accounts.
For example, the navy fights several small attacks on the Armada and loses its own ships instead of those of the enemy. The narrative places an emphasis on the fact that the Spanish outnumber English ships and cannot afford to lose any when, in fact, the Kingdom’s navy was remarkably larger compared to the Armada. Additionally, the Battle of Gravelines in 1588, between Spain and England, is not depicted in the movie, despite some scenes of fighting preceding the appearance of fireships. It is not explained that the larger part of the Armada survived the battle or that its ships sailed all the way around the British Isles.
Roles of Sir Francis Drake and Sir Walter Raleigh
Another significant misrepresentation concerns the inversion of the roles that Sir Francis Drake and Sir Walter Raleigh played in historical events. Records show that Drake was the English Navy Vice-Admiral who participated in the Gravelines battle. Raleigh was Queen Elizabeth I’s advisor and did not participate in military operations.
However, in the movie, Drake participates in a council meeting while Raleigh leads the battle and single-handedly sails a fireship directly into the Spanish Armada. After the news reaches King Philip II that the English have been successful, he is momentarily abandoned by his clergy and daughter, prompting him to lament his pride and beg God for forgiveness. It is implied that the war ends immediately after that, while in reality, it lasted for sixteen more years.
Accurate Event Representations
Assassination Plot
Many more inaccuracies can be identified in the movie, although it also contains some truthful depictions of Elizabeth I’s reign in England. It was interesting to learn more about the plot to assassinate the Protestant monarch and make Mary, Queen of Scots, the English leader. In the film, the conspiracy is highly dramatized, which enhances the understanding of the event and its impact on history. It appears that the Jesuit character of Robert Reston was a liberal touch of the filmmakers, as John Ballard, the original orchestrator, was killed in Elizabeth (1998). However, the rest of the plot appears to be accurate based on historical research of the events.
From the beginning of the film, Mary is confined, yet she still manages to participate in the plot to remove the current queen from the throne. In the letters she wrote, it appears that she was one of the factors in the plans the Catholics were making. Besides, in the first scenes, viewers see that Elizabeth is aware that Mary presents a potential threat to her position.
Still, she dismisses the concerns and is reluctant to act against her, even though she has the opportunity to do so. In particular, as Mary was a crowned queen, her execution would set a precedent for the potential execution of other reigning monarchs, including Elizabeth. Even though Sir Francis Walsingham, Elizabeth I’s principal secretary, advised the queen to take action against her cousin, it was only after the assassination attempt that Mary was ordered to be beheaded.
The dramatic reenactment of the assassination is brilliant in the movie as it is fast-paced but suspenseful at the same time. Elizabeth and her ladies arrive at a church for a prayer, protected by the guard. Two conspirators attempt to break through the guard; one of them is captured, while the other flees into the church to carry out the plan.
Before attempting a shot, he screams out, “Elizabeth! Whore!” (Elizabeth: The Golden Age 2007). Defiant to him, the queen abandons her prayer and stands up to face the assassin, spreading her arms as if challenging him to pull the trigger. This moment of pause is vital for her guard to capture the offender.
A shot is fired as the scene ends at a suspenseful moment, leaving the audience questioning whether it was the monarch who caught the bullet. Moments after, as Sir Amias Paulet visits Mary in her confinement, he informs the Queen of Scots that an assassination attempt was made, but Elizabeth I was safe and sound. Consequently, he informs Mary that her role in the Babington plot could not be denied and that she would be executed for treason against England.
Consequences of the Plot
The Catholics involved in the plot are shown to be captured by the royal guard and tortured. Walsingham asks the Jesuit whether he is ready to die, and the Jesuit answers that he has accomplished what he was sent to do. Importantly, in their conversations, viewers learn that the gun had no bullets, but Reston does not give an explanation as to why. It may be implied that the plot was intended to put Elizabeth in a conundrum and cause a political crisis in the country.
Indeed, the queen is deeply distraught by the pressure from her advisors to order Mary, who is a queen, to be executed. Walsingham addresses the queen by saying that it must prevail. Still, Elizabeth responds that the law is written for the commoners and not for the rulers, to which her secretary replies that laws were created to guarantee the security of the English people. The anxiety that Elizabeth I experiences as a result of the assassination attempt illustrates the challenges a leader has to face when having to succumb to the demands of their people.
Importance of the Scene
The Babington plot is a pivotal point in the history of England and the reign of Elizabeth I, specifically because it set the precedent for the execution of a monarch. Mary and Elizabeth were cousins, and Mary was the second in line, which is why everyone in the queen’s court emphasized the threats that she posed. Besides, her being a Catholic was an additional subject of concern because Elizabeth was a Protestant and made attempts to convert the country entirely.
In the film, the queen is seen discussing with her advisors about the fact that half of the nation is Catholic, with them urging her to act, as the inaction of the crown could be perceived as a sign of weakness. She responds, “What would you have me do? Hang? Carve the people of England, or just imprison them? If my people break the law, they shall be punished, until that day, they shall be protected” (Elizabeth: The Golden Age, 2007). In the scene, the queen agrees that the situation is complicated and that she is not ignorant of the risks, but she will not punish her people for their beliefs, “only for their deeds.” Even though Elizabeth I tried to be as accommodating to the Catholic beliefs of the population, the plot to assassinate her was deeply rooted in the religious values of her opponents.
Conclusion
To conclude, Elizabeth: The Golden Age is not a perfect example of a movie that accurately follows historical events. After all, directors can take artistic liberties to make it entertaining and visually appealing. Although there are several essential inaccuracies, they do not detract from the plot and can be easily corrected through research. Notably, the Babington plot is presented fairly accurately, and learning more about it contributed to my general knowledge of sixteenth-century English history.
Reference
Elizabeth: The Golden Age. Directed by Shekhar Kapur.2007. Universal Pictures, 2007. DVD.