Republican Rhetoric and Female Rule in 16th-Century England

Abstract

In the 16th century, England witnessed the rise of scope and popularity of republican terms, metaphors and concepts borrowed from classical (mostly Roman) texts. The article presents a study of the 16th-century English political pamphlets and their references to republican concepts and metaphors. The pamphleteers used the works by Cicero and Sallust to support their concept of good counsel/councillor, and in more radical versions — theories of elected monarchy and the rule of council during an interregnum. It is shown that the popularity of republican rhetoric was linked to the view of female rule as prone to weak tyranny (being susceptible to bad advice). The duty of queens to listen to good advice was thought to legitimize their rule, but it also limited (in theory) the power of female rulers. Councillors saw themselves as co-rulers, senators, ready to govern in times of a dynastic crisis. The author concludes that republican rhetoric was shared by all confessional groups, not only Protestants, and constituted a part of universal secular political language.