Elizabeth I – Cult of Personality and the Golden Age
This immersive KS4 History lesson explores how Elizabeth I carefully crafted her image to maintain power, inspire loyalty, and contribute to the idea of a Tudor “Golden Age.” Students investigate the concept of a cult of personality, analysing how portraits, propaganda, and censorship helped shape public perception of the Queen.
Through differentiated Bronze/Silver/Gold activities, pupils will:
Learn the symbolic meaning of key features in famous portraits such as the Rainbow Portrait and Armada Portrait.
Compare the Queen’s idealised public image with historical evidence of her real appearance.
Consider why portraits were so important in an age before mass media.
Link Elizabeth’s propaganda to her wider political successes and the stability of her reign.
By the end, students will understand how Elizabeth’s public image reinforced her authority, united her subjects, and became a key feature of her enduring legacy. This lesson builds exam skills through source analysis, provenance study, and structured 8-mark question practice.
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