本論文探討英格蘭第一位女王瑪麗一世(r. 1553-1558)與其後的伊莉莎白一世(r. 1558-1603)在位期間，如何透過制度、儀式、和政治語言，塑造女性統治的合法性與正當性。兩位女王當時在政治權力上均面臨雙重的挑戰：一是王位繼承權受到質疑；二是社會對女性擔任統治者所存有的不確定感與不安感。本論文的中心即在回答兩位女王本身如何回應以上兩個挑戰，並比較兩人的解決之道。從瑪麗女王的作為可以發現，她選擇以確認身分的合法性為主軸，再藉由婚姻建立「聯合統治」的模式，並由此在制度上確立了女王王權的內涵與權限。她在制度上的成就為此後英格蘭的女性統治奠立憲政基礎，然而她本人統治期間，未能致力於建立良好的統治形象，無法有效降低人民對女性統治的憂慮。繼位的伊莉莎白女王則忽略繼承權問題，選擇透過公開的儀式與演說，將自己的正當性建立在「上帝的恩寵」與「人民的愛」之上，從軟性的語言操作爭取人民的支持，亦以此減消社會對女性統治者的排拒。

This is a study about the establishment of female rule during the reigns of the first two English queens, Mary I (r. 1553-1558) and Elizabeth I (r. 1558-1603). It focuses on the queens’ own efforts in institution-building, rituals, and political language, and attempts to compare the two queens’ performances. Both Mary and Elizabeth confronted two difficulties in their female rule: first, disputes over their right to the English throne; second, popular distrust of female rule in a traditional patriarchal society. However, these two queens developed different ways to build their legitimacy and political image. Queen Mary paid most attention to confirming her hereditary right as a legitimate heir to the English throne, and to establishing the form of ‘joint rule’ through her marriage with the Prince of Spain. In contrast, Queen Elizabeth took her hereditary right for granted and displayed less and less concern about it as her reign progressed. She tactfully defined her power through two other sources: God’s favor and her subjects’ love. She thus justified and sustained her royal authority with a more profound and pervasive argument than Mary could, appealing to both divine and popular approval.

十六世紀英格蘭；女性統治；瑪麗一世；伊莉莎白一世；進城禮；形象塑造

sixteenth-century England; gynecocracy; Mary I; Elizabeth I; royal entry; image-making