Let’s not forget that it was during her reign that the French tried to kill all the Huguenots (what French Protestants were called) in France. Thousands were murdered in Paris, without warning, in one night.
There was more than enough savagery between Protestants and Catholics to go around during that time.
“There was more than enough savagery between Protestants and Catholics to go around during that time.”
Yes, context is everything. The Catholic church had problems of its own, not least of which was an accellerating loss of its monopoly on knowledge - thanks to Gutenberg’s invention. The Inquisition (no one expects the Spanish Inquisition!) was largely a product of the power struggles of the time.
That said, it was a great movie - we saw it last night. The reviewer just has a burr under his saddle.
Elizabeth (reinged 1558-1603) executed fewer Catholics in her 45 years on the throne than the Catholic Mary I (reigned 1553-1558) executed Protestants during her brief 5 years. Mary was so ruthless in burning large numbers of Protestants at the stake that the English turned against her, making it a certainty that a Protestent would follow her on the throne.
Movies are not a good way to learn about history. They are not documentaries. Their value is in giving the viewer a dramatic experience. They should be judged on artistic merit.