Elizabeth I

Queen of England
(1533 – 1603)

“I have already joined myself in marriage to a husband namely the kingdom of England.”
Elizabeth I was born on September 7, 1533 at Greenwich Palace, London,
England, an estate of her Father, King Henry VIII. Elizabeth's mother was Henry's
second wife, Anne Boleyn. Elizabeth became Queen of England in 1558 and reigned
until her death in 1603. Her reign is often called the Golden Age of England because
it was a time of great achievement and prosperity.

Elizabeth never married. She entertained both Protestant and Catholic suitors
while committing to no one. She used her single status as a policy tool. By
entertaining Catholic suitors she kept hostile Catholic monarchs at bay, and English
Catholics loyal to her government. At one point it appeared she was interested in
one of her subjects, Sir Robert Dudley, Earl of Leicester. She avoided entering a
marriage with Sir Robert because the match lacked any political benefits.

Elizabeth succeeded in furthering England's interests in the face of foreign

threats and religious unrest at home. Highlights of her reign include making the
Church of England (a Protestant denomination) the state religion, while avoiding
war with the powerful Roman Catholic nations of Europe; the English navy
defeated of the Spanish Armada; English merchant ships challenged Spanish
preeminence on the high seas; the first settlers were sent to America to open the
way for a great colonial empire, and England's economy flourished. The English
court became a center for writers, musicians, and scholars. English literature
thrived during this period, with Francis Bacon composing his Essays, and William
Shakespeare writing his great works of drama and poetry.

Problems at home marked the end of Elizabeth's reign. The Irish rebelled and
Robert Devereux, Earl of Essex led a rebellion against the government.

On March 23, 1603, Elizabeth died. When she came to power England was an
insignificant country. When she died it was a major European power. Elizabeth was
the last legitimate descendant of Henry VIII. She was succeeded by James I, son of
Mary Queen of Scots and her second husband, Elizabeth's cousin Lord Darnley.