(1533 – 1603)Elizabeth I

Queen Elizabeth I , the last of the Tudor monarchs, ruled over England and Ireland from 1558 to 1603. She was the daughter of Henry VIII by his second wife, Anne Boleyn.

Henry VIII married Anne in 1533. However, three years later his feelings towards her cooled. He charged her with adultery and had her executed. Princess Elizabeth was sent away from court.

Elizabeth spent the most part of her childhood away from the court. She had a special liking for learning and received an excellent classical education. She could read Latin and Greek and spoke French and Italian fluently.

There was great popular rejoicing when Elizabeth became queen upon Mary’s death in 1558. Known by her people as Good Queen Beth, Elizabeth I was an intelligent, courageous and determined woman.

Elizabeth I had a very wise and careful minister, Sir William Cecil, who served her until his death in 1598. Although Elizabeth was vain and capricious, her monarchial duties were always her primary concern.

Under Elizabeth England became a great sea power. English sailors Francis Drake, John Hawkins, Walter Raleigh made daring raids on Spanish ships. Francis Drake was the first Englishman who sailed round the world.

In May 1588 the Spanish Armada set sail to conquer England. When The country seemed to be in grave danger, Elizabeth went down personally to speak to the crews of the ships that were going to do battle with the Armada. “I know I am a weak and feeble woman, but I have the heart and stomach of a king – and a King of England, too!”

The defeat of the Armada was a great victory for the English. It saved the country from a Spanish Catholic conquest.

During Elizabeth’s reign England grew more important in the world . The English felt great pride in their country, their navy and their courageous queen. The poets of her age gave Elizabeth majestic names like “Gloriana” or “the Sun of England”.

The Elizabethan age was one of the greatest periods of English literature.Christopher Marlowe and William Shakespeare created their great works under Elizabeth.

In the last years of her reign Queen Elizabeth faced many acute social problems. Parliament was not always at one with the queen. By spring 1603 the queen seemed to have lost her will to live. She died in London on the 23rd of March, 1603, having named James VI of Scotland as her successor…