Facts on Queen Elizabeth the First

Queen Elizabeth the First ascended the throne of England on November 17, 1558, and ruled until her death in 1603. Also referred to as the Virgin Queen, the Good Queen Bess, the Faerie Queen, and Gloriana, she was the 5th and the last ruler belonging to the Tudor dynasty. Queen Elizabeth I, in fact, was the daughter of the notorious Henry VIII, while her mother was Anne Boleyn, his second wife. Anne Boleyn, who was accused on trumped up charges of adultery as well as incest, was famously one of the wives that was beheaded, at Henry VIII’s behest, at the Tower of London, when Elizabeth was just three years old. Given below are some fascinating facts on Queen Elizabeth I.

Once her mother was executed, and Edward, her half-brother was born, the chances of Elizabeth’s succession to the throne became very small, since she was henceforth declared as illegitimate.

At that time, Elizabeth was third in line to the throne, the first being Edward, and the second, Mary Tudor, her half sister, the daughter of Jane Seymour, the third wife of Henry VIII.

When Henry VIII died, Edward, who was just 10 years of age, became king as Edward VI. Both Edward and Elizabeth were brought up in the Protestant faith, whereas Mary Tudor, their half sister, grew up as a Roman Catholic.

Mary succeeded to the throne in 1553 on the death of Edward, and immediately made Catholicism the religion of the state. She had Elizabeth imprisoned in the Tower of London for two months, suspecting her of hatching a plot with the Protestants to take over the throne.

As a matter of fact, Roman Catholics always regarded her as illegitimate, and Elizabeth narrowly escaped from being executed after the rebellion against Queen Mary had failed in 1554.

However, when Queen Mary died in 1558, Elizabeth finally did manage to ascend to the throne of England. Not only was she well educated, but she had also inherited the shrewdness, determination, and intelligence of both her parents.

The 45 years of her rule is generally regarded as the most glorious in the history of England, during which saw the establishment of a secure Church of England, with its doctrines being instituted in the 39 Articles created in 1563, which was a compromise made between Protestantism and Roman Catholicism.

This compromise was accepted by most of her subjects, and it is thought that this settlement probably prevented England from experiencing the religious wars that beset France in the latter part of the 16th century.

Despite being capricious and autocratic, Queen Elizabeth the First was blessed with shrewd political savvy, which led to her choosing her ministers wisely, such as: Walsingham, who was head of the intelligence as well as a Secretary of State; Hatton, who was the Lord Chancellor; and Burghley, the Secretary of State.

When Queen Elizabeth I succeeded to the throne, England was in dire straits, with it being divided by religious strife and weakened by war, plus the treasury was also empty. Both the powerful countries France and Spain wanted to take over the rule of England. Therefore, the people of England hoped that their new queen would marry somebody strong who could give her guidance.

However, Elizabeth immediately seized the governing of her country, and although there were several suitors, and she had many men as close friends, she was steadfast in her resolve not to marry, thus getting the name ‘Virgin Queen’.

Elizabeth gave her country a period of peace, which led to prosperity. She reconciled the hostilities that England had with other countries, going to war only in self-defense.

It was during Queen Elizabeth the First’s reign that a national identity was created for England. Hence, from a small and insignificant country, England became a world power. England also became a major cultural hub during her reign, while also becoming a country of greater harmony and tolerance.

Under the leadership of Queen Elizabeth I, England also extended its exploration and trade. In fact, the final years of her rule is still referred to as the Golden Age of England. The coasts of North and South America were first explored during her reign, with the first colonies being set up in the so-called New World. The State of Virginia, in fact, was named after her, as the ‘Virgin Queen’, which was founded by Sir Walter Raleigh, one of Elizabeth I’s favorite courtiers.

The writers, poets, musicians, and scholars who flourished during Queen Elizabeth the First’s reign are too many to enumerate, however some of the most famous writers are: Edmund Spencer, the poet; Christopher Marlowe, who authored Doctor Faustus; Ben Jonson, the dramatist; Francis Bacon, the essayist; and, of course, the writer regarded as the greatest poet and playwright in the English language, William Shakespeare.

Even today, the mention of the ‘Elizabethan Age’ still is evocative of the highest artistic and intellectual achievements and creative genius.