Elizabeth I

About

Elizabeth I, born on September 7, 1533, at the Palace of Placentia in Greenwich, England, was the daughter of King Henry VIII and his second wife, Anne Boleyn. She ascended to the throne in 1558 following the death of her half-sister, Mary I. Elizabeth's reign, which lasted until her death on March 24, 1603, is often referred to as the Elizabethan era or England's Golden Age. This period was marked by significant cultural, economic, and political advancements. Elizabeth encouraged the arts, fostering the works of William Shakespeare and Christopher Marlowe, and supported scientific exploration under figures like Sir Francis Drake and Sir Walter Raleigh. Elizabeth's leadership was characterized by her strategic diplomacy and religious tolerance. She established the Church of England, with herself as its Supreme Governor, through the Act of Supremacy in 1559. Her reign saw the defeat of the Spanish Armada in 1588, solidifying England's naval power. Known as the "Virgin Queen," Elizabeth never married, a decision that had both personal and political implications. Her legacy includes a flourishing economy, enhanced by the wool trade and agricultural growth, and a stable political environment that allowed England to flourish. Elizabeth was buried in Westminster Abbey on April 28, 1603, following a grand funeral procession. Her reign remains one of the most celebrated in English history.