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| Portrait by unknown artist (c. 1600) |
Birth name: Elizabeth Tudor of Greenwich
Born: 07 September 1533, Greenwich, Middlesex, Kingdom of England
Father: King Henry VIII of England and Ireland
Mother: Anne Boleyn
House: Tudor
Nationality: English
Religion: Protestantism
Claim: Child of Henry VIII
Reign: 17 November 1558 - 24 March 1603 (44 years)
Coronation: 15 January 1559
Predecessor: Mary I
Successor: N/A
Contender: Mary
Died: 24 March 1603 (aged 69), Richmond, Surrey, Kingdom of England
Cause: Blood poisoning
Burial: Westminster Abbey
Motto: Always the same
Spouse(s):
- N/A
Children:
- N/A
Appearance:
Elizabeth is described as having been quite tall, with red or auburn coloured hair. Her eyes may have been a dark brown. She had a pale complexion, which she made paler with heavy make-up. In her youth, she was often described as beautiful, and also had thin lips, a high forehead, and a slightly hooked nose.
Elizabeth is described as having been quite tall, with red or auburn coloured hair. Her eyes may have been a dark brown. She had a pale complexion, which she made paler with heavy make-up. In her youth, she was often described as beautiful, and also had thin lips, a high forehead, and a slightly hooked nose.
As she aged, her skin became covered in smallpox scars, to which she would wear even more heavy make-up to cover them up. Later in life, she also lost her hair and resorted to wearing bright red wigs, and her teeth began to rot and turn black before eventually falling out.
She was also rendered disabled by an ulcer in her leg during her final years.
Character:
Character:
Notorious for her incredible intelligence and quick thinking, Elizabeth could speak multiple languages, including Dutch, French, Spanish, Italian, Latin, Welsh, Cornish, Scottish, Irish, and Greek.
However, she was also quite manipulative, knowing how to use her gender and charm to her advantage. Elizabeth could also be quite vain and obsessed about what other people thought of her, only ever liking one of her official portraits that were created in her lifetime.
She had an interest in fashion, and was always determined to look her best and as regal as possible. She also enjoyed music and the arts.
She was also notorious for her bad temper, and could act quite spoiled when she didn't get her own way. As a result, she could be prone to jealousy, and may have been responsible for the death of the wife of one of her male favourites. She was also a master of propaganda, never marrying, declaring she was married to her country, and was a patron of arts that were very flattering of the Tudor dynasty.
Elizabeth also had a bad fear of dentists.
In the later years of her life, it's believed she may have suffered from clinical depression.
Biography:
Elizabeth was born slightly premature in 1533 in Greenwich, England, and would be the only surviving child of King Henry VIII of England, and his second wife, Anne Boleyn. Elizabeth already had an older half-brother and half-sister from her father's previous relationships. She was named Elizabeth in honour of both her paternal and maternal grandmothers. Due to her elder sister, Mary, being declared illegitimate, and the illegitimacy - and later death - of her brother, Henry FitzRoy, Elizabeth was next in line for the throne of England upon her birth. Her birth was a slight disappointment to her parents, as she had been predicted to be a boy, but her arrival did prove to her father that both he and Anne were capable of producing healthy offspring together.
When Elizabeth was just 2 years old in 1536, her mother, Anne, was arrested and executed on charges of treason. Her parents' marriage was annulled, and Elizabeth was thus declared illegitimate and lost her title of princess. Her father then practically disowned her. Though her older sister, Mary, had initially hated her, the two of them grew quite close, appearing to have a mutual understanding of having their mothers cast aside and abandoned by their father. Luckily, their father's third wife, Jane Seymour, was a very kind and caring step-mother, and she helped to mend the relationship between Henry and his two daughters.
Elizabeth would receive an excellent education, and displayed a great deal of intelligence from an early age. Growing up, she would witness the failure of many of her father's marriages, but would become quite close with his sixth and final wife, Katherine Parr. Katherine encouraged the Protestant upbringing of Elizabeth, and was often placed in the care of her governess, Katherine Bryan, alongside her younger brother, Edward. Her father was often impressed by her intelligence, and thoroughly encouraged her educational and scholarly endeavours.
Biography:
Elizabeth was born slightly premature in 1533 in Greenwich, England, and would be the only surviving child of King Henry VIII of England, and his second wife, Anne Boleyn. Elizabeth already had an older half-brother and half-sister from her father's previous relationships. She was named Elizabeth in honour of both her paternal and maternal grandmothers. Due to her elder sister, Mary, being declared illegitimate, and the illegitimacy - and later death - of her brother, Henry FitzRoy, Elizabeth was next in line for the throne of England upon her birth. Her birth was a slight disappointment to her parents, as she had been predicted to be a boy, but her arrival did prove to her father that both he and Anne were capable of producing healthy offspring together.
When Elizabeth was just 2 years old in 1536, her mother, Anne, was arrested and executed on charges of treason. Her parents' marriage was annulled, and Elizabeth was thus declared illegitimate and lost her title of princess. Her father then practically disowned her. Though her older sister, Mary, had initially hated her, the two of them grew quite close, appearing to have a mutual understanding of having their mothers cast aside and abandoned by their father. Luckily, their father's third wife, Jane Seymour, was a very kind and caring step-mother, and she helped to mend the relationship between Henry and his two daughters.
Elizabeth would receive an excellent education, and displayed a great deal of intelligence from an early age. Growing up, she would witness the failure of many of her father's marriages, but would become quite close with his sixth and final wife, Katherine Parr. Katherine encouraged the Protestant upbringing of Elizabeth, and was often placed in the care of her governess, Katherine Bryan, alongside her younger brother, Edward. Her father was often impressed by her intelligence, and thoroughly encouraged her educational and scholarly endeavours.
Originally barred from the line of succession due to the annulment of her parents' marriage, Elizabeth was eventually restored to the succession with the encouragement of Katherine Parr. Should Edward and Mary fail to produce children, Elizabeth now had a chance at becoming queen.
In 1547, when Elizabeth was just 12 years old, her father, Henry VIII died. Her younger brother then became King Edward VI of England, aged just 9 years old. Katherine Parr assumed custody over Elizabeth, alongside her cousin, Jane Grey.
In 1547, when Elizabeth was just 12 years old, her father, Henry VIII died. Her younger brother then became King Edward VI of England, aged just 9 years old. Katherine Parr assumed custody over Elizabeth, alongside her cousin, Jane Grey.
Meanwhile, Katherine Parr re-married Edward's uncle, Thomas Seymour, a man who would come to have a huge impact on Elizabeth's life. From the beginning of his marriage, Seymour was clearly infatuated with the 13 year old Elizabeth, and began to abuse her, emotionally, and, in all likelihood, sexually. Katherine Parr would sometimes join in on the abuse, helping to pin Elizabeth down while Seymour tore apart one of her favourite dresses in front of her.
Many believed that Seymour was plotting to marry Elizabeth to secure a better position of power for himself. Once Katherine Parr began to notice Seymour and Elizabeth sharing intimate embraces, she sent Elizabeth away, only to die in childbirth not long after. This further spurred Seymour on in his plot to marry Elizabeth. However, he would soon be arrested for plotting against his brother, the Lord Protector of the realm, and Elizabeth was almost implicated in the plot, but she refused to speak about anything that had happened between them. Seymour would then be executed in 1549.
Elizabeth then enjoyed relative peace during the rest of her brother's reign, especially due to her agreeing with his religious views. She mainly kept away from court life, and focused on her studies.
Many believed that Seymour was plotting to marry Elizabeth to secure a better position of power for himself. Once Katherine Parr began to notice Seymour and Elizabeth sharing intimate embraces, she sent Elizabeth away, only to die in childbirth not long after. This further spurred Seymour on in his plot to marry Elizabeth. However, he would soon be arrested for plotting against his brother, the Lord Protector of the realm, and Elizabeth was almost implicated in the plot, but she refused to speak about anything that had happened between them. Seymour would then be executed in 1549.
Elizabeth then enjoyed relative peace during the rest of her brother's reign, especially due to her agreeing with his religious views. She mainly kept away from court life, and focused on her studies.
However, Edward would die in 1553, aged just 15, and upon realising his end was near, he disregarded his father's will for his sisters to succeed him, and instead appointed their Protestant cousin, Jane Grey, as his heir. Edward wanted to avoid Mary restoring Catholicism to England, and in order to disinherit her, he cited the annulment of her parents' marriage. Elizabeth, as a Protestant, would have been a better candidate as his heir, but due to her parents' marriage also being annulled, Edward bypassed her on the same grounds as Mary to avoid being labelled a hypocrite.
Thus, Jane was declared the new monarch of England upon his death, leading to rebellion from Mary and the majority of the English population. Elizabeth would side with her sister and support her claim to the throne, despite their differences in religion. Jane's support quickly vanished, and Mary was declared Queen Mary I of England. Jane, along with her husband and other supporters, were then arrested, before being executed a year later.
The friendly and close relationship between Mary and Elizabeth would not last long as Mary focused on converting England back to Catholicism. Elizabeth was forced to pretend to be Catholic in order to avoid possible imprisonment and execution. Elizabeth made excuses as to why she couldn't attend mass, and Mary would grow increasingly frustrated with her. Mary's reign also quickly became unpopular, especially after she married King Philip II of Spain, which placed England under heavy Spanish influence, and many people in England began to look to Elizabeth as a beacon for rebellion.
Rebellion did eventually break out, and Elizabeth was then arrested on suspicion of treason, though she fiercely protested her innocence. She was imprisoned in the Tower of London, and many of Mary's closest advisors supported the idea of sentencing Elizabeth to death in order to maintain the safety of her reign. Due to a lack of evidence, and likely due to sympathy towards her sister, and respect of her father's will, Mary instead placed her sister under house arrest for the majority of her reign.
In 1555, Mary experienced a phantom pregnancy, and Elizabeth was released from house arrest in order to witness the birth. However, nothing ever happened, and Mary would grow increasingly ill, likely as a result of cancer. Philip immediately began plotting to marry Elizabeth upon the death of Mary, especially as her end was clearly near.
The friendly and close relationship between Mary and Elizabeth would not last long as Mary focused on converting England back to Catholicism. Elizabeth was forced to pretend to be Catholic in order to avoid possible imprisonment and execution. Elizabeth made excuses as to why she couldn't attend mass, and Mary would grow increasingly frustrated with her. Mary's reign also quickly became unpopular, especially after she married King Philip II of Spain, which placed England under heavy Spanish influence, and many people in England began to look to Elizabeth as a beacon for rebellion.
Rebellion did eventually break out, and Elizabeth was then arrested on suspicion of treason, though she fiercely protested her innocence. She was imprisoned in the Tower of London, and many of Mary's closest advisors supported the idea of sentencing Elizabeth to death in order to maintain the safety of her reign. Due to a lack of evidence, and likely due to sympathy towards her sister, and respect of her father's will, Mary instead placed her sister under house arrest for the majority of her reign.
In 1555, Mary experienced a phantom pregnancy, and Elizabeth was released from house arrest in order to witness the birth. However, nothing ever happened, and Mary would grow increasingly ill, likely as a result of cancer. Philip immediately began plotting to marry Elizabeth upon the death of Mary, especially as her end was clearly near.
Finally, in 1558, Mary recognised Elizabeth as her heir, and pleaded with her to reign as a Catholic monarch, before passing away. Elizabeth then became Queen Elizabeth I of England at the age of 25.
Her coronation was met with huge celebrations and she was immediately popular, especially with the Protestant population Mary had suppressed during her reign. Unlike her siblings, Elizabeth managed to come to a relative religious compromise. While maintaining Protestantism as the official religion of England, she also hoped not to offend Catholics too much, and allowed them to live in peace for the most part, so long as they remained loyal to her.
The question of marriage also soon became an issue, especially since Mary's marriage to Philip of Spain had been so unpopular. Marrying a foreigner would risk giving said foreign country too much influence in England, and marrying an Englishman could lead to accusations of favouritism towards one particular English family. Philip of Spain still hoped to marry Elizabeth in order to maintain control over England, but she refused him.
Her coronation was met with huge celebrations and she was immediately popular, especially with the Protestant population Mary had suppressed during her reign. Unlike her siblings, Elizabeth managed to come to a relative religious compromise. While maintaining Protestantism as the official religion of England, she also hoped not to offend Catholics too much, and allowed them to live in peace for the most part, so long as they remained loyal to her.
The question of marriage also soon became an issue, especially since Mary's marriage to Philip of Spain had been so unpopular. Marrying a foreigner would risk giving said foreign country too much influence in England, and marrying an Englishman could lead to accusations of favouritism towards one particular English family. Philip of Spain still hoped to marry Elizabeth in order to maintain control over England, but she refused him.
All this time, Elizabeth remained in love with her childhood sweetheart, Robert Dudley, and serious consideration was put towards her marrying him, despite the fact that he was already married. However, due to the threat of rebellion should the marriage go ahead, Elizabeth was never able to carry out this plan. However, she would remain in love with him for a long time, and was very jealous over his wife and anybody else he gave attention to.
Other marriage candidates continued to be considered, but Elizabeth would never show any serious interest in any of them. Eventually, Elizabeth insisted that she would remain a virgin, and that she was married to her kingdom. Despite never marrying, Elizabeth would continue to have male favourites in court. It was even rumoured that she had ordered the death of Robert Dudley's wife, after she was found deceased at the bottom of a staircase.
Elizabeth's relationship with her first-cousin-once-removed, Queen Mary I of Scotland, would grow incredibly tense throughout their respective reigns. Plots were made by Catholics to depose Elizabeth and place Mary on the throne of England instead, which ultimately ended up in the arrest of Mary in 1567, after she was forced to abdicate and flee from Scotland. Mary turned to Elizabeth for help and support, but would find herself imprisoned in England for 19 years, where Elizabeth would continue to keep an eye on her. After another plot was uncovered, Elizabeth had Mary executed in 1587. The execution would be botched, much to the horror of her court, and Elizabeth would continue to insist that she was either forced to sign her cousin's death warrant, or that she had never signed it at all.
During her reign, her popularity enjoyed one final resurgence after the initial defeat of the Spanish Armada. King Philip II of Spain had plotted to invade England with the help of Catholic allies, however, bad weather and the English navy were able to hold them back. This was viewed as proof that God was on Elizabeth's side, and was viewed as a great victory for Protestantism.
Elizabeth's relationship with her first-cousin-once-removed, Queen Mary I of Scotland, would grow incredibly tense throughout their respective reigns. Plots were made by Catholics to depose Elizabeth and place Mary on the throne of England instead, which ultimately ended up in the arrest of Mary in 1567, after she was forced to abdicate and flee from Scotland. Mary turned to Elizabeth for help and support, but would find herself imprisoned in England for 19 years, where Elizabeth would continue to keep an eye on her. After another plot was uncovered, Elizabeth had Mary executed in 1587. The execution would be botched, much to the horror of her court, and Elizabeth would continue to insist that she was either forced to sign her cousin's death warrant, or that she had never signed it at all.
During her reign, her popularity enjoyed one final resurgence after the initial defeat of the Spanish Armada. King Philip II of Spain had plotted to invade England with the help of Catholic allies, however, bad weather and the English navy were able to hold them back. This was viewed as proof that God was on Elizabeth's side, and was viewed as a great victory for Protestantism.
Furthermore, exploration of the world by English explorers oversaw the seizure of land in the Americas, which the English government was quick to exploit. The latter part of her reign began to present England as a global power on the world stage, despite its previous political and religious isolation.
As she aged, her health began to grow continuously worse. She had always been self-conscious about her appearance, and this was made even worse when she contracted smallpox in 1562, which left her skin covered in scars. To hide these, Elizabeth would wear heavy make-up which was made of lead, and this would further poison her over the years. She lost her hair and teeth, and people began to find it hard to understand her speech. Court life became tense as people became more and more intimidated by her temper.
As she aged, her health began to grow continuously worse. She had always been self-conscious about her appearance, and this was made even worse when she contracted smallpox in 1562, which left her skin covered in scars. To hide these, Elizabeth would wear heavy make-up which was made of lead, and this would further poison her over the years. She lost her hair and teeth, and people began to find it hard to understand her speech. Court life became tense as people became more and more intimidated by her temper.
Her closest friends and advisors began to pass away, and Elizabeth fell increasingly into a state of depression. In 1603, she fell into a catatonic state, sitting still on a cushion for hours and refusing to acknowledge anyone.
Elizabeth would then die in her sleep, likely as a result of blood poisoning or pneumonia.
Rule:
Elizabeth enjoyed relative popularity with the people of England throughout her reign, though this popularity wasn't seen on an international scale.
Rule:
Elizabeth enjoyed relative popularity with the people of England throughout her reign, though this popularity wasn't seen on an international scale.
Due to her Protestantism, it left England once again relatively isolated in global politics, especially after she was excommunicated by the Pope, meaning that anybody who co-operated with her would be viewed as a traitor and heretic. Despite her devout Protestantism, her religious policies were much more lax compared with her brother's and sister's. She was acknowledged as the Supreme Head of the Church of England, but allowed Catholics to live in relative peace so long as they remained loyal to her.
However, this did not stop Catholic plots against her. A main plot that she faced during her reign, was that of being usurped by Queen Mary I of Scotland. Catholic powers within Europe refused to acknowledge Elizabeth as the rightful heir to the throne, instead believing the throne should go to her Catholic cousin, Mary, instead. Due to Mary's unpopularity in Scotland, she was forced to abdicate, and she fled to England where Elizabeth imprisoned her for nineteen years to keep an eye on her. But she continued to be a focus of Catholic rebellion, so she was tried and killed in a botched execution. Elizabeth claimed she had nothing to do with the execution warrant, and blamed her secretary, though it's unknown how true this claim is. Even though Mary was unpopular, the gruesome execution of a fellow monarch and family member would forever stain Elizabeth's image.
Her reign would also oversee frequent conflict with the Kingdom of Spain, as Elizabeth would support rebels in the Netherlands as they fought to regain control of their territory. She would also sponsor pirates who would seize goods from Spanish ships, and begin annexing land in the New World, thus beginning what would become the British Empire. While this enriched England, it would mark the beginning of the displacement and genocide of the native population in these areas. These actions also caused war to break out between England and Spain, which resulted in several failed armada invasion attempts.
However, this did not stop Catholic plots against her. A main plot that she faced during her reign, was that of being usurped by Queen Mary I of Scotland. Catholic powers within Europe refused to acknowledge Elizabeth as the rightful heir to the throne, instead believing the throne should go to her Catholic cousin, Mary, instead. Due to Mary's unpopularity in Scotland, she was forced to abdicate, and she fled to England where Elizabeth imprisoned her for nineteen years to keep an eye on her. But she continued to be a focus of Catholic rebellion, so she was tried and killed in a botched execution. Elizabeth claimed she had nothing to do with the execution warrant, and blamed her secretary, though it's unknown how true this claim is. Even though Mary was unpopular, the gruesome execution of a fellow monarch and family member would forever stain Elizabeth's image.
Her reign would also oversee frequent conflict with the Kingdom of Spain, as Elizabeth would support rebels in the Netherlands as they fought to regain control of their territory. She would also sponsor pirates who would seize goods from Spanish ships, and begin annexing land in the New World, thus beginning what would become the British Empire. While this enriched England, it would mark the beginning of the displacement and genocide of the native population in these areas. These actions also caused war to break out between England and Spain, which resulted in several failed armada invasion attempts.
Her reign also witnessed rebellions within Ireland, the cost of which almost bankrupted England.
However, Elizabeth was able to increase trade with Muslim countries such as Morocco and the Ottoman Empire, as they shared a common enemy: Spain.
Overall, her reign is praised, and she is viewed as a Protestant hero, arguably playing a huge role in shaping English culture.
Trivia:
- Throughout her adult life, she would carry a miniature portrait of her mother, Anne Boleyn, within a ring that she wore everywhere.
- It's believed that Elizabeth may have been the first person to receive and wear a wristwatch.
Quotes:
"I am already bound unto an husband, which is the kingdom of England... for every one of you, and as many as are English, are my children and kinsfolks."
Speech to Parliament.
"I will make you shorter by the head."
Threat to anyone who stood against her.
"I know I have the body but of a weak and feeble woman; but I have the heart and stomach of a king, and of a king of England too."
Speech to her troops before the Spanish Armada invasion.
"Much suspected by me, nothing proved can be, quoth Elizabeth prisoner."
Graffiti she made on a window while imprisoned.
"This is the Lord's doing, and it is marvellous in our eyes."
Remark upon finding out she was now Queen.
"I would rather be a beggar and single than a queen and married."
Reaction to a marriage proposal.
Timeline of Reign:
| 1558: Act of Supremacy - Church of England re-established with reigning monarch at the head.
| 1559: Book of Common Prayer - Elizabeth I compromises on translations of the Bible.
| 1559: Act of Uniformity - Mass is banned in English churches.
| 1559: Continued reformation - The Protestant reformation of England is allowed to continue.
| 1562: Trans-Atlantic Slave Trade - England begins transferring slaves from Africa to America.
| 1563: Plague outbreak - 80,000 deaths from Plague in England.
| 1565: Royal Exchange founded - Establishes a centre for commerce in London.
| 1567: Queen Mary I of Scotland imprisoned - On suspicion of plotting against Elizabeth I.
| 1569: Rising of the North - Unsuccessful Catholic rebellion led by northern nobles.
| 1570: Excommunication - Elizabeth I and supporters excommunicated by the Pope.
| 1571: Catholic plot - Spain plot to invade England and replace Elizabeth I with Queen Mary.
| 1571: Treasons Act - Two witnesses now needed for charges of treason.
| 1576: First theatre opens - The first permanent theatre is built in England.
| 1580: World circumnavigated - Francis Drake successfully circles the world.
| 1584: Virginia colonised - English exploration and colonisation of eastern America begins.
| 1585: Roanoke founded - First English colony in America established only to mysteriously vanish.
| 1585: Supporting The Netherlands - England supports Protestant rebels in the Netherlands.
| 1585: Anglo-Spanish War - War between England and Spain begins.
| 1586: Treaty of Berwick - Peace treaty between England and Scotland.
| 1587: Queen Mary I of Scotland executed - Elizabeth I orders execution on charges of treason.
| 1588: Spanish Armada - Attempted Spanish invasion defeated.
| 1589: English Armada - Counter forces defeated by the Spanish.
| 1591: Invention of the flushing toilet - By Sir John Harrington.
| 1592: Quarantine - Outbreak of plague closes theatres for over a year.
| 1595: Failed Caribbean settlement - England fails to colonise the Caribbean.
| 1597: Romeo and Juliet is written - William Shakespeare publishes famous play.
| 1597: Poor Laws - First Poor Laws established.
| 1599: Globe Theatre founded - The Globe Theatre officially opens in London.
| 1600: Asian expansion begins - Elizabeth I grants charters for expansion of East Indian Company.
| 1601: Spanish Armada - Spanish and Irish invasion attempt defeated by England.
| 1602: Indonesian trade begins - British East India Company establishes trade port in Bantham.
Sources & Further Reading:
Borman, T. (2022). Why was Queen Elizabeth I so important? English Heritage. https://www.english-heritage.org.uk/visit/inspire-me/blog/articles/why-was-queen-elizabeth-i-so-important/
Elizabeth I Rainbow Portrait3.jpg - Wikimedia Commons. (2021). Wikimedia.org. https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Elizabeth_I_Rainbow_Portrait3.jpg
Elizabeth I, the Last Tudor. (2024). Historic Royal Palaces. https://www.hrp.org.uk/hampton-court-palace/history-and-stories/elizabeth-i/
Elizabeth I of England Timeline. (n.d.). Www.Worldhistory.Org. https://www.worldhistory.org/timeline/Elizabeth_I_of_England/
Elizabeth I | Westminster Abbey. (2013). Westminster Abbey. https://www.westminster-abbey.org/abbey-commemorations/royals/elizabeth-i
Johnson, B. (2017). Queen Elizabeth I of England. Historic UK. https://www.historic-uk.com/HistoryUK/HistoryofEngland/Queen-Elizabeth-I/
Morrill, J. S., & Greenblatt, S. J. (2018). Elizabeth I | Biography, Facts, Mother, & Death. In Encyclopedia Britannica. https://www.britannica.com/biography/Elizabeth-I
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