Elizabeth I

**Elizabeth I** (7 September 1533 – 24 March 1603) be Queen of England den Ireland from 17 November 1558 til ein death insyd 1603. She be de last den longest reigning monarch of de House of Tudor. Ein eventful reign, den ein effect on history den culture, give name to de Elizabethan era.

Elizabeth be de only surviving kiddie of Henry VIII den ein second wifey, Anne Boleyn. Wen Elizabeth dey two years old, ein parents dema marriage be annulled, dem execute ein mommie, wey dem declare Elizabeth illegitimate. Henry restore am to de line of succession wen she dey 10. After Henry ein death insyd 1547, Elizabeth ein younger half-bro Edward VI rule til ein own death insyd 1553, bequeathing de crown to a Protestant cousin, Lady Jane Grey, den dey ignore de claims of ein two half-sisters, Mary den Elizabeth, despite statutes to de contrary. Edward ein will quickly be set aside den de Catholic Mary cam be queen, deposing Jane. During Mary ein reign, dem imprison Elizabeth for nearly a year on suspicion of supporting Protestant rebels.

Upon Mary ein death insyd 1558, Elizabeth succeed to de throne den set out to rule by good counsel. She depend heavily on a group of trusted advisers wey William Cecil lead, whom she create Baron Burghley. One of ein first actions as queen be de establishment of an English church, of wich she cam be de supreme governor. Dis arrangement, dem later name de Elizabethan Religious Settlement, go evolve into de Church of England. E be expected say Elizabeth go marry den produce an heir; however, despite numerous courtships, she never do. Secof dis she sam times be referred to as de "Virgin Queen". She be succeeded by ein first cousin dem twice remove, James VI of Scotland.

Insyd government, Elizabeth be more moderate dan ein poppie den ein siblings be. One of ein mottoes be  ('I see and keep silent'). Insyd religion, she relatively be tolerant wey she avoid systematic persecution. After de pope declare am illegitimate insyd 1570, wich in theory dem release English Catholics from allegiance to am, several conspiracies threaten ein life, all of wich be defeated plus de help of ein ministers dema secret service, run by Francis Walsingham. Elizabeth be cautious insyd foreign affairs, dey manoeuvr between de major powers of France den Spain. She half-heartedly support a number of ineffective, poorly resourced military campaigns insyd de Netherlands, France, den Ireland. By de mid-1580s, England no longer fi avoid war plus Spain.

As she grow older, Elizabeth cam be celebrated for ein virginity. A cult of personality grow around am wich be celebrated insyd de portraits, pageants, den literature of de day. De Elizabethan era be famous for de flourishing of English drama, wey playwrights such as William Shakespeare den Christopher Marlowe lead, de prowess of English maritime adventurers, such as Francis Drake den Walter Raleigh, den for de defeat of de Spanish Armada. Sam historians depict Elizabeth as a short-tempered, sam times indecisive ruler wey enjoy more dan ein fair share of luck. Towards de end of ein reign, a series of economic den military problems weaken ein popularity. Elizabeth be acknowledged as a charismatic performer den a dogged survivor insyd an era wen government be ramshackle den limited, den wen monarchs insyd neighbouring countries face internal problems den religious civil wars wey jeopardise dema thrones. After de short, disastrous reigns of ein half-siblings, ein 44 years on de throne provide welcome stability give de kingdom wey e help to forge a sense of national identity.

## References


## External links

* Elizabeth I at the official website of the British monarchy
* Elizabeth I at the official website of the Royal Collection Trust