Elizabeth I was born, September 7 1533.

Elizabeth I (7 September 1533 – 24 March 1603) was Queen of England and Ireland from 17 November 1558 until her death in 1603. She was the last monarch of the House of Tudor and is known as the "Virgin Queen".

Early Life & Rise to Power

Born on September 7, 1533, Elizabeth was the daughter of King Henry VIII and his second wife, Anne Boleyn. However, her birth was a source of disappointment for her parents, who had anticipated a male heir. Before Elizabeth turned three, her mother was executed under the charges of adultery and treason. As the union between her parents was deemed invalid, Elizabeth was declared illegitimate and excluded from the line of succession.

Following Henry VIII's death in 1547, his only son Edward ascended to the throne and Elizabeth found herself under the care of Henry's widow, Catherine Parr. When Parr became pregnant in 1548, Elizabeth was sent to establish her own household, as her stepfather, Thomas Seymour, was embroiled in allegations of attempting to inappropriately engage her. After Parr's passing in 1548, Seymour's ambitions led to plots involving Elizabeth, until he was eventually executed for treason, and she faced a period of investigation.

In 1533, Edward VI passed away and Elizabeth’s sister, Mary, ascended to the throne. However, Elizabeth's standing with her Catholic sister diminished, possibly due to English Protestants viewing her as an alternative to Mary's religious stance. Mary's marriage to Philip II of Spain and the subsequent rebellion led by Thomas Wyatt, who accused Elizabeth of involvement, resulted in her imprisonment in the Tower of London. Eventually, due to lack of evidence, Elizabeth was released. Upon Mary's passing on November 17, 1558, Elizabeth became queen and her ascent was met with warmth from many in England who hoped for increased religious tolerance.

Elizabeth's Reign

During Elizabeth's 45-year reign, England experienced a profound shift from Mary's Catholicism back to the policies established by Henry VIII. This transformation reinstated the monarch's role as the head of the English church. Notably, one of the Queen’s early triumphs was the establishment of the Elizabethan Settlement, which struck a balance between Protestant and Catholic traditions and initiated a gradual reform that ultimately gave rise to the Church of England.

Elizabeth's adoption of Protestantism earned her papal condemnation, with permission granted for her subjects to oppose her. Moreover, Mary, Queen of Scots, posed a challenge due to her Catholic lineage. Since Mary was seen as an alternative to Elizabeth's rule, she was subject to plots against her life. Thus, Mary sought refuge in England and asked Elizabeth for help. Instead, Elizabeth kept her confined for nearly two decades to avoid Mary threatening her rule. Eventually, she authorized Mary's execution after evidence emerged linking her to assassination plots.

Under Elizabeth's guidance, England embarked on the Elizabethan Age, a period of exploration and colonization that brought England's rise to global prominence through exploration and economic growth. Another key aspect of Elizabeth's foreign policy involved forming strategic alliances with nations like France and the Netherlands against the dominant power of the time, Spain. In this sense, her support for Protestant factions in these countries was not only a reflection of her religious convictions but also a strategic move to counterbalance the influence of Catholic Spain. As a result, in 1588, Philip II of Spain launched the Armada, seeking to conquer England and reinstate Catholicism. The victory achieved by England over the Armada marked a defining moment in Elizabeth's reign, cementing her legacy as a stalwart ruler.

Death & Legacy

The final 15 years of Elizabeth's rule marked a period of adversity. The passing of her trusted advisors left a void, allowing younger courtiers to vie for control. Most notably, the Earl of Essex led an unsuccessful rebellion against the queen in 1601. As Elizabeth’s health deteriorated, the nation encountered escalating difficulties. Sustained poor harvests and soaring inflation inflicted economic strain and eroded confidence in her. Elizabeth eventually passed away on March 24, 1603. Since she had never married and produced no direct heir, her cousin James VI of Scotland succeeded her, uniting the crowns of England and Scotland and becoming James I of England.

Elizabeth is remembered as a monarch who defied expectations, ruling with a combination of pragmatism, charisma, and determination. Her reign solidified England's position as a dominant naval power, laying the groundwork for the British Empire's expansion. Furthermore, her reign left a lasting impact on the dynamics of European diplomacy thanks to her careful navigation of alliances and rivalries, which set a precedent for balancing power in an international landscape.

The Queen was revered for her genuine care for her subjects and reciprocated adoration, she ascended to an almost divine status in the public's eyes. Moreover, her unwed status prompted comparisons to figures like the Roman goddess Diana, the Virgin Mary, and even the Vestal Virgins. During her reign, she meticulously crafted the image of the Virgin Queen, wedded to her realm. This strategy was very successful, maintaining Elizabeth as one of England’s best-loved monarchs.