Elizabeth I of England

Who was Elizabeth I of England?

Elizabeth I was queen regnant of England and Ireland from 17 November 1558 until her death. Sometimes called The Virgin Queen, Gloriana or Good Queen Bess, Elizabeth was the fifth and last monarch of the Tudor dynasty.

Elizabeth, as the daughter of Henry VIII, was born into the royal succession; however, her mother, Anne Boleyn, was executed two and a half years after Elizabeth's birth and Anne's marriage to Henry VIII was annulled. Elizabeth was hence declared illegitimate. Her half-brother, Edward VI, ruled as king until his death in 1553. He had bequeathed the crown to Lady Jane Grey, cutting his two half-sisters, Elizabeth and the Roman Catholic Mary out of the succession in spite of statute law to the contrary. However his will was set aside, Mary became queen, and Lady Jane Grey was executed. During Mary's reign, Elizabeth was imprisoned for nearly a year on suspicion of supporting Protestant rebels.

In 1558 Elizabeth succeeded her half-sister, and set out to rule by good counsel. She depended heavily on a group of trusted advisers led by William Cecil, Baron Burghley.