Queen Elizabeth I was Queen of England and Ireland from the 17th of November 1558 until her death on the 24th March 1603.
Although a monarch of her time, she is regarded as a fair ruler, but she could be short tempered and occasionally indecisive.
Elizabeth was the last monarch of the House of Tudor and is sometimes referred to as the “Virgin Queen“.
Born on the 7th of September 1533 she was the only surviving daughter of Henry VIII by Anne Boleyn, his second wife, who was executed when Elizabeth was two years old.
Anne’s marriage to Henry was annulled, and Elizabeth declared illegitimate.
Henry restored her to the line of succession when she was ten, via the Third Succession Act 1543. After Henry’s death in 1547, Elizabeth’s younger half-brother Edward VI ruled until his own death in 1553, leaving the crown to a Protestant cousin, Lady Jane Grey, and ignoring the claims of his two half-sisters, the Catholic Mary and the younger Elizabeth, in spite of instructions to the contrary. Edward’s will was ignored and Mary became queen, deposing and executing poor Jane.
During Mary’s reign, Elizabeth was imprisoned for nearly a year on suspicion of supporting Protestant rebels.
Upon her half-sister’s death in 1558, Elizabeth succeeded to the throne and set out to rule by good counsel. One of her first actions as queen was the establishment of an English Protestant church, of which she became the supreme Governor.
Elizabeth was cautious in foreign affairs, maneuvering between the major powers of France and Spain but by the mid-1580s, England could no longer avoid war with Spain.
As she grew older, Elizabeth became celebrated for her virginity. She became a celebrity, a relatively new concept, with portraits, pageants, and literature created about her.
Elizabeth’s reign became known as the Elizabethan era. The period is famous for the flourishing of English Drama, led by playwrights such as William Shakespeare and Christopher Marlowe, the success of English maritime explorers, such as Francis Drake and Walter Raleigh, and for the defeat of the Spanish Armada.
Towards the end of her reign, a series of economic and military problems weakened her popularity, however, after the short, disastrous reigns of her siblings, her 44 years on the throne provided welcome stability for the kingdom and helped to create a long-lasting sense of national identity.
Our sister site, Educational Musicals, have a range of musical shows, one is on the Armada it is The Spanish Armada – The Invasion of England
It tells the story of Spain’s King Philip who launches an armada of warships. His target, England. His elaborate plan was to send the armada to pick up his soldiers who were waiting in Calais. But Queen Elizabeth 1st, Francis Drake and the English navy were waiting for them, cannons ready.
You can download it by clicking on The Spanish Armada – The Invasion of England where you can hear two of the songs and read two pages of script, then your class can immediatly start rehearsing the show.
Isn’t history fun?
10 questions to discuss:
- Did Elizabeth’s early life, specifically her illegitimacy and imprisonment, significantly shape her approach to ruling?
- How did Elizabeth navigate the religious landscape of England, balancing the desire for stability with personal beliefs and public pressures?
- Beyond strategic maneuvering, did Elizabeth have genuine political and diplomatic skills that contributed to her success?
- How did the rise of playwrights like Shakespeare and Marlowe reflect or shape the cultural identity of the Elizabethan era?
- To what extent did Elizabeth’s portrayal as the “Virgin Queen” serve political purposes and how did it impact her personal life?
- What were the key factors that led to England’s victory over the Spanish Armada, and how did it solidify Elizabeth’s image as a strong ruler?
- How did the economic and military problems towards the end of her reign affect Elizabeth’s legacy and the perception of her rule?
- Can Elizabeth be considered a feminist icon despite living in a patriarchal society, and if so, why?
- Compare and contrast Elizabeth’s leadership style with that of her siblings, Mary and Edward VI.
- How has the historical interpretation of Elizabeth I evolved over time, and what new research or perspectives might challenge our current understanding of her reign?
These questions go beyond simply summarizing the facts and delve deeper into the complexities of Elizabeth’s life and rule, to encourage further analysis and discussion.
For more on Queen Elizabeth go to:
https://www.royal.uk/elizabeth-i
https://www.rmg.co.uk/stories/topics/little-known-or-unknown-facts-regarding-
https://www.natgeokids.com/uk/discover/history/monarchy/elizabeth-i-facts/
© Anthony James