Political+Figures+Continued

Learn way more at: [] The reign of Queen Elizabeth I is often referred to as **//The Golden Age//** of English history. Elizabeth was an immensely popular Queen, and her popularity has waned little with the passing of four hundred years. She is still one of the best loved monarchs, and one of the most admired rulers of all time. She became a legend in her own lifetime, famed for her remarkable abilities and achievements. Yet, about Elizabeth the woman and her beliefs, we know very little. Elizabeth was the daughter of King Henry VIII and his second wife, Anne Boleyn. She was born on 7 September 1533 at Greenwich Palace. Her birth was possibly the greatest disappointment of her father's life. He had wanted a son and heir to succeed him as he already had a daughter, Mary, by his first wife, Katherine of Aragon. He had not divorced Katherine, and changed the religion of the country in the process, to have only another daughter. Elizabeth's early life was consequently troubled. Her mother failed to provide the King with a son and was executed on false charges of incest and adultery on 19 May 1536. Anne's marriage to the King was declared null and void, and Elizabeth, like her half-sister, Mary, was declared illegitimate and deprived of her place in the line of succession. The next few years of her life were filled with stepmothers until King Henry VIII died. As a child, Elizabeth was given a very impressive education. It had become popular amongst the nobility to educate daughters as well as sons and Elizabeth excelled at her studies. She was taught by famous scholars such as William Grindal and Roger Asham, and from an early age it was clear that she was remarkably gifted. She had an especial flare for languages, and by adulthood, she could reputedly speak five languages fluently. At this time,her brother, Edward, was too young to rule, so Edward's uncle became the Protector of England. Edward's uncle's younger brother was jealous of this power so he came up with a scheme to overthrow him. Elizabeth became a part of this plot, and had to convince her interrogators she did not know of the plot or consent to marry the King's uncle. Edward died in the summer of 1553, and so Mary I came to the throne, and because her advisors said that Elizabeth had been involved of a scheme against her, threw Elizabeth in an unihabitable house, where she was kept prisoner for more than a year. Only when Phillip II of Spain lifted the charges against her (made with no evidence, I might add) was she allowed to come to the castle. He did so because he wanted to get on her good side if his wife, Mary died. Elizabeth finally succeeded to the throne on 17th November 1558. She loved all kinds of sports, especially horse riding, and in the early years of her reign spent many an hour riding. She loved music and dancing, and could even play the lute herself with skill. She had no time for the Puritan theologians who deemed such things impious. She also loved watching plays and created the atmosphere responsible for the flourishing of the literary masterpieces of the period against the Puritan demands for the closure of all theatres and playhouses. Elizabeth was crowned Queen on Sunday 15th January 1559. In the months that followed, the new Queen re-established the Protestant Church in England. Elizabeth became Supreme Governor of the Church of England, rather than Supreme Head as her father had been. She was a committed Protestant, and reputedly spent time in prayer every day, but she was probably a conservative Protestant. However, the tenacious political nature of the Catholic/Protestant split meant that her government had to take a harsher line towards Catholics than she wanted. Now that Elizabeth was Queen, proposals of marriage flooded in, but Elizabeth committed herself to none of them. In a genius of political wheeling and dealing, she managed to use her single state to benefit the country by using the bait of marriage to draw in enemies, or to frighten them by suggesting she would marry one of their foes. Not marrying and having a child of her own was troubling for some of her country. For others, Queen Mary of the Scots should be the rightful Queen of England. But Mary was already doing a terrible job ruling and fled to England to be protected by her cousin, and was kept prisoner for twenty years before she was executed. Soon after, Phillip of Spain came in and tried to invade England and overthrow Elizabeth. But, England was victorious, and Elizabeth's popularity soared. Elizabeth was dedicated to her country in a way few monarchs had been or have been since. Elizabeth had the mind of a political genius and nurtured her country through careful leadership and by choosing capable men to assist her, such as Sir William Cecil and Sir Francis Walsingham. Elizabeth was a determined woman, but she was not obstinate. She listened to the advice of those around her, and would change a policy if it was unpopular. In appearance she was extravagant, in behaviour sometimes flippant and frivolous, but her approach to politics was serious, conservative, and cautious. When she ascended the throne in 1558, England was an impoverished country torn apart by religious squabbles. When she died at Richmond Palace on the 24th March 1603, England was one of the most powerful and prosperous countries in the world.