Queen Elizabeth I And The Elizabethan Era

Queen Elizabeth I proved England that she was one of their greatest leaders to ever rule. Before Queen Elizabeth was crowned queen of England, her sister, Queen Mary left England in a state of turmoil. Mary was strictly Catholic and enforced it throughout England. She burned down Protestant churches and executed its followers. After her death, her husband King Philip II of Spain gained interest of the British Empire. This sparked conflict between both nations. From 1558 to 1603, often referred as “The Golden Age” and “The Elizabethan Era” of England, Elizabeth I she accomplished great feats. She was able to defeat the great Spanish Armada, reestablish Protestant faith throughout England, and experience the new age of literature and play.
After her short rule due to an illness, Mary’s death left Elizabeth in more trouble. She was of the Protestant faith and the Spanish empire was Roman Catholic. Tension grew between both nations and it led to war. The battle between Spain and England lasted for nine hours. With the help of inclement weather the “... wind and fog worsened. At closer range the English cannon pierced the Spanish ships. Despite the gunfire, drivers patched holes near the waterline as fast as possible, but they could not keep up with the destruction.” (Thomas 162). The Spanish Armada suffered substantial damage and fled from the battlefield. Although it was a victory for England, the battle was not significantly won. As “historians agree that the defeat of the Spanish Armada was a decisive battle, in fact one the Decisive Battles of the World…. As Queen Elizabeth lived, and ended in no better than a draw. Some historians say that the defeat of the Armada “marked the decline of the Spanish colonial empire and the rise of the British.” (Mattingly 397). Controlling over “20 percent of western Europe’s land after 1580 and 25 percent of its population. In addition, he governed Mexico and Peru, the Philippines, and territories in Africa and Asia” (Thomas 155). Spain was not someone to mess with. The renowned Spanish Armada was defeated and proved that England wais a power to reckon
During her reign she got to experience the new age of literature and play. Theatres such as the Globe Theatre and Elizabethan Theater were built. Famous playwrights like William Shakespeare and Christopher Marlowe rose in the Elizabethan Era. Elizabeth herself was known for her great speeches. When fighting the Spanish Armada, she addressed her troops at Tilbury. As a strong woman and leader she said, “I know I have the body of a weak, feeble woman; but I have the heart and stomach of a king - and of a King of England too, and think foul scorn that Parma or Spain, or any prince of Europe, should dare to invade the borders of my realm” (Black et al. 500). As a final goodbye, Elizabeth gavetold her “golden speech” in which that “one [could]an also hear a hint of weariness in this speech when she says that "to be a king and wear a crown is a thing more glorious to them that see it, than to them that bear it." (Poetry Foundation). She lived to experience a change of literature and also to contribute to