Queen Elizabeth I

Elizabeth the First’s full name is Lady Elizabeth Tudor, however, she is most commonly referred to as Elizabeth I. This means that she was the first queen named Elizabeth to rule England. We don’t know much about her childhood or her life at all. Much of what we know is how popular of a queen she was. Elizabeth’s name has become a synonym for the era of her rule (1559-1603). She was born on September 7, 1533 to famous King Henry VIII and Anne Boleyn, one of his many wives at Greenwich Palace. Her birth was one of her father’s greatest disappointments because he had wanted a son. She was named after both of her grandmothers. Elizabeth spent most of her youth at Hatfield House in Hertfordshire. There she studied with many famous scholars and tutors. When she was fourteen she moved into her ex-stepmother Katherine Parr’s house. She left the following year when there was question of her involvement with Katherine’s husband, Thomas Seymour. When she was proven innocent, the next year, she obtained a public announcement to maintain her reputation. Five years later she was imprisoned in the Tower of London for eight weeks on another false charge of an improper relationship. On November 17, 1559 Elizabeth’s life drastically changed. Her sister, Mary, died so she became the queen of England. One of her first changes was reforming England back to the Protestant Anglican church. This was one of her major changes in society. England had been changing back and forth from Anglican to Catholic. England has remained Anglican since her change. However, she was not a strict Anglican. She allowed many Catholic practices which caused minor disruptions. She had a religious settlement passed as well as a prayer book in 1559 by Parliament. Queen Elizabeth profited from her approval of the slave trade. She was very kind to neighboring countries. She declined to take over of the Netherlands and sent 20,000 pounds to aid the Dutch. Because of her rule, many men tried to marry her or at least tried to arrange a marriage with Elizabeth. However, despite her flirty attitude, she refused to marry anyone. She never had any children. In 1562 Elizabeth almost died of smallpox. During the Black Plague, she moved her castle away from London to prevent herself from becoming ill and ordered anyone coming from London to be hanged. Later, a group of rebels and Pope Pius V joined together to overthrow her from power. This plan ultimately failed and therefore the leaders were killed. Elizabeth lost all of her trust in Catholics. The rest of her rule transpired without many problems. Queen Elizabeth the First died on March 24, 1603 at the age of 70.

Bibliography
Elizabeth the First bibliography. (n.d.). Retrieved November 17, 2010, from Elizabeth the First 's bibliography: www.elizabethi.org/uk/biography
Elizabethan Timeline. (n.d.). Retrieved November 17, 2010, from Elizabethan-era website: http://www.elizabethan-era.org.uk/elizabethan-timeline.htm

Bibliography: Elizabeth the First bibliography. (n.d.). Retrieved November 17, 2010, from Elizabeth the First 's bibliography: www.elizabethi.org/uk/biography Elizabethan Timeline. (n.d.). Retrieved November 17, 2010, from Elizabethan-era website: http://www.elizabethan-era.org.uk/elizabethan-timeline.htm