Elizabeth I (7 September 1533 – 24 March 1603), also known as Good Queen Bess, was the daughter of Henry VIII and Anne Boleyn. By the time Elizabeth was crowned, many years of bitter rivalry between Roman Catholics and Protestants had left England divided and weak. Her sister, Mary, who had been on the throne and who had just died, had also used up all of the royal money. Elizabeth was Queen of England and Ireland from 17 November 1558 until her death. Elizabeth's reign is known as the Elizabethan era.
Elizabeth returned England to the Church of England. Elizabeth was always fearful of attack from Catholic France, Spain and Scotland, all of whom claimed the English throne.
Elizabeth inherited her father's intelligence and political skills and, using these, she helped to make England stronger and more prosperous than it had ever been.
Elizabeth I was childless, and so she was the fifth and last monarch of the Tudor dynasty.
During her reign, she depended on a group of trusted advisers, especially those who ran the secret service, and whose job it was to stop the many threats to Elizabeth's life. She was, in general, more moderate than her brother and sister had been, but because she was a Protestant who had returned the church to England, she was hated by the Pope and many Roman Catholic kings in Europe. These people were always threatening invasion, and Elizabeth did her best to put off this day. However, by the mid-1580s, war with Spain was going ahead, with the building of the great Armada of ships in Spanish ports. When Spain began its attempt to conquer England in 1588, the Royal Navy that had been started by her father Henry VIII, the incompetence of the Spanish leaders and her bravery and good standing among the English, made her a part of one of the greatest military victories in English history.
During Elizabethan times, England became more prosperous, Sir Francis Drake sailed around the world, William Shakespeare wrote most of his plays and many houses were rebuilt, and form much of the oldest surviving English housing.
Elizabeth was on the throne for 44 years.
During the time of the Armada, Elizabeth went to the port of Tilbury to address her troops. It was one of the most famous speeches in history and helped to keep the spirits of the troops high. This is what she said.
My loving people,
We have been persuaded by some that are careful of our safety, to take heed how we commit our selves to armed multitudes, for fear of treachery; but I assure you I do not desire to live to distrust my faithful and loving people. Let tyrants fear, I have always so behaved myself that, under God, I have placed my chiefest strength and safeguard in the loyal hearts and good-will of my subjects; and therefore I am come amongst you, as you see, at this time, not for my recreation and disport, but being resolved, in the midst and heat of the battle, to live and die amongst you all; to lay down for my God, and for my kingdom, and my people, my honour and my blood, even in the dust. I know I have the body but of a weak and 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; to which rather than any dishonour shall grow by me, I myself will take up arms, I myself will be your general, judge, and rewarder of every one of your virtues in the field. I know already, for your forwardness you have deserved rewards and crowns; and We do assure you in the word of a prince, they shall be duly paid you. In the mean time, my lieutenant general shall be in my stead, than whom never prince commanded a more noble or worthy subject; not doubting but by your obedience to my general, by your concord in the camp, and your valour in the field, we shall shortly have a famous victory over those enemies of my God, of my kingdom, and of my people.
