Queen Elizabeth I
She led as a woman, in what was very much a man’s world; she did so with courage, grace, and intelligence. Queen Elizabeth I, an amazing female monarch in Europe, solved the religious turmoil in England, defeated the Spanish Armada, and strongly supported the Renaissance.
Elizabeth’s father, Henry VIII, had changed the entire country’s religion in order to divorce his wife, Catherine of Aragon, and marry Anne Boleyn, Elizabeth’s mother. He divorced his first wife, hoping that Anne Boleyn would be able to bear him the son he needed. When Elizabeth was born on September 7, 1533 at the Greenwich Palace, her father was bitterly disappointed. She spent most of her childhood in the Greenwich Palace, where she was …show more content…
From the very start of her sovereignty, Elizabeth took her position very seriously. She began her day very early and often ended her day very late. She imitated her father’s ruling; they both believed strongly in a monarch’s divine right to rule. Elizabeth also demanded unquestioning loyalty from her subjects and advisors. Elizabeth tried to do everything as a queen with a firm, but loving hand. Her main wish was to unite England and create a strong and independent nation with a strong economy. Throughout her reign, Elizabeth strived to promote both images: Good Queen Bess - the ruler that was devoted to her subjects and courted their good opinion, and Gloriana - the goddess around whom England revolved around.
When Elizabeth first became Queen, she appointed many Protestant advisors, along with a few Catholic advisors, to help smooth the transition between her sister’s regime and her own. She favored Protestantism and established England as one of the leading Protestant countries. Elizabeth constantly surrounded herself with highly intelligent and loyal advisors. Her court astounded people with its splendor; it was the center of England’s power and wealth. She ruled for forty five years - one of the longest reigns in history at the …show more content…
Most notable court painters were foreign, usually Dutch, but one English native stood out, Nicholas Hilliard, who was Elizabeth’s favorite. He used to paint paintings onto lockets and other jewelry, and decorated them with delicate flowers and plants. Music was everywhere; the literate and illiterate would both memorize songs about love, heroes, and epic battles. During the Renaissance, music reached its peak and all educated people were expected to sing complex songs. Through Elizabeth’s time in power, England increased in literacy and scientific thinking and many great authors and scientists emerged during this time. Elizabeth also encouraged expansion overseas; countless explorers became known during her ruler ship. She was recognized as the leading power in Europe by many of the surrounding