185
Elizabeth I
ELIZABETHAN AGE
Elizabeth was the first
monarch to give her name
to an age. During her reign, the arts of music,
poetry, and drama flourished. Despite foreign
threats and religious unrest at home, she won
the loyalty and admiration of her subjects.MARY, QUEEN OF SCOTS
Mary was Elizabeth’s Catholic cousin and heir. Forced to
abdicate her own throne in Scotland, she fled to England
to seek Elizabeth’s protection. Mary became involved in
Catholic plots against Elizabeth, who reluctantly ordered
her execution.MORE THAN 400 YEARS AGO, one woman brought 45 years of peace
and prosperity to England through her determination and wisdom. Queen
Elizabeth I began her life as a neglected princess whose mother had been
executed by her father. She was ignored and imprisoned as a girl; but upon
the death of her half sister, Queen Mary, Elizabeth
became a strong and popular queen. She tried to
end years of religious conflict between Catholics
and Protestants by insisting that the Church of
England should be moderately Protestant so
that it included as many people as possible.
Elizabeth avoided expensive foreign wars
for many years. Her most dangerous
conflict was with Philip II, king
of Spain, who sent the Armada
(fleet of ships) against England.
The queen’s court was a center
for poets, musicians, and
writers. Her reign is often
called England’s Golden Age.1533 Born, the daughter
of Henry VIII and Anne
Boleyn.
1536 Mother is executed
for treason.
1554 Imprisoned in the
Tower of London.
1558 Becomes queen.
1559 Establishes Protestant
Church of England by the
Act of Supremacy.
1587 Orders execution of
Mary, Queen of Scots.
1588 Faces the Armada.
1603 Dies.SPANISH ARMADA
In July 1588, Philip II, king of Spain, launched his Armada of nearly 150 ships
to invade England and restore the Catholic religion. Sir Francis Drake (1540-96)
sailed in command of a large group of warships to oppose the Armada. Aided
by stormy weather, the English defeated the great fleet.
SIR WALTER RALEIGH
One of Elizabeth’s favorite
courtiers was Sir Walter Raleigh
(1552-1618). In 1584, she knighted
him, and later made Raleigh her
Captain of the Guard. He made
several voyages across the Atlantic,
set up an English colony in Virginia,
and brought tobacco and potatoes
from the Americas to Europe.Find out more
Theater
United kingdom, history of