Elizabeth I (1558-1603)

Elizabeth I was queen of England from 1558 until 1603. The period of her reign is often referred to as the Elizabethan Age. She was the eldest child of Henry VIII and his second wife Anne Boleyn. She died childless in 1603 and probably appointed James Stuart, as her successor.

Elizabeth was raised as a Protestant. During the reign of her predecessor, Mary I, Catholicism had become the official religion. When Elizabeth came to the throne, there were a lot of religious differences in England, but also in the rest of Europe. Instead of taking sides with either Protestantism or Catholicism, she choose a middle course. This way, the Church of England, the Anglican Church, became a mix between Catholicism and Protestantism. On the outside it was mainly Catholic; there were bishops and ornaments and the organization was traditional. But the doctrine and teachings were mainly Protestant. Elizabeth’s laws to reform the church are often called the Elizabethan Settlement. One important law was that everyone had to go to the services of the Church of England. If you did not go, you had to pay a fine.

Elizabeth I is an example of a Renaissance woman that was very intelligent and highly educated. She was educated by very famous humanist teachers and she spoke Greek, Latin, Italian and French very fluently. She also had a great knowledge of the classics and mythology.

The reign of Elizabeth I is often called the Golden Age. In a world of male rulers, she stood her own ground and she proved to be an excellent ruler in all areas. She was not only famous in England but also in the rest of Europe. During her reign cultural life in England flourished.

One of her nicknames is “the Virgin Queen”. This is because she never married. This is also the origin of the name of the American state Virginia, which was founded as an English colony during her reign.