Elizabeth I: Improving England's International Standing

1993 Words4 Pages
bulb-icon

Recommended: Henry VIII and Louis XIV

Elizabeth I: Improving England's International Standing

Elizabeth Tudor was born in 1533 to King Henry VIII and his second wife, Anne Boleyn. Her life began in the midst of controversy and continued to be troubled until her death in 1603. Elizabeth, in reality, never should have been the ruler of Great Britain at all since she had several siblings in line for the throne ahead of her. After she was crowned queen at the age of 25, she successfully reigned for 45 years. Elizabeth increased English power and influence worldwide, handled sensitive issues like religion with grace and diplomacy, and gained and retained the respect of her subjects and other political figures. The fact that she accomplished all of this as a female in a male dominated society is nothing short of miraculous. The defeat of the "Invincible Spanish Armada" in 1588 cemented Queen Elizabeth's place in history as one of the most important and greatest rulers in England's history.

When Elizabeth was 3, she was declared illegitimate and lost the title of Princess after her father arrested and executed her mother for charges of treason, incest, and witchcraft. King Henry quickly remarried and his third wife, Jane Seymour, gave birth to a son, Prince Edward, who became the official heir to the throne. During Elizabeth's young life, she learned six languages, including Latin, Greek, French, and Italian. She was often thought of as very intelligent and serious as a child. Her tutor, Ascham, remarked that Elizabeth's intellect and memory distinguished her above others, men and women alike.

Show More
Related

  • How Did Elizabeth I Have Absolute Power

    1077 Words  | 3 Pages

    Elizabeth I was the queen of England from 1558 to 1603. Elizabeth I had many qualities of an absolute ruler and these qualities helped her to make a stronger England. Among the areas that Elizabeth I had absolute power were, her total control of politics in her country, her complete ability to use the military to keep and increase her power, and her complete influence over the social and cultural situation of England.

    Read More

  • Compare And Contrast Elizabeth I And Nzingha Of Ndongo

    862 Words  | 2 Pages

    Elizabeth I, from Greenwich, England, is recognized as one of the great rulers of the Western world. Growing up, tutors were astonished at the fact that she could play music and speak numerous languages. At age 25, she became queen. Her father, eldest sister, and brother had all died, which left her next in line for the throne. Though many people predicted that her reign would not last long, Elizabeth quickly disproved their underestimations

    Read More

  • Good Queen Bess

    811 Words  | 2 Pages

    On Sept. 7th 1533, Elizabeth, the daughter of King Henry was born. The King of England wasn’t as thrilled since she wasn’t a boy, who would mean an heir to the throne, but it was still okay. Due to the fact that after 2 more births that resulted in death, Anne Boleyn was beheaded in 1936 when Elizabeth was only 3 years old. As her father continued to remarry, divorce, and execute his wives, one more child would be born, resulting to Elizabeth having one sister, Mary, and a new born brother named Edward. After Edward was born, his mother Jane died. She was known for being the one wife that Henry actually loved. Elizabeth grew into a very smart girl. She was known as Bess as times spoke Latin, French, German, and Henry gave her a tutor to study with. Along with everything else, she developed a temper that would help her later on as being a Queen.

    Read More

  • Queen Elizabeth I: England's Sixteenth Century Powerhouse

    1800 Words  | 4 Pages

    Queen Elizabeth I was crowned queen of England when she as only 25 years old (Queen Elizabeth I - Biography). She became the third queen to rule England in her own right. The first was older cousin Lady Jane Grey who was voted out after nine days in office. Second, was older sister Queen Mary I who exacted anyone who disagreed with her beliefs involving religion. Both of them were disasters to the country (Queen Elizabeth - Facts). England was struggling with money, war, and religious strife but Queen Elizabeth I was ready to take that burden and return England back to its former

    Read More

  • Queen Elizabeth I

    732 Words  | 2 Pages

    Elizabeth I was born in 1533 to Henry VIII and Anne Boleyn. Although she entertained many marriage proposals and flirted incessantly, she never married or had children.

    Read More

  • Why Is Elizabeth I Never Married

    501 Words  | 2 Pages

    In the novel The life of Elizabeth I, Elizabeth was known as the “The Virgin Queen”, because she never married. She was born on September 7th, 1533, Elizabeth was the second daughter of King Henry VIII, and the first was Mary. When Elizabeth was about 2 years old her father killed her mother for not having a male to take over the reign. King Henry VIII kept marrying until he got a male heir. His name was Edward VI, but died at a very young age. Mary I then took over and imprisoned Elizabeth thinking that she was plotting something. When Mary I died Elizabeth became queen at 25.

    Read More

  • Queen Elizabeth 1 Essay

    677 Words  | 2 Pages

    Elizabeth I was born in Greenwich Palace on September 7, 1533 to Henry VII and Anne Boleyn, the king’s second wife. Elizabeth inherited the throne from her half-sister, Mary Tudor, after her death in 1588, and she was coronated on January 15, 1559 (Rowse). Elizabeth set out to make changes and compromises to the contrasting choices of rule of her two predecessors and half-siblings, Edward VI and Mary Tudor. During her reign from 1588-1603, Queen Elizabeth I greatly impacted the arts, religion, and government of England.

    Read More

  • The First of the Elizabeth’s: Queen Elizabeth

    1201 Words  | 3 Pages

    Henry VIII did not set a good example in Elizabeth’s early years. Elizabeth was born to King Henry VIII and Anne Boleyn on September 7, 1533. Henry had wanted a son so severely that he had had his previous wives beheaded since they gave him no sons (Eakins). Anne thought that she was expecting a boy, but sure enough, Elizabeth came out. This was somewhat of a disappointment to the King. In May of 1536 (Sparknotes), before Elizabeth was even three years old, Henry had Anne’s head cut off after he – possibly falsely – charged her with incest and adultery. Henry then remarried Jane Seymour who would soon expect a son. Jane died shortly after the birth of Edward VI. Katherine Parr was Elizabeth’s last stepmother as well as Henry’s sixth and final wife. Katherine had an older daughter than Elizabeth – Mary (Eakins). Henry VIII’s health was declining, however.

    Read More

  • The Life of Queen Elizabeth I

    1131 Words  | 3 Pages

    Elizabeth the first, born on September 7, 1533, is the most different and intriguing monarch in the English history (Dunn). Elizabeth is known as the Virgin Queen all of her reign. She used that image to keep out of marriage, prevent war and become one of the most beloved monarchs of the people. This image helped her also fend off Mary Queen of Scots claim to the throne. Between her vivacious and often volatile personality she led her kingdom well up until the day she died on March 24, 1603 (Alchin). The kingdom went into genuine morning for their queen of The People who had made herself loved by all of her subjects.

    Read More

  • Elizabeth I: A Woman in a Man's World

    743 Words  | 2 Pages

    Gender was the leading cause of distress in the 1500’s: King Henry VIII wanted nothing more than to have a son, yet was “cursed” with the legacy of a frail son, whom died before the age of 18 and two daughters, one of whom broke every convention of her gender. Queen Elizabeth I never married nor had children, yet can be considered one of England’s most successful monarchs. By choosing King James VI of Scotland as her heir, unbeknownst to her, she created the line that leads to the modern Queen of England, Elizabeth II. The question posed is then, how did Elizabeth I’s gender affect her rule?

    Read More

  • Facts and Accomplishments of Queen Elizabeth

    1197 Words  | 3 Pages

    Elizabeth was born September 7, 1533 in Greenwich England. She was the daughter of King Henry VII and his second wife, Anne Boleyn. Elizabeth had a half sister from the king’s first wife, Catherine of Aragon, and also had a half brother from the king’s third wife, Jane Seymour. When Elizabeth was only two, her father had her mother executed for suspicion of adultery. When her father decided to have Elizabeth’s mother executed, he then stripped Elizabeth of her title as princess.

    Read More

  • Queen Elizabeth

    577 Words  | 2 Pages

    Queen Elizabeth and all of those around her had a very eventful lifetime. Even when she was just a baby, Princess Elizabeth, had many things, including her mother’s death, going on. She was known by other names as well and she was such an extraordinary queen, that there was an entire era during her reign known as the Elizabethan Era, which was often considered the golden age in English history.

    Read More

  • Queen Elizabeth Sexism

    926 Words  | 2 Pages

    Elizabeth l childhood was very different then most. She endured many hardships with her mother. Elizabeth's reign had its many downsides yet she still endured and made England the thriving country it is today. Without Elizabeth's being born the outcome of the war would be very different and a man would still be alive. Elizabeth the first had so many very amazing attributes that would be very hard to top. She is one of the most important people during the renaissance era. She was such an influential leader to all. From a horrible childhood to such an amazing reign she did so

    Read More

  • The Reign of Queen Elizabeth I

    1399 Words  | 3 Pages

    Queen Elizabeth I was born on September 7, 1533, in Greenwich, England. Elizabeth reigned queen of England and Ireland from November 17, 1558 until her death. Elizabeth never married, and died a virgin, sometimes called “The Virgin Queen” (Gale 2). Elizabeth was born to King Henry Tudor VIII and Anne Boleyn; she was the fifth and last monarch of the Tudor dynasty. This paper will prove Queen Elizabeth I was a woman wholly devoted to her country and brought it much prosperity and growth; these qualities made her the most respected leader of the entire history of England.

    Read More

  • Queen Elizabeth the First

    1773 Words  | 4 Pages

    Elizabeth Tutor I was born unwanted to King Henry VIII and Anne Boleyn on September 7 1533. Taught by famous scholars in her youth, she excelled at her studies. From an early age, she was seen to be enormously gifted. She had an especial flair for languages. By adulthood, she was capable of speaking 5 different languages.

    Read More

More about Elizabeth I: Improving England's International Standing

Open Document