Queen Elizabeth

       Queen Elizabeth was the daughter of King Henry the 8th and his second wife Anne Boleyn. Her birthplace was Greenwich Palace at approximately 3:00 p.m. on September 7, 1533. Her birth disappointed King Henry greatly. He wanted to have a boy to carry on the family name, but instead he had Elizabeth. So then Henry falsely blamed it on Anne and said it was her fault that she didn't have a boy. When Elizabeth was 2, her mother was executed by order of King Henry.

Within the next 8 years of her life, Elizabeth grew to have many stepmothers. Jane Seymour died of giving birth to a son, Edward. Anne of Cleves divorced Henry, Catherine Howard was beheaded, and finally he married Catherine Parr. No one quite knows if Elizabeth didn't marry because of her father's unsuccessfulness.

Elizabeth was gifted with a remarkable education. She was taught by the best of the best and by the time she was an adult, she spoke 5 different languages.

Elizabeth's father, King Henry the 8th, died in January 1547. With a step brother and sister, Elizabeth was 2nd in line to the Royal Throne. Edward, her stepbrother was 1st in line, but since he was only 9, his uncle Edward Seymour became protector of England. A scandal followed in which Elizabeth was accused of trying to overthrow the king by his other uncle Thomas Seymour. 

Elizabeth was implicated of treason twice. First when Thomas Seymour let it be known that he wanted to marry her. This was treason because she needed the consent of the King. Second when she was accused of trying to seize the throne from her half sister, Mary. She was kept a prisoner for a year. She finally got the throne on November 17, 1558. After being unwanted for many years, Elizabeth felt like a new person. She was determined to enjoy the years ahead of her. She loved many sports such as hunting, hawking, bearbaiting, and especially horseback riding. She danced, loved music, and could even play an instrument or two. She went to many plays and other acts. Elizabeth liked seeing people do what they want to do and be who they want to be. Elizabeth soon re-established the protestant church in England and restored the debased coinage. Elizabeth also became Supreme Governor of the Church of England. Elizabeth worshiped daily and loved the sound of church music. She despised religious extremist and didn't feel there was a need to persecute people for their separate beliefs.

Now that Elizabeth was queen, she became much more popular and more people wanted to marry her, but Elizabeth accepted no proposals. She accepted none because she needed a King's approval. The most serious longing for Elizabeth's hand in marriage was by Robert Dudley, named Earl of Leicester in 1564. She had known him for a long time. Marrying him would be a tragedy. He was "un cool" and "un celebrity-like". His father was the traitor of Northumberland, and their were rumors that he had murdered his wife. Francis, Duke of Alencon /Anjou also wanted to marry her badly. Elizabeth simply said no. 

Since Elizabeth would never marry or have kids, many people began to wonder who would take the throne after she died. 

Soon, a man named Philip, King of Spain, liked Elizabeth and wanted to marry her. But Elizabeth ticked him off by saying no, of course. Philip was now an enemy of hers and wanted to take over England. But because of England's richness in quality attack boats and fortune, they overcame Spain.

Elizabeth was looked at by her country as one of the greatest monarchs of all time. She listened to her people, made decisions carefully, chose wise people to assist her, and kept policies popular. On March 24, 1603, she died at Richmond Palace.  

Citations

Website

Thomas, Heather. "Queen Elizabeth I." at <http:/www.elizabethi.org/>. (1998-2003)

Images

Image of map of England from "Microsoft Office Design Gallery Live" <http://dgl.microsoft.com/?CAG=1> Images free for non-profit and personal use. (December-March, 2003). 

Images of Queen Elizabeth from "ArtToday.com" <http://members.clipart.com/en/index> (2003).

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