---
title: Elizabeth I of England
author: Mark Cartwright
source: https://www.worldhistory.org/Elizabeth_I_of_England/
format: machine-readable-alternate
license: Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0/)
updated: 2023-10-17
---

# Elizabeth I of England

_Authored by [Mark Cartwright](https://www.worldhistory.org/user/markzcartwright/)_

Elizabeth I reigned as queen of [England](https://www.worldhistory.org/disambiguation/england/) from 1558 to 1603. Her 44-year reign was so long and packed with momentous events that the second half of the 16th century is now known as the Elizabethan era and still regarded as a 'Golden Age' for England.

Elizabeth succeeded her elder half-sister [Mary I of England](https://www.worldhistory.org/Mary_I_of_England/) (r. 1553-1558). Exasperating ministers and suitors alike with her prevarication, the queen was a shrewd and capable ruler who survived plots which threatened her life and the 1588 invasion of the [Spanish Armada](https://www.worldhistory.org/Spanish_Armada/) which threatened her kingdom. Glorifying in her own carefully cultivated legend, Elizabeth ruled an England which grew in confidence, witnessed the plays of [William Shakespeare](https://www.worldhistory.org/William_Shakespeare/) (1564-1616), and saw the exploration of the New World. Elizabeth died aged 69 in March 1603, and as the Virgin Queen left no heir, she was succeeded by her closest relative [James VI of Scotland](https://www.worldhistory.org/James_I_of_England/) (r. 1567-1625) who became [James I of England](https://www.worldhistory.org/James_I_of_England/) (r. 1603-1625).

### Early Life

Elizabeth was born 7 September 1533 at Greenwich [Palace](https://www.worldhistory.org/disambiguation/palace/), the daughter of [Henry VIII of England](https://www.worldhistory.org/Henry_VIII_of_England/) (r. 1509-1547) and [Anne Boleyn](https://www.worldhistory.org/Anne_Boleyn/) (c. 1501-1536). The princess was named after her grandmother, Elizabeth of York (b. 1466), wife of [Henry VII of England](https://www.worldhistory.org/Henry_VII_of_England/) (r. 1485-1509). When her father fell out with Anne (and had her imprisoned and then executed), his marriage was annulled and Elizabeth was declared illegitimate. The king then married his third wife, Jane Seymour (c. 1509-1537) in May 1536. Jane gave Henry a legitimate son, Edward, who would succeed his father and become [Edward VI of England](https://www.worldhistory.org/Edward_VI_of_England/) (r. 1547-1553). Elizabeth did not find a happy family home until her father married his sixth and final wife, Catherine Parr (c. 1512-1548) in July 1543. Catherine Parr undertook the welfare and education of her adopted children, which for Elizabeth included learning French, Italian, Latin, and [Greek](https://www.worldhistory.org/disambiguation/greek/), as well as studying theology, history, [music](https://www.worldhistory.org/disambiguation/Music/), moral [philosophy](https://www.worldhistory.org/philosophy/) and rhetoric (which came in handy later for her self-penned speeches as queen). When Catherine remarried after Henry's [death](https://www.worldhistory.org/disambiguation/Death/), there were allegations against Elizabeth's stepfather, Thomas Seymour (c. 1508-1549), that he had behaved lewdly and improperly with a willing Princess Elizabeth.

During the reign of her brother Edward, Elizabeth kept a low profile and resided at Hatfield in Hertfordshire. When Edward died in July 1553 and left no heir, his eldest half-sister Mary, daughter of [Catherine of Aragon](https://www.worldhistory.org/Catherine_of_Aragon/) (1485-1536) inherited the English throne. Both Henry VIII and Edward VI had pursued the [Protestant Reformation](https://www.worldhistory.org/Protestant_Reformation/) of the Church of England but Mary, like her mother, was a staunch Catholic. Mary reversed the reformist legislation that had been passed by Parliament since 1529 and earned her lasting nickname 'Bloody Mary' by burning prominent Protestants at the stake. Mary also departed from Tudor tradition and married Prince Philip (l. 1527-1598), son of King Charles V of Spain (r. 1516-1556). Philip became the King of Spain in 1556 and so Mary its queen.

[ ![Elizabeth I Pelican Portrait](https://www.worldhistory.org/img/r/p/500x600/12285.jpg?v=1774567685) Elizabeth I Pelican Portrait Nicholas Hilliard (Public Domain) ](https://www.worldhistory.org/image/12285/elizabeth-i-pelican-portrait/ "Elizabeth I Pelican Portrait")Spain was England's great enemy, and many in the country were concerned that England's wealth would be used to fund Spanish ambitions abroad. A rising level of popular discontent with Mary's political and religious choices broke out in the form of the [Wyatt Rebellion](https://www.worldhistory.org/Wyatt_Rebellion/) of January 1554. The rebels perhaps even hoped to put Elizabeth on the throne and then have her marry Edward Courtenay, the great-grandson of Edward IV of (r. 1461-1470). The rebellion was quashed, but it demonstrated that, for many, Elizabeth represented the new sense of nationalism that was developing in England. Mary suspected her sister of being involved in the rebellion - even if Elizabeth had made no public statements on either the [Reformation](https://www.worldhistory.org/disambiguation/Reformation/) or Spanish Marriage - and so she was detained in the Tower on 17 March 1554. Two months later, Elizabeth was moved on to Woodstock in Oxfordshire where she was kept under house arrest. The next year the two sisters reconciled and Elizabeth was allowed her freedom back.

### Succession

When Mary died of stomach cancer in November 1558 and left no heir, then her half-sister Elizabeth became queen. Elizabeth, who was just 25, was crowned in one of the most magnificent ceremonies ever held at Westminster Abbey on 15 January 1559. Henry VIII's three children had all inherited the throne in sequence, just as he had wished it in 1544 (if none had any heirs). Elizabeth inherited a fragile kingdom surrounded by enemies. All territory in France had now been lost, the state was almost bankrupt, and politics was still very much a male-dominated arena where a queen was expected to marry as soon as possible. Consequently, Elizabeth had to tread carefully in these first years of her reign, and she surrounded herself with capable advisors.

### Government

To advise her in government, Elizabeth chose [William Cecil, Lord Burghley](https://www.worldhistory.org/William_Cecil_Lord_Burghley/) (l. 1520-1598) to act as her personal secretary. Sir Francis Walsingham (c. 1530-1590) was another who held the prime post of Secretary of State and whose invaluable network of spies spread across [Europe](https://www.worldhistory.org/europe/). Robert Dudley (l. c. 1532-1588), who would become the Earl of Leicester, was another favourite. These men would remain at the queen's side for most of her reign although the relationship with Dudley was rumoured to have gone beyond professional bounds. Certainly, it was unusual to give a non-royal an earldom and Dudley had apartments next to the queen's in most of her major residences. Dudley was married, and when his wife was discovered at the bottom of a flight of stairs with a broken neck, many suspected he had pushed her. The ensuing scandal ruled out any prospect of marriage to the queen, but he was, in any case, of too lowly a birth to be acceptable as a queen's consort.

[ ![Robert Dudley, Earl of Leicester](https://www.worldhistory.org/img/r/p/500x600/12303.jpg?v=1734530532) Robert Dudley, Earl of Leicester Steven van der Meulen (Public Domain) ](https://www.worldhistory.org/image/12303/robert-dudley-earl-of-leicester/ "Robert Dudley, Earl of Leicester")The queen found herself in the man's world of government, but her ministers were about to find out their sovereign had no intention of being pushed around. Elizabeth changed the entire approach to regal policy-making, as the historian J. Morrill explains:

> …the dithering, prevarication, and generally dismissive behaviour which was understood to be archetypical of the conventional 'mistress' provided Elizabeth with her weapons of political manipulation and manoeuvre. In order to beat her male courtiers at their own game, she changed the rules and capitalized on the power granted to her by virtue of her gender. (234)

The queen of England was fiercely independent and ministers literally had to woo her to come around to their ideas, if she ever did. The queen had few preconceptions of monarchy. She did not, like so many of her predecessors, hanker after territory in France or [Scotland](https://www.worldhistory.org/disambiguation/Scotland/), she was careful over royal spending and seemed not to care at all about securing the Tudor Dynasty after her death. Exasperated ministers could not even turn to Parliament which met only 13 times during her reign.

One of the primary concerns of Elizabeth's advisors was that she should marry and produce an heir or two as quickly as possible. It was taken for granted she should marry, but Elizabeth had other ideas and seemed determined to remain single. Elizabeth was married to her country, so she said, and certainly no monarch had ever toured her kingdom so frequently and shown herself to so many of her people as Elizabeth did.

The queen's reluctance to marry may well have been a reaction to her father's shenanigans with his six wives and Mary's public relations disaster in marrying a Spanish prince. Indeed, [Philip II](https://www.worldhistory.org/disambiguation/Philip_II/) had offered to marry Elizabeth when queen, but he was rejected in January 1559; so too were the king of Sweden, a French prince, and two Habsburg archdukes. Elizabeth thus became known as the Virgin Queen, and for those eager to see divine confirmation of their beliefs, she was the living embodiment of the Virgin Mary. This latter idea became especially prevalent as the queen aged and her imagery increasingly used symbols traditionally associated with the Virgin Mary such as the crescent moon and pearl. There were plenty of informal relations with dashing young men, however, that perhaps went beyond mere friendship. Besides [Robert Dudley, 1st Earl of Leicester](https://www.worldhistory.org/Robert_Dudley_1st_Earl_of_Leicester/) already mentioned, such figures as the adventurer Sir [Walter Raleigh](https://www.worldhistory.org/Walter_Raleigh/) (c. 1552-1618), the Lord Chancellor Sir Christopher Hatton (1540-1591) and the nobleman and cousin of the queen Robert Devereux, the Earl of Essex (1566-1601), all captivated the queen and vice-versa.

[ ![Mary, Queen of Scots by Hilliard](https://www.worldhistory.org/img/r/p/500x600/12304.jpg?v=1771531189-1771531206) Mary, Queen of Scots by Hilliard Nicholas Hilliard (Public Domain) ](https://www.worldhistory.org/image/12304/mary-queen-of-scots-by-hilliard/ "Mary, Queen of Scots by Hilliard")### Religious Tolerance

Elizabeth returned the Church of England to its reformed state as it had been under Edward VI. She reinstated the Act of Supremacy (April 1559) which put the English monarch at the head of the Church (as opposed to the Pope). [Thomas Cranmer](https://www.worldhistory.org/Thomas_Cranmer/)'s Protestant Book of Common Prayer was reinstated (the 1552 version). Hard-line Protestants and Catholics, though, were both dissatisfied with Elizabeth's pragmatic stance as she went for a more middle-of-the-road approach which appealed to the largely indifferent majority of her subjects. Extremists of the Catholic faith or otherwise were largely permitted to pursue their beliefs without interference, even if the Pope excommunicated the queen for heresy in February 1570. Elizabeth was also active abroad. She attempted to impose Protestantism in Catholic [Ireland](https://www.worldhistory.org/disambiguation/Ireland/), but this only resulted in frequent rebellions (1569-73, 1579-83, and 1595-8) which were often materially supported by Spain. The queen also sent money and arms to the Huguenots in France and financial aid to Protestants in the Netherlands.

The thorny issue of the Reformation then twisted its way back into English politics when [Mary, Queen of Scots](https://www.worldhistory.org/Mary_Queen_of_Scots/) (r. 1542-1567), who was the granddaughter of Margaret Tudor, sister of Henry VIII, became the figurehead for a Catholic-inspired plot to remove Elizabeth from her throne. Indeed, for many Catholics, Elizabeth was illegitimate as they did not recognise her father's divorce from his first wife Catherine of Aragon. Catholic Mary, who had been exiled in France, was not welcomed in Protestant Scotland and, battling husbands and nobles, she was eventually obliged to abdicate in 1567 and then flee the country in 1568.

### Mary, Queen of Scots

In 1568, Mary was imprisoned when she arrived in England. Even in confinement, she was a danger to Elizabeth who dithered over what exactly to do with her cousin. The following year there was a rebellion in the north of England stirred up by the earls of Northumberland and Westmorland, both staunch Catholics. Elizabeth responded emphatically by sending an army led by the Earl of Sussex and then hanging 900 of the rebels. Then the conspiratorial Duke of Norfolk, who had plotted with Spain to mount an invasion of England and crown Mary queen (the 1571 Ridolfi plot), was executed in 1572. The English Parliament remained keen to secure Elizabeth's throne; already that body had twice formally asked Elizabeth to marry (1559 and 1563). Now there was an additional threat to the dynasty in the form of Mary. Without an heir, Mary could take over Elizabeth's throne. Accordingly, in 1586, Parliament twice asked the queen to sign Mary's death warrant. Elizabeth finally signed the execution warrant on 1 February 1587 after Walsingham had embroiled the former Scottish queen in a plot against her cousin. Mary had sought to encourage Philip of Spain, who she named her heir, to invade England and so Walsingham was able to gather indisputable evidence of her treacherous intentions.

### The Spanish Armada

When Mary, Queen of Scots was executed on 8 February 1587, Philip of Spain had one more reason to attack England. Philip was angry at rebellions in the Netherlands which disrupted [trade](https://www.worldhistory.org/disambiguation/trade/) and Elizabeth's sending of troops to support the Protestants there in 1585. Other bones of contention were England's rejection of Catholicism and the Pope, and the action of privateers, 'sea dogs' like [Francis Drake](https://www.worldhistory.org/Francis_Drake/) (c. 1540-1596) who plundered Spanish ships laden with [gold](https://www.worldhistory.org/gold/) and [silver](https://www.worldhistory.org/Silver/) taken from the New World. Elizabeth even funded some of these dubious exploits herself. Spain had not been entirely innocent either, confiscating English ships in Spanish ports and refusing to allow English merchants access to New World trade. When Drake attacked [Cadiz](https://www.worldhistory.org/Gades/) in 1587, Philip prepared for [war](https://www.worldhistory.org/disambiguation/War/).

[ ![The Spanish Armada of 1588 CE By van Wieringen](https://www.worldhistory.org/img/r/p/750x750/12302.jpg?v=1772581985) The Spanish Armada of 1588 CE By van Wieringen Cornelis Claesz van Wieringen (CC BY-NC-SA) ](https://www.worldhistory.org/image/12302/the-spanish-armada-of-1588-ce-by-van-wieringen/ "The Spanish Armada of 1588 CE By van Wieringen")In 1588 the king of Spain assembled a massive fleet, an 'armada' of 132 ships, which sailed from Lisbon to the Netherlands to pick up an army led by the Duke of Parma that would then invade England, the so-called 'Enterprise of England'. Fortunately, Henry VIII and Mary I had invested in the Royal Navy, and this now reaped its reward. The large [Spanish galleons](https://www.worldhistory.org/Spanish_Galleon/) - designed for transportation, not [warfare](https://www.worldhistory.org/warfare/) - were much less nimble than the fleet of some 130 mostly smaller English ships which were able to dash in and out of the Spanish fleet and cause havoc. In addition, the 20 English royal [galleons](https://www.worldhistory.org/Galleon/) were better armed than the best of the Spanish ships and their guns could fire further. The English also benefitted from such experienced commanders as Drake whom the Spanish called 'El Draque' ('the Dragon').

There were three separate engagements as the navies battled each other and storms. Meanwhile, Elizabeth visited her land army in person, gathered at Tilbury in order to defend London should the armada make landfall. The queen, wearing armour and riding a grey gelding, roused her troops with the following speech:

> I know I have the body of a weak and feeble woman, but I have the heart and stomach of a king, and a king of England too, and think it foul scorn that Parma or Spain or any Prince of Europe, should dare invade the borders of my realm.
> (Phillips, 122)

[![](https://www.worldhistory.org/img/c/p/100x100/12285.jpg?v=1774567685)![](https://www.worldhistory.org/img/c/p/100x100/14898.png?v=1637677950)![](https://www.worldhistory.org/img/c/p/100x100/14899.png?v=1637677360)![](https://www.worldhistory.org/img/c/p/100x100/12316.jpg?v=1714050063)![](https://www.worldhistory.org/img/c/p/100x100/12283.jpg?v=1713413283)![](https://www.worldhistory.org/img/c/p/100x100/12284.jpg?v=1774567748-1739980188)](https://www.worldhistory.org/collection/137/gallery-of-elizabeth-i-portraits/)Image Gallery#### [Gallery of Elizabeth I Portraits](https://www.worldhistory.org/collection/137/gallery-of-elizabeth-i-portraits/)

Elizabeth I of England (r. 1558-1603) carefully controlled her image, whether it be through costume, processions, literature, coinage, or the annual... Fireships were sent into the Spanish when they anchored their ships, bad weather did the rest. Half of the armada was destroyed, its remnants forced to sail around Scotland. England was saved. 11-15,000 Spaniards had died compared to around 100 Englishmen. Philip did not give up and tried twice more to invade England (1596 and 1597), but each time his fleet was repelled by storms. The defeat of the Spanish Armada gave England great confidence and showed the importance of sea power. The Tudors had built and tested the foundations of the Royal Navy which would go on to change world history from Tahiti to Trafalgar.

### Elizabethan [Culture](https://www.worldhistory.org/disambiguation/culture/)

The arts, as so often when peace is established, positively boomed in the Elizabethan age. In 1576 London received its first playhouse, founded by James Burbage and simply known as The [Theatre](https://www.worldhistory.org/disambiguation/theatre/). Around 1593 William Shakespeare wrote his play *[Romeo and Juliet](https://www.worldhistory.org/Romeo_and_Juliet/)*. The great bard's historical plays such as *[Richard III](https://www.worldhistory.org/disambiguation/Richard_III/)* were aimed at massaging the Tudor royal ego and so painted a darker picture of pre-Tudor times than was the reality. Meanwhile, plays like *Henry V* glorified England's past and contributed to an ever-growing sense of nationalism. The queen enjoyed watching plays and outdoor spectacles and actively patronised artists and playwrights. Other notable writers of the period include [Christopher Marlowe](https://www.worldhistory.org/Christopher_Marlowe/) (1564-1593) and [Ben Jonson](https://www.worldhistory.org/Ben_Jonson/) (1572-1637).

[ ![Elizabeth I Ermine Portrait](https://www.worldhistory.org/img/r/p/500x600/12283.jpg?v=1713413283) Elizabeth I Ermine Portrait William Segar (Public Domain) ](https://www.worldhistory.org/image/12283/elizabeth-i-ermine-portrait/ "Elizabeth I Ermine Portrait")The Elizabethan era saw the world open up to Europe, which was not of any great benefit to the world but certainly to the wealth of European powers. In 1562-3 [John Hawkins](https://www.worldhistory.org/John_Hawkins/) (1532-1595) explored Guinea in West [Africa](https://www.worldhistory.org/disambiguation/africa/) and the Spanish West Indies, and so commenced England's involvement in the slave trade. Elizabeth handed out charters to companies which allowed them exclusive trade rights in a given area in return for paying the Crown a cut of the profits. The most famous of these would be the [East India Company](https://www.worldhistory.org/East_India_Company/), given a charter to trade in [India](https://www.worldhistory.org/india/) and the Indian Ocean in 1600. In 1572 Francis Drake explored Panama, and in 1577-80 he circumnavigated the world in his ship the *Golden Hind*. In 1576-8 [Martin Frobisher](https://www.worldhistory.org/Martin_Frobisher/) (c. 1535-1594) explored Labrador in search of the fabled North-West Passage to [China](https://www.worldhistory.org/china/). In 1595 Walter Raleigh explored what is today Venezuela in his search for [El Dorado](https://www.worldhistory.org/El_Dorado/), the legendary ruler of a [city](https://www.worldhistory.org/city/) called Manoa, said to have been paved in gold.

One final cultural phenomenon of the period was the veneration of the queen herself as a semi-divine figure. Elizabeth's date of succession, 17 November, was declared a national holiday and was celebrated each year with great festivities, church services and bell-ringing. Elizabeth became known as the great empress 'Gloriana', after the central figure of the 1590 poem *The Fairie Queen* by Edmund Spenser (c. 1552-1599). Comparisons were made with [Artemis](https://www.worldhistory.org/artemis/)/[Diana](https://www.worldhistory.org/diana/), the virgin huntress goddess of antiquity. One court spectacle in 1581 depicted the queen as the 'Fortress of Perfect Beauty' successfully withstanding a siege by a cannon representing 'Desire' but which could only fire sweets at its target. Walter Raleigh named a portion of North America (Roanoke Island, modern North Carolina), England's first overseas colony after his queen: Virginia.

An important element in the growing legend that the queen herself cultivated was her appearance. Elizabeth spent two [hours](https://www.worldhistory.org/Horae/) squeezing into majestic dresses with extravagant collars and jewelled embellishments. She also wore a striking array of wigs, unfortunately, necessitated by an attack of smallpox in December 1562 which had left her with bald patches. The disease had also left Elizabeth with facial scars, which explains her use of thick white makeup. The queen knew full well the value of imagery, and so from 1563 the production of unofficial portraits was banned. Elizabeth's success at managing her own image is perhaps best illustrated in the fact that the cult of her persona has never really gone away despite the best attempts of revisionist historians.

[ ![Elizabeth I & Death](https://www.worldhistory.org/img/r/p/500x600/12299.jpg?v=1637873103) Elizabeth I & Death Unknown Artist (Public Domain) ](https://www.worldhistory.org/image/12299/elizabeth-i--death/ "Elizabeth I & Death")### Death & Successor

It is true that the reality of the final years of Elizabeth's reign was rather less romantic than her legendary image. A run of poor harvests, inflation, and high taxes, needed to pay to fight Spain, and an increase in unemployment and petty crimes, all took their toll on a population which had increased from 3 million at the start of Elizabeth's reign to 4 million by the end of it. Poverty was growing at such a rate that Poor Laws were passed in 1597 and 1601 to try and alleviate the problem by providing houses of correction for vagrants and apprenticeships for children. There were food riots in London and East Anglia in the 1595-7 but, significantly, none of the popular uprisings which had challenged previous Tudor monarchs.

Elizabeth died, likely from a mix of bronchitis and pneumonia, on 24 March 1603 at Richmond Palace. She was 69 years old and had outlived all her friends and favourites; she was buried in Westminster Abbey. As the queen had once said to Parliament, and through that body, spoken to her people:

> And though you have had, and may have, many mightier and wiser princes…yet you never had, nor shall have, any that will love you better.
> (Cavendish, 299)

The Queen of England's reign may have been assessed less favourably in recent times, particularly its final years, but she still compares well to her immediate predecessors and successors. The queen's greatest failing was perhaps having no children and never nominating an heir. Consequently, she was succeeded by her closest relative, James I of England (aka James VI of Scotland), the son of Mary, Queen of Scots. James would reign until 1625 and so be the first Stuart to rule England. The Stuarts would survive the brief republic of [Oliver Cromwell](https://www.worldhistory.org/Oliver_Cromwell/), 1649-1660, and so they remained in power until 1714.

#### Editorial Review

This human-authored definition has been reviewed by our editorial team before publication to ensure accuracy, reliability and adherence to academic standards in accordance with our [editorial policy](https://www.worldhistory.org/static/editorial-policy/).

## Bibliography

- [Cannon, John. *The Kings and Queens of Britain.* Oxford University Press, 2009.](https://www.worldhistory.org/books/0199559228/)
- [Cavendish, Richard. *Kings & Queens.* David & Charles, 2007.](https://www.worldhistory.org/books/0715323768/)
- [Elton, G.R. *England Under the Tudors.* Routledge, 2018.](https://www.worldhistory.org/books/1138602744/)
- [Ferriby, David. *The Tudors.* Hodder Education, 2015.](https://www.worldhistory.org/books/1471837580/)
- [Guy, John. *The Tudors.* Oxford University Press, 2013.](https://www.worldhistory.org/books/0199674728/)
- [Lewis, Brenda Ralph. *Kings & Queens of England, a Dark History.* Metro Books, 2020.](https://www.worldhistory.org/books/076077935X/)
- [Miller, John. *Early Modern Britain, 1450-1750.* Cambridge University Press, 2017.](https://www.worldhistory.org/books/1107650135/)
- [Morrill, John. *The Oxford Illustrated History of Tudor & Stuart Britain.* Oxford University Press, 1996.](https://www.worldhistory.org/books/019820325X/)
- [Phillips, Charles. *The Complete Illustrated Guide to the Kings & Queens of Britain.* Lorenz Books, 2006.](https://www.worldhistory.org/books/0754816281/)
- [Starkey, David. *Crown and Country.* HarperPress, 2011.](https://www.worldhistory.org/books/0007307721/)
- [Turvey, Roger. *The Early Tudors.* Hodder Education, 2020.](https://www.worldhistory.org/books/B01K0RAYPI/)
- [Woodward, Geoff. *Rebellion & Disorder Under the Tudors 1485-1603.* Hodder Education, 2016.](https://www.worldhistory.org/books/1471838501/)

## About the Author

Mark is WHE’s Publishing Director and has an MA in Political Philosophy (University of York). He is a full-time researcher, writer, historian and editor. Special interests include art, architecture and discovering the ideas that all civilizations share.

## Timeline

- **7 Sep 1533 CE**: Birth of Elizabeth, daughter of [Henry VIII of England](https://www.worldhistory.org/Henry_VIII_of_England/) and [Anne Boleyn](https://www.worldhistory.org/Anne_Boleyn/). She is the future [Elizabeth I of England](https://www.worldhistory.org/Elizabeth_I_of_England/).
- **17 Mar 1554 CE**: [Mary I of England](https://www.worldhistory.org/Mary_I_of_England/) detains her half-sister Princess Elizabeth (future [Elizabeth I of England](https://www.worldhistory.org/Elizabeth_I_of_England/)) in the [Tower of London](https://www.worldhistory.org/Tower_of_London/) on suspicion of treason.
- **1556 CE - 1598 CE**: Reign of [Philip II](https://www.worldhistory.org/disambiguation/Philip_II/) of Spain.
- **1558 CE - 1572 CE**: [William Cecil, Lord Burghley](https://www.worldhistory.org/William_Cecil_Lord_Burghley/) is the Secretary of State for [Elizabeth I of England](https://www.worldhistory.org/Elizabeth_I_of_England/).
- **1558 CE - 1603 CE**: Reign of [Elizabeth I of England](https://www.worldhistory.org/Elizabeth_I_of_England/).
- **17 Nov 1558 CE**: [Death](https://www.worldhistory.org/disambiguation/Death/) from cancer of [Mary I of England](https://www.worldhistory.org/Mary_I_of_England/).
- **1559 CE**: [Elizabeth I of England](https://www.worldhistory.org/Elizabeth_I_of_England/) introduces a new compromise Book of Common Prayer.
- **1559 CE**: Robert Dudley is appointed Master of the Horse by [Elizabeth I of England](https://www.worldhistory.org/Elizabeth_I_of_England/).
- **1559 CE**: Parliament formally asks [Elizabeth I of England](https://www.worldhistory.org/Elizabeth_I_of_England/) to marry.
- **1559 CE - 1563 CE**: The [Elizabethan Religious Settlement](https://www.worldhistory.org/article/1565/the-elizabethan-religious-settlement/), a set of acts and decisions which continue the [English Reformation](https://www.worldhistory.org/English_Reformation/).
- **Jan 1559 CE**: [Elizabeth I of England](https://www.worldhistory.org/Elizabeth_I_of_England/) rejects the marriage proposal of [Philip II](https://www.worldhistory.org/disambiguation/Philip_II/) of Spain.
- **15 Jan 1559 CE**: Coronation of [Elizabeth I of England](https://www.worldhistory.org/Elizabeth_I_of_England/) in Westminster Abbey.
- **Apr 1559 CE**: [Elizabeth I of England](https://www.worldhistory.org/Elizabeth_I_of_England/) reinstates the Act of Supremacy.
- **May 1559 CE**: The Act of Uniformity which bans the Mass service and sets out what the interiors of English churches should look like.
- **Jul 1559 CE**: The Royal Injunctions - 57 regulations on Church matters which continue the [English Reformation](https://www.worldhistory.org/English_Reformation/).
- **1560 CE**: Rumours begin that [Elizabeth I of England](https://www.worldhistory.org/Elizabeth_I_of_England/) is in a relationship with Robert Dudley.
- **8 Sep 1560 CE**: Robert Dudley’s wife Amy Robsart is found dead lying at the bottom of a flight of stairs.
- **1562 CE - 1563 CE**: [John Hawkins](https://www.worldhistory.org/John_Hawkins/)' first expedition to transport slaves from West [Africa](https://www.worldhistory.org/disambiguation/africa/) to the Americas.
- **Oct 1562 CE**: Robert Dudley is made a member of the Privy Council of [Elizabeth I of England](https://www.worldhistory.org/Elizabeth_I_of_England/).
- **Dec 1562 CE**: [Elizabeth I of England](https://www.worldhistory.org/Elizabeth_I_of_England/) suffers an attack of smallpox.
- **1563 CE**: The 39 Articles define English Protestantism.
- **1563 CE**: For a second time, Parliament formally asks [Elizabeth I of England](https://www.worldhistory.org/Elizabeth_I_of_England/) to marry.
- **1563 CE**: [Elizabeth I of England](https://www.worldhistory.org/Elizabeth_I_of_England/) bans the production of unofficial portraits of the royal person.
- **1564 CE - 1565 CE**: [John Hawkins](https://www.worldhistory.org/John_Hawkins/)' second expedition to transport slaves from West [Africa](https://www.worldhistory.org/disambiguation/africa/) to the Americas.
- **28 Sep 1564 CE**: Robert Dudley is made the 1st Earl of Leicester by [Elizabeth I of England](https://www.worldhistory.org/Elizabeth_I_of_England/).
- **1567 CE - 1568 CE**: [John Hawkins](https://www.worldhistory.org/John_Hawkins/) and [Francis Drake](https://www.worldhistory.org/Francis_Drake/) lead an expedition to transport slaves from west [Africa](https://www.worldhistory.org/disambiguation/africa/) to the Spanish West Indies. The fleet is attacked at San Juan de Ulúa.
- **May 1568 CE**: [Elizabeth I of England](https://www.worldhistory.org/Elizabeth_I_of_England/) confines the exiled [Mary, Queen of Scots](https://www.worldhistory.org/Mary_Queen_of_Scots/).
- **14 May 1568 CE**: [Mary, Queen of Scots](https://www.worldhistory.org/Mary_Queen_of_Scots/) flees [Scotland](https://www.worldhistory.org/disambiguation/Scotland/) and seeks sanctuary in [England](https://www.worldhistory.org/disambiguation/england/).
- **1569 CE**: There is a rebellion in the north of [England](https://www.worldhistory.org/disambiguation/england/) against [Elizabeth I of England](https://www.worldhistory.org/Elizabeth_I_of_England/) and stirred up by the earls of Northumberland and Westmorland.
- **Feb 1570 CE**: The Pope excommunicates [Elizabeth I of England](https://www.worldhistory.org/Elizabeth_I_of_England/).
- **1571 CE**: The Duke of Norfolk plots with Spain to mount an invasion of [England](https://www.worldhistory.org/disambiguation/england/) and crown [Mary, Queen of Scots](https://www.worldhistory.org/Mary_Queen_of_Scots/) the queen of England (the Ridolfi plot).
- **1572 CE - 1573 CE**: [Francis Drake](https://www.worldhistory.org/Francis_Drake/) explores Panama and seizes a Spanish [silver](https://www.worldhistory.org/Silver/) mule train.
- **1572 CE - 1598 CE**: [William Cecil, Lord Burghley](https://www.worldhistory.org/William_Cecil_Lord_Burghley/) is the Lord Treasurer of [Elizabeth I of England](https://www.worldhistory.org/Elizabeth_I_of_England/)'s government.
- **1576 CE**: The first purpose-built and permanent [theatre](https://www.worldhistory.org/disambiguation/theatre/) in [England](https://www.worldhistory.org/disambiguation/england/) is built in London, the Theatre.
- **1576 CE**: London receives its first playhouse, founded by James Burbage and simply known as The [Theatre](https://www.worldhistory.org/disambiguation/theatre/).
- **1576 CE - 1578 CE**: [Martin Frobisher](https://www.worldhistory.org/Martin_Frobisher/) explores Labrador in search of the fabled North-West Passage.
- **1577 CE - 1580 CE**: [Francis Drake](https://www.worldhistory.org/Francis_Drake/) circumnavigates the world in his ship the Golden Hind.
- **4 Apr 1581 CE**: [Elizabeth I of England](https://www.worldhistory.org/Elizabeth_I_of_England/) knights [Francis Drake](https://www.worldhistory.org/Francis_Drake/) after his circumnavigation of the globe.
- **1584 CE**: The Throckmorton Plot sees a Spanish ambassador work with [Mary, Queen of Scots](https://www.worldhistory.org/Mary_Queen_of_Scots/) to try and replace [Elizabeth I of England](https://www.worldhistory.org/Elizabeth_I_of_England/).
- **1585 CE**: Rober Dudley, 1st Earl of Leicester leads an expeditionary force to help Protestant rebels in the Netherlands.
- **1585 CE - 1587 CE**: Sir [Francis Drake](https://www.worldhistory.org/Francis_Drake/) attacks Spanish vessels and ports in the [Spanish Main](https://www.worldhistory.org/Spanish_Main/).
- **Apr 1585 CE - Jul 1585 CE**: Settlers sail to Virginia in North America to create [England](https://www.worldhistory.org/disambiguation/england/)'s first colony on Roanoke Island.
- **1586 CE**: The Babington Plot sees [Mary, Queen of Scots](https://www.worldhistory.org/Mary_Queen_of_Scots/) embroiled in a plot with Anthony Babington to oust [Elizabeth I of England](https://www.worldhistory.org/Elizabeth_I_of_England/).
- **1586 CE - 1588 CE**: [Thomas Cavendish](https://www.worldhistory.org/Thomas_Cavendish/) circumnavigates the globe, only the third man to do so.
- **Jul 1586 CE**: The Treaty of Berwick, a peace treaty, is signed between [England](https://www.worldhistory.org/disambiguation/england/) and [Scotland](https://www.worldhistory.org/disambiguation/Scotland/).
- **14 Oct 1586 CE**: [Mary, Queen of Scots](https://www.worldhistory.org/Mary_Queen_of_Scots/) is tried and, found guilty of plotting against [Elizabeth I of England](https://www.worldhistory.org/Elizabeth_I_of_England/), is condemned to [death](https://www.worldhistory.org/disambiguation/Death/).
- **1587 CE**: [Robert Dudley, 1st Earl of Leicester](https://www.worldhistory.org/Robert_Dudley_1st_Earl_of_Leicester/) returns to the Netherlands to assist Protestant rebels there.
- **1 Feb 1587 CE**: [Elizabeth I of England](https://www.worldhistory.org/Elizabeth_I_of_England/) signs the [death](https://www.worldhistory.org/disambiguation/Death/) warrant of [Mary, Queen of Scots](https://www.worldhistory.org/Mary_Queen_of_Scots/).
- **8 Feb 1587 CE**: [Mary, Queen of Scots](https://www.worldhistory.org/Mary_Queen_of_Scots/), guilty of plotting against [Elizabeth I of England](https://www.worldhistory.org/Elizabeth_I_of_England/), is executed.
- **Apr 1587 CE**: Sir [Francis Drake](https://www.worldhistory.org/Francis_Drake/) attacks [Cadiz](https://www.worldhistory.org/Gades/).
- **22 Jul 1587 CE**: A second wave of settlers arrives to form the [Roanoke Colony](https://www.worldhistory.org/Roanoke_Colony/) in Virginia, North America.
- **30 May 1588 CE**: The [Spanish Armada](https://www.worldhistory.org/Spanish_Armada/) of [Philip II](https://www.worldhistory.org/disambiguation/Philip_II/) of Spain leaves Lisbon.
- **Jul 1588 CE - Aug 1588 CE**: The [Spanish Armada](https://www.worldhistory.org/Spanish_Armada/) of [Philip II](https://www.worldhistory.org/disambiguation/Philip_II/) of Spain is defeated in its attempt to invade [England](https://www.worldhistory.org/disambiguation/england/).
- **9 Aug 1588 CE**: [Elizabeth I of England](https://www.worldhistory.org/Elizabeth_I_of_England/) visits her land army at Tilbury which was assembled to repel the invasion of the [Spanish Armada](https://www.worldhistory.org/Spanish_Armada/) of [Philip II](https://www.worldhistory.org/disambiguation/Philip_II/) of Spain.
- **c. 1589 CE**: [William Shakespeare](https://www.worldhistory.org/William_Shakespeare/) writes his first play, 'Henry VI Part I'.
- **Apr 1589 CE - Jul 1589 CE**: The [Drake-Norris Expedition](https://www.worldhistory.org/Drake-Norris_Expedition/) (aka English Armada or Don Antonio Expedition) attacks Lisbon and ships of [Philip II](https://www.worldhistory.org/disambiguation/Philip_II/) of Spain. It is not successful.
- **1590 CE**: Edmund Spenser writes his poem 'The Fairie Queen' with its central figure of 'Gloriana', identified with [Elizabeth I of England](https://www.worldhistory.org/Elizabeth_I_of_England/).
- **1592 CE**: A wave of [Black Death](https://www.worldhistory.org/Black_Death/) [plague](https://www.worldhistory.org/disambiguation/plague/) closes all theatres in London for one year.
- **Aug 1592 CE - Sep 1592 CE**: Sir [Walter Raleigh](https://www.worldhistory.org/Walter_Raleigh/) is imprisoned in the [Tower of London](https://www.worldhistory.org/Tower_of_London/) for marrying in secret a lady-in-waiting of [Elizabeth I of England](https://www.worldhistory.org/Elizabeth_I_of_England/).
- **3 Aug 1592 CE**: A fleet of English ships funded by Sir [Walter Raleigh](https://www.worldhistory.org/Walter_Raleigh/) captures the Portuguese treasure ship, the [carrack](https://www.worldhistory.org/Carrack/) Madre de Deus.
- **c. 1593 CE**: [William Shakespeare](https://www.worldhistory.org/William_Shakespeare/) writes his play '[Romeo and Juliet](https://www.worldhistory.org/Romeo_and_Juliet/)'.
- **Aug 1595 CE**: [John Hawkins](https://www.worldhistory.org/John_Hawkins/) and [Francis Drake](https://www.worldhistory.org/Francis_Drake/) lead an unsuccessful expedition against Spanish ships and settlements in Panama and the Caribbean.
- **Jun 1596 CE**: A large English fleet lands and captures the Spanish port of [Cadiz](https://www.worldhistory.org/Gades/).
- **1597 CE**: Elizabeth I passes the first of her Poor Laws.
- **Aug 1598 CE**: [William Cecil, Lord Burghley](https://www.worldhistory.org/William_Cecil_Lord_Burghley/) dies.
- **1599 CE**: Opening of the Globe [Theatre](https://www.worldhistory.org/disambiguation/theatre/) in London.
- **31 Dec 1600 CE**: The [East India Company](https://www.worldhistory.org/East_India_Company/) is given a charter to [trade](https://www.worldhistory.org/disambiguation/trade/) in [India](https://www.worldhistory.org/india/) and the Indian Ocean by [Elizabeth I of England](https://www.worldhistory.org/Elizabeth_I_of_England/).
- **1601 CE**: [Elizabeth I of England](https://www.worldhistory.org/Elizabeth_I_of_England/) passes the second batch of Poor Laws.
- **24 Mar 1603 CE**: [Elizabeth I of England](https://www.worldhistory.org/Elizabeth_I_of_England/), aged 69, dies of ill health at Richmond [Palace](https://www.worldhistory.org/disambiguation/palace/).
- **25 Jul 1603 CE**: Coronation of [James VI of Scotland](https://www.worldhistory.org/James_I_of_England/) as King [James I of England](https://www.worldhistory.org/James_I_of_England/) in Westminster Abbey.

## External Links

- [BBC Radio 4 - In Our Time, The Death of Elizabeth I](https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b00n5nqr)
- [Elizabeth I, Westminster Abbey](https://www.westminster-abbey.org/abbey-commemorations/royals/elizabeth-i/)
- [Elizabeth I, Historical Royal Palaces](https://www.hrp.org.uk/hampton-court-palace/history-and-stories/elizabeth-i/#gs.j6xlh1)
- [Elizabeth I’s monarchy, The National Archives](https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/education/resources/elizabeth-monarchy/)

## Cite This Work

### APA
Cartwright, M. (2020, May 26). Elizabeth I of England. *World History Encyclopedia*. [https://www.worldhistory.org/Elizabeth\_I\_of\_England/](https://www.worldhistory.org/Elizabeth_I_of_England/)
### Chicago
Cartwright, Mark. "Elizabeth I of England." *World History Encyclopedia*, May 26, 2020. [https://www.worldhistory.org/Elizabeth\_I\_of\_England/](https://www.worldhistory.org/Elizabeth_I_of_England/).
### MLA
Cartwright, Mark. "Elizabeth I of England." *World History Encyclopedia*, 26 May 2020, [https://www.worldhistory.org/Elizabeth\_I\_of\_England/](https://www.worldhistory.org/Elizabeth_I_of_England/).

## License & Copyright

Submitted by [Mark Cartwright](https://www.worldhistory.org/user/markzcartwright/ "User Page: Mark Cartwright"), published on 26 May 2020. The copyright holder has published this content under the following license: [Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0/deed.en). This license lets others remix, tweak, and build upon this content non-commercially, as long as they credit the author and license their new creations under the identical terms. When republishing on the web a hyperlink back to the original content source URL must be included. Please note that content linked from this page may have different licensing terms.