The 45 - year reign of Elizabeth I Tudor is considered to be the "Golden Age" in English history.
The Queen was born on 7th September in 1533. She was the daughter of Henry VIII and his second spouse Anne Boleyn. She ascended the throne after the death of her half - sister Mary I, in 1558. The first twenty - five years of Elizabeth's life were spent in constant anxiety (because she was the daughter of the woman, who had been executed). But despite this, the future queen didn't spend those years in vain, she was diligently engaged in self - education. The Queen was fluent in several European and ancient languages. She also played the clavichord, famously rode horses, had a sense of proportion, and a remarkable wit . Her fearlessness and self - control saved her life in the days of conspiracies and assassinations. Elizabeth formed easy and informal relationships with people.
The diplomatic abilities of the queen impressed contemporaries: without resorting to force or intimidation she seemed to be able to play cat and mouse with the European monarchs. Elizabeth could influence them with multiple tactics, pretending to be hesitant and timid or stubborn and arrogant or affable and gentle or cruel and calculating. Skilfully acting in her diplomatic performances, this great actress gradually transformed the British kingdom into the strongest European power.
Queen Elizabeth I preferred to avoid military action, finding wars depressing and burdensome. Nevertheless, this didn't prevent her from strengthening and raising the combat power of the British Navy to a new level. This process began with the brilliant victory of England over the Spanish Armada in 1588.
She realised the benefits of an island nation and strived to excel in navigation. The Queen even supported piracy. During her reign an "honourable pirate" Sir Walter Raleigh founded the first English colony in North America, which he named Virginia.
Elizabeth took a balanced view in matters of faith. She recognised the need for tolerance after the religious severity during the reign of her half - sister and didn't persecute either Catholics or Protestants. She wanted to bring these parts of English society together again because they were in disagreement. As a result, the Protestantism remained closer to the Catholic religion. The queen made sure that the Church was still under her authority. In a way, she made the Church " part of the state machine". People had to go to church on Sundays by law and if they stayed away they were fined. Elizabeth also introduced a book of sermons to be used in church.
As for queen's personal life, she had never been married and had no children. Elizabeth I died in 1603, without an heir and her relative James I succeeded to the throne and became known as James I of England.
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