Queen Elizabeth I

Queen Elizabeth I was born on September 7, 1533, at Greenwich Palace as the daughter of King Henry VIII and Anne Boleyn. She became heir to the throne after her half-siblings, Edward VI and Mary I, ruled England. Elizabeth studied languages, history, and the arts, becoming highly educated and politically astute. She navigated a dangerous court filled with plots, power struggles, and religious conflict. Elizabeth ascended the throne in 1558, establishing the Elizabethan Religious Settlement and strengthening the Church of England. Her reign saw exploration, cultural flourishing, and the defeat of the Spanish Armada in 1588. She fostered the growth of literature and drama, supporting writers like Shakespeare and Marlowe. Elizabeth ruled with intelligence, diplomacy, and a careful balance of power, becoming known as the “Virgin Queen.”