Elizabeth I
/ɪˌlɪzəbəθ ðə ˈfɜːst/
/ɪˌlɪzəbəθ ðə ˈfɜːrst/
- (1533-1603) the queen of England and Ireland from 1558, after the death of her sister Mary I. She is regarded as one of England's greatest rulers. The daughter of King Henry VIII and Anne Boleyn, Elizabeth was an extremely strong and clever woman who controlled the difficult political and religious situation of the time with great skill. During her reign (= period as queen) the country's economy grew very strong, the arts were very active, and England became firmly Protestant and confident in world affairs. However, Elizabeth is often seen as a very lonely figure and is known as the 'Virgin Queen' because she never married, although she is thought to have had sexual relationships with the Earl of Leicester and the Earl of Essex. see also armada, Mary, Queen of Scots “I know I have the body of a weak and feeble woman, but I have the heart and stomach of a King, and of a King of England, too.”