By: Delaney
A good role model, wonderful leader, and a good queen. All these words can be used to describe Queen Elizabeth I. Even though she was beloved by her people, Queen Elizabeth I was not expected to be queen. Her brother and sister were first.
Her brother was victim to a young death and her sister was killed. Though it was when her sister Mary imprisoned her in a tower, where she gets more of her fame. Her sister Mary being a tyrant, Elizabeth was a more popular pick. Now let’s explore more of Elizabeth's early history.
Even though she grew up wealthy she still had a rough home life. Elizabeth’s father Henry VIII was a harsh father and did not care for Elizabeth. Her mother Anne Boleyn was only around for a bit before her father had Anne executed for having Elizabeth.
Her siblings were not much better. Mary I, Henry, and Edward VI were all stuck up and selfish. Mary was a tyrant, Edward died very young and Henry was barely king before he died. By the age of 25 Elizabeth was the only descendant of the Tudor family.
Elizabeth lived a long life for the time. Born on September 7, 1533, crowned in 1558, and dead by March 24, 1603. By the time her life was completed Elizabeth had lived a total of 75 years. Along with her long-life Elizabeth had a long name. Her full name was Queen Elizabeth of Tudor I. She got her first name from her grandmother and her last name, Tudor from her father's side of the family.
A good portion of her accomplishments were religious feats. Elizabeth did what no one thought she could do. Between being the longest ruling queen, re-establishing the church of England, and ending the war with France, Elizabeth did everything.
Even though Elizabeth was protestant the church of England was Catholic because of her father King Henry VIII. He switched his religion just so he could divorce his wife and marry Anne Boleyn. Which means that when Elizabeth became queen she had to deal with angry protestants and frustrated Catholics. Most of her enemies came from her decision to switch the church of England back to Protestant.
But, with religion you have war. Even though odds were against England they still did well. When the war between England and Spain broke out no one thought England would last long. When Elizabeth became queen, her priority was to create the English navy. After that there were two more major wars. The French War and the Batlle of Stalingrad.
Even though being a queen was hard she rose to the challenge. Though you might think being a queen was easy. Elizabeth’s rein was anything but easy. Between being a woman and being crowned young (crowned in 1558 at 25 years old) most people thought she wouldn’t do well.
During her rein Elizabeth had to deal with sexism that was reinforced by teaching and custom, and the fact that her will to dominate was frowned upon. Even though it was admired in men. In court Elizabeth was even more fierce. In the case for Mary queen of Scots Elizabeth had her own sister executed for treason.
I think Elizabeth was an important role model because she not only showed she could be as good as a king, but she also showed she could be better. She pushed boundaries and was a brave leader. As she often said, “I know that I have the body of a weak and feeble woman, but I have the heart and stomach of a king.” Queen Elizabeth I of England was a woman of power.
Sources:
Elizabeth, et al. Elizabeth and Mary Tudor. Ashgate, 2001.
“Explore Encyclopedia Britannica.” Encyclopædia Britannica, Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc., www.britannica.com/.
“Main Page.” Wikipedia, Wikimedia Foundation, 24 Mar. 2019, www.wikipedia.org/.
Shone, Rob, and Anita Ganeri. Elizabeth I: the Life of England's Renaissance Queen. Rosen Central, 2005.
“The Most Trusted Place for Answering Life's Questions.” Answers, Answers Corporation, www.answers.com/.
