More than four hundreds years ago a brave and determined woman brought forty years of peace and prosperity to England. Queen Elizabeth I began her life as a neglected princess, whose mother, Anne Boleyn, had been executed by her father, Henry VIII. She was ignored and imprisoned as a girl, but upon the death of her half-sister, Queen Mary, Elizabeth became a strong and popular queen.
She was extremely well educated and also sensible. "I know I have the body of a weak feeble woman but I have the heart and stomach of a king, and a king of England, too". Her people called her "Gloriana" and she became the focal point in their pride of being English - a people who had defied the Pope and would still defy all their enemies abroad. Until the Armada actually approached
her shores, Elizabeth had no intention of fighting Spain, if she could possible avoid it. She hated war because it interfered with trade and cost far more than it was worth.
Though she encountaged her "sea-dogs" and had no hesitation in accepting a share of the profits from raiding the Spanish fleet, she pretended to Phillip of Spain that she knew nothing of these exploits.
Elizabeth was sensible and wize and she believed that in England's interests it was better to scheme, to tell lies and even break treaties than it was to embark upon an official war.
The queen's court was a centre for poets, musicians and writers. Many people feel that the reign of Elizabeth I is the most glamorous, the most exciting period in English history. That is why the period is called the Golden Age.
About the Life of Queen Elizabeth I written by Herminne Tonita for FamousWhy.com
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