Elizabeth I of England
Queen of England during a period of political consolidation, maritime expansion and religious conflict. Her long reign became associated with the Elizabethan cultural flowering and rivalry with Spain.
Life of Elizabeth I of England
An insecure childhood
The daughter of Henry VIII and Anne Boleyn, Elizabeth was born at Greenwich in 1533. After her mother’s execution in 1536 she was declared illegitimate, although an Act of 1544 restored her to the succession. She received an exceptional humanist education in classical and modern languages. During the reign of her sister Mary I, suspected of supporting Wyatt’s rebellion, she spent several weeks imprisoned in the Tower of London in 1554.
References: Oxford Dictionary of National Biography · Deutsche Biographie · Encyclopaedia Britannica
The religious settlement
Queen from November 1558, Elizabeth and Parliament restored royal supremacy over the Church in 1559 and a Book of Common Prayer. The Church of England was Protestant in doctrine while retaining bishops and elements of traditional worship. Pope Pius V excommunicated her in 1570. Her principal adviser for forty years was William Cecil, Lord Burghley.
References: Oxford Dictionary of National Biography · Deutsche Biographie · Encyclopaedia Britannica
Mary Stuart and Spain
Her cousin Mary, Queen of Scots, a Catholic with a claim to the English throne, fled to England in 1568 and was detained for almost twenty years. Following several conspiracies, she was executed in 1587. Elizabeth supported the rebels in the Low Countries from 1585 and tolerated privateers such as Francis Drake. The defeat of Philip II’s Spanish Armada in 1588 strengthened her public image, although the war with Spain continued until 1604.
References: Oxford Dictionary of National Biography · Deutsche Biographie · Encyclopaedia Britannica
The Virgin Queen and her succession
Elizabeth never married and made that decision part of her public image. Her reign saw the flourishing of the theatre of Marlowe and Shakespeare, the first attempts at colonisation in North America and the foundation of the East India Company in 1600. She died at Richmond in 1603 and was succeeded by James VI of Scotland, the son of Mary, Queen of Scots.
References: Oxford Dictionary of National Biography · Deutsche Biographie · Encyclopaedia Britannica
This complete profile is available in English. Bibliographic titles retain their original language. Links marked ES open the Spanish edition.
Key details
Birth: 7 September 1533 Documented
Death: 24 March 1603 Documented
Role: Queen of England and Ireland
Dynasty: Tudor · ES
Territories: England (ES) · Ireland (ES)
Recorded relationships
Their titles over time
Follow the changing territories and offices of Elizabeth I of England. Each title retains its own status.
Governments in 1558
- EnglandQueen
View titles and jurisdictions
- England · ESQueen · Effective rule1558–1603
- IrelandQueen
View titles and jurisdictions
- Ireland · ESQueen · Effective rule1558–1603
Annual dates: overlap within one year does not prove that two offices were held on the same day. Regencies and co-rulerships retain their labels.
Sources for this profile
- Deutsche Nationalbibliothek · Ficha de autoridad GND · Elisabeth I., England, Königin
- Oxford Dictionary of National Biography
- Encyclopaedia Britannica
Biographical and contextual references in their original language. Sources and methodology.
Evidence for this profile
6 recorded claims · 2 without a claim-specific source. Context references do not by themselves verify every fact.
Dates (2/2 with a precise source)
- BirthDocumented
7 September 1533
The authority record gives the birth as 1533-09-07. - DeathDocumented
24 March 1603
The authority record gives the death as 1603-03-24.
Family and relationships (2/2 with a precise source)
- FatherDocumented
Henry VIII of England
The authority record identifies Henry VIII of England (GND 118548204) as father. - MotherDocumented
Anne Boleyn
The authority record identifies Anne Boleyn (GND 118649442) as mother.
Governments (0/2 with a precise source)
- GovernmentPending review
Queen · England · 1558–1603
A precise source has not yet been added. - GovernmentPending review
Queen · Ireland · 1558–1603
A precise source has not yet been added.
Biographical and contextual references (3)
Editorial history
- 2026-10-12 · Claim registry added; existing historical data kept. Specific sourcing remains to be reviewed.
- 2026-10-08 · Claim registry added; existing historical data kept. Specific sourcing remains to be reviewed.
- 2026-10-04 · Claim registry added; existing historical data kept. Specific sourcing remains to be reviewed.
- 2026-10-04 · Claim registry added; existing historical data kept. Specific sourcing remains to be reviewed.
- 2026-10-03 · Claim registry added; existing historical data kept. Specific sourcing remains to be reviewed.
- 2026-09-30 · The duchy is limited to Dijon and Autun; each other fief now enters the map only under its dated ruler. John III of Namur and the Nevers/Rethel branch were added. The previous shape combined later counties and unrelated lands as if all belonged to the duchy from 1363.
- 2026-09-28 · Claim registry added; existing historical data kept. Specific sourcing remains to be reviewed.
