Queen Elizabeth

The last queen of the Tudor dynasty, Queen Elizabeth I proved to be on of the most celebrated, and controversial leaders in English history. Raised in a neglectful home, and shadowed by her mother's reputation, Elizabeth did not have the royal treatment that her siblings received. From her birth, she was a disappointment, as a child she was intelligent, yet unnoticed, and the road to her 1558-1603 reign was troubled.

Elizabeth was born on September 7, 1533. To the disappointment of King Henry VII, her father, she was a presumptive heir to the throne. Elizabeth's older sister, Mary, would have been heir to the throne, but that was stripped from her when Henry VII divorced her mother, Catherine of Aragon. Anne Boleyn, Elizabeth's mother, failed to provide Henry VII with a male heir he desired. She suffered two miscarriages, and was suspected of having an affair. Anne Boleyn was arrested, and on May 19, 1536 she was beheaded.

After the death of Anne Boleyn, Henry VII married Jane Seymour, and gave birth to Prince Edward. Jane Seymour died twelve days after the birth of her son. Now that Henry finally had a male heir, Elizabeth was declared illegitimate and deprived of the title ?princess?. She was eclipsed by her mother?s alleged infidelity, and ignored throughout most her childhood. At the age of four, Elizabeth passed into the care of Catherine Champernowne. Elizabeth was a very intelligent girl, and when William Grindal became Elizabeth?s tutor, she already knew how to read and write English, Latin, and Italian. When Elizabeth was fifteen years old, her father died. Prince Edward VI soon became King Edward VI. Catherine Parr, Henry?s last wife then married Thomas Seymour, and took Elizabeth into their home at Chelsea.

Edw...

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...ontinually failing, but efforts to appear health in the eyes of the court and country was Elizabeth?s main concern. In her last days, she would sit in her room on cushions and refuse to move. On March 24, 1603 the sixty-nine year old queen died. Queen Elizabeth?s funeral was like none other. Thousands, and thousands of people crowded the streets, and Elizabeth became the first queen to ever be shown nationwide grief that England showed Elizabeth.

Queen Elizabeth proved to be one of the greatest monarchs in English history. The last queen of the Tudor dynasty, Elizabeth held her stance on her policies, and was stern when her personal life was brought into question. Elizabeth was neglected, and ignored as a child. She was unwanted, and she was shadowed by her mother?s reputation of infidelity. She rose up, though, and she was a loved heroine to Protestant England.