Queen Elizabeth
“England’s Virgin
Queen” or “Good Queen Bess”
Elizabeth
was the queen of England and accomplished many things during her reign,
including defeating the Spanish Armada. She was the daughter of Henry VIII (8),
king of England and France, and his second wife Anne Boleyn. She was born in
September 7, 1533.
Elizabeth
inherited the throne in 1558. She began her reign with a theme of national
unity. Her first act was to appoint William Cecil as her principle secretary,
which would prove to be a long and fruitful partnership. In 1559 she restores
the Edwardian religious settlement. Elizabeth demanded only outward obedience,
unwilling to force consciences. She believed that instability in religion would
unsettle political order.
One
big obstacle that Queen Elizabeth experienced was the question of marriage. Numerous
times the parliament presented her with official requests the she marry. Most of the English population hoped that
marriage would solve the problem of a woman ruling. Women were not believed to
be capable of leading forces into battle. Their mental powers were considered
to be inferior to men. Elizabeth was often confronted with such sexist ideas
and believed to be unable to comprehend such matters of governance. Men often
gave her unsolicited advice, particularly in regards to the will of God, which
only men were believed to be able to interpret. Despite the frustration this
must have caused, Elizabeth governed with her head. She knew how to use
courtship as a useful political tool, and she wielded it masterfully.
Throughout her life, Elizabeth had a variety of suitors and she often used her
unmarried status to her advantage. Elizabeth herself declared that she was
married to her kingdom and England would be fine with an unmarried ruler.
In 1588 Phillip of Spain launched
the infamous Armada, with this launching Elizabeth experienced one of the
greatest moments in her reign. In that year she went to Tilbury Camp to encourage the troops,
infamously declaring that though she had “the
body of a weak and feeble woman, I have the heart and stomach of a king, and a
king of England too, and think foul scorn that Parma or Spain, or any prince of
Europe, should dare invade the borders of my realm…” (Tudor
England: An Encyclopedia, 225). In the end, England defeated the Armada
and Elizabeth was victorious. This would prove to be the climax of Elizabeth’s
reign.
Elizabeth has been remembered more
for her successes. She is mostly remembered as a monarch that loved her people
and was much loved in return. Elizabeth was always revered and seen as almost
divine. Her unmarried status often led to comparisons of Elizabeth with Diana,
the Virgin Mary, and even a Vestal Virgin (Tuccia).
Against all the odds, Elizabeth
managed to use her gender to her advantage. She was able to face the numerous
problems her confronting her kingdom in 1558. She reigned for almost half a
century, always surmounting whatever challenges stood in her way. Keenly aware
of the increased burdens due to her gender, Elizabeth managed to construct a
complex personality that awed and charmed her subjects. She impresses people
even today and her name has become synonymous with strong women.
