THE REIGN OF QUEEN ELIZABETH
Queen Elizabeth I was born 7 September 1533 at Greenwich Palace. She was the daughter of King Henry VIII and Anne Boleyn. Her mother, Anne Boleyn, was accused of adultery and incest (with her brother George Boleyn) and was beheaded at the Tower of London when Elizabeth was only three years old. Elizabeth's brother became King Edward VI, who died when he was fifteen years old and her half sister was the staunch Catholic Queen Mary I, otherwise known as Bloody Mary. Princess Elizabeth lived with her stepmother Katharine Parr and her husband Thomas Seymour - but she was sent away in disgrace when she was 14 years old, amid rumors that she was having an affair with Seymour. Elizabeth was highly intelligent and extremely well educated. Her most famous tutor was Roger Ascham. By the age of 11 Elizabeth was able to speak fluently in several languages including French, Greek, Latin, Spanish and Welsh. Her half sister disliked Elizabeth intensely and accused her of treason. Elizabeth was imprisoned in the Tower of London on March 18, 1554 accused of being involved in the Wyatt rebellion. On Saturday 19 May 1554 Elizabeth was released from the Tower of London, but continued to be held under house arrest at Woodstock for some time. Hatfield House was the main residence of Princess Elizabeth but her household often moved around to other locations such as Hunsdon, Enfield Palace, Westminster Palace, Whitehall, Richmond Place, Hampton Court and Windsor Castle.
In 1562 Queen Elizabeth almost died of Smallpox and was left with scars on her face - these were covered with the heavy white make-up which was fashionable at the time. She survived various Catholic plots and conspiracies such as the Babbington plot involving Mary Queen of Scots. She never met her cousin and rival, Mary Queen of Scots, although she was imprisoned in England for many years. Elizabeth was distraught when Mary Queen of Scots was eventually beheaded. Her reign witnessed the emergence of great poets and playwrights emerged during her era such as William Shakespeare, Edmund Spenser, Christopher Marlowe and Sir Walter Raleigh. She also encouraged explorers such as Sir Francis Drake, Sir Walter Raleigh, Sir John Hawkins, Sir Humphrey Gilbert and Sir Richard Greenville. The reign of Queen Elizabeth saw several rebellions - from the Irish, “The Rising of the North” and the Essex rebellion - all of which she defeated. Queen Elizabeth reigned for 45 years from 1558 - 1603. She eventually died on 24 March 1603 of blood poisoning - she was nearly 70 years old (Tombstone and grave of Queen
Elizabeth I)
In 1562 Queen Elizabeth almost died of Smallpox and was left with scars on her face - these were covered with the heavy white make-up which was fashionable at the time. She survived various Catholic plots and conspiracies such as the Babbington plot involving Mary Queen of Scots. She never met her cousin and rival, Mary Queen of Scots, although she was imprisoned in England for many years. Elizabeth was distraught when Mary Queen of Scots was eventually beheaded. Her reign witnessed the emergence of great poets and playwrights emerged during her era such as William Shakespeare, Edmund Spenser, Christopher Marlowe and Sir Walter Raleigh. She also encouraged explorers such as Sir Francis Drake, Sir Walter Raleigh, Sir John Hawkins, Sir Humphrey Gilbert and Sir Richard Greenville. The reign of Queen Elizabeth saw several rebellions - from the Irish, “The Rising of the North” and the Essex rebellion - all of which she defeated. Queen Elizabeth reigned for 45 years from 1558 - 1603. She eventually died on 24 March 1603 of blood poisoning - she was nearly 70 years old (Tombstone and grave of Queen
Elizabeth I)
Queen Elizabeth appreciated music, dancing, and pageantry. Pageant was a dramatic presentation, which could include a play, that often depicted a historical, biblical, or traditional event. However, like most English people, Elizabeth did not distinguish much popular entertainment and the higher arts. She was happy to watch a bear baiting or view a fireworks display as to listen to her court musicians perform or attend a play. A bear baiting is a form of entertainment where a bear is tied to a post and attacked by dogs in front of spectators.
Queen Elizabeth was very careful about her public image. Her ministers hired only a few painters to be able to paint her portrait. These artists created patterns, or examples of the look that was acceptable to the royal court, and the patterns were then distributed to other appointed painters to copy. The queen’s portraits provided the regal image of a powerful monarch, the steady, never aging force behind England. They probably do not reflect what she actually looked like. Queen Elizabeth’s portraits that were painted when she was in her sixties do not show the wrinkles, chalky face make up, the loss of her hair, or the blackening of her hair in her painted portraits, even though they were written in the noted descriptions of her.
Queen Elizabeth was very careful about her public image. Her ministers hired only a few painters to be able to paint her portrait. These artists created patterns, or examples of the look that was acceptable to the royal court, and the patterns were then distributed to other appointed painters to copy. The queen’s portraits provided the regal image of a powerful monarch, the steady, never aging force behind England. They probably do not reflect what she actually looked like. Queen Elizabeth’s portraits that were painted when she was in her sixties do not show the wrinkles, chalky face make up, the loss of her hair, or the blackening of her hair in her painted portraits, even though they were written in the noted descriptions of her.