Queen Elizabeth I

Queen Elizabeth, the last Tudor monarch, was the daughter of Henry VIII and his second wife, Anne Boleyn. She was then third in line behind her Roman Catholic half-sister, Princess Mary. Elizabeth succeeded to the throne on her half-sister's death.  

Her 45-year reign is generally considered one of the most glorious in English history. Elizabeth's reign also saw many brave voyages of discovery, including those of Francis Drake, Walter Raleigh and Humphrey Gilbert, particularly to the Americas. The Queen herself was often called 'Gloriana', 'Good Queen Bess' and 'The Virgin Queen'. 

 During Elizabeth's long reign, the nation also suffered from high prices and severe economic depression, especially in the countryside, during the 1590s. The war against Spain was not very successful after the Armada had been beaten and, together with other campaigns, it was very costly. Though she kept a tight rein on government expenditure, Elizabeth left large debts to her successor. She died at Richmond Palace on 24 March 1603, having become a legend in her lifetime. The date of her accession was a national holiday for two hundred years.