Elizabeth I: A powerful and charismatic queen

Queen Elizabeth I was as a powerful and influential monarch of Great Britain. She is often referred to as the Virgin Queen, for her refusal to marry. It was interesting to read about the life of Elizabeth, but what intrigued me most was her character. She was a strong female leader in a time when men and women were placed in very different boxes; many of the necessary qualities of a strong leader were seen as desirable and natural for men, but unnatural and unfit for women. Despite this cultural opposition, however, Elizabeth was very protective and possessive of her power and authority as Queen of England. This is likely one of the reasons for her determination to avoid marriage, as selecting a husband would have been a decision to relinquish a good portion of her power to him. Rather, Elizabeth continually insisted that she was wedded to her kingdom, to Great Britain.

Elizabeth’s childhood was quite a tragic one. Because her father, King Henry VIII was so determined to have a son to succeed him, it was quite common knowledge that she was unwanted by her father. When she was still a very young child, Elizabeth’s mother, Anne Boleyn (the king’s second wife), was beheaded for charges of adultery and treason. However, despite her father’s infamous cruelty and well-known desire for a male heir, Elizabeth was not neglected as a child. Rather, she was educated by some of the most distinguished tutors, ultimately receiving the same rigorous education that most male heirs received.

This education in moral philosophy, rhetoric, history, and classical languages would prove to be invaluable to her in her later years as Queen of England. This background of education was especially seen in Elizabeth’s speech. She was very eloquent and persuasive in her rhetoric and communication. Her astute and courageous nature, in addition to her majestic and admirable self-presentation, and her devotion to her kingdom, made her a beloved and revered leader. She is remembered as a savior of England, as her long rule was influential in allowing the kingdom to find stability and healing in the areas it so desperately need saving—most especially, the religious sector.

References:

https://www.britannica.com/biography/Elizabeth-I

https://www.elizabethi.org/

https://www.mtholyoke.edu/~brown24e/classweb/page09.htm