The Elizabethans overview - OCR BThe Elizabethan era, 1558-1603
Elizabeth I is a colourful monarch. Her reign has been referred to by some as a 鈥榞olden age鈥 but more recently this has been challenged and Elizabeth鈥檚 control over her country has been questioned.
The Elizabethan era in the 16th century was one of adventure, intrigue, personalities, plots and power struggles. At the centre was Queen Elizabeth I, 鈥楾he Virgin Queen鈥 and the latter part of her reign (from 1558-1603) has been referred to by some historians as a 鈥榞olden age.鈥 However, is this an accurate interpretation and how did Elizabeth deal with the political, economic and religious tensions she encountered during this period?
Elizabeth was the daughter of Henry VIII, the most notorious of all the Tudors, and his second wife Anne Boleyn. She became queen aged just 25 after the death of her brother Edward VI and sister Mary I.
The 16th century witnessed more religious change than ever before and Elizabeth鈥檚 main priority when she came to the throne had been to settle the nation and ensure England鈥檚 national security. From 1558 she took greater steps to enforce this settlement and this brought her into conflict with the Catholics both at home and abroad. She was a clever politician with a cautious approach, and was sometimes willing to compromise for the sake of her people. She never married, deciding to put the security of England before herself.