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Elizabeth was born at Greenwich on 7 September 1533 -
Born 7 September 1533 -
She was baptised on 10 September 1533, and her godparents were Thomas Cranmer, Archbishop of Canterbury; Henry Courtenay, 1st Marquess of Exeter; Elizabeth Stafford, Duchess of Norfolk; and Margaret Wotton, Dowager Marchioness of Dorset.
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She was baptised on 10 September 1533
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Elizabeth was two years and eight months old when her mother was beheaded on 19 May 1536
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Elizabeth was two years and eight months old when her mother was beheaded on 19 May 1536, four months after Catherine of Aragon's death from natural causes.
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Catherine Champernowne, better known by her later, married name of Catherine "Kat" Ashley, was appointed as Elizabeth's governess in 1537, and she remained Elizabeth's friend until her death in 1565.
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Her early life was full of uncertainties, and her chances of succeeding to the throne seemed very slight once her half-brother Edward was born in 1537.
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Champernowne taught Elizabeth four languages: French, Dutch, Italian and Spanish. By the time William Grindal became her tutor in 1544, Elizabeth could write English, Latin, and Italian.
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By the time William Grindal became her tutor in 1544, Elizabeth could write English, Latin, and Italian.
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By the age of 12 she was able to translate her stepmother Catherine Parr's religious work Prayers or Meditations from English into Italian, Latin, and French, which she presented to her father as a New Year's gift.
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By the age of 12 she was able to translate her stepmother Catherine Parr's religious work
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When Parr died after childbirth on 5 September 1548, he renewed his attentions towards Elizabeth, intent on marrying her.
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After Grindal died in 1548, Elizabeth received her education under her brother Edward's tutor, Roger Ascham, a sympathetic teacher who believed that learning should be engaging.
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However, after Parr discovered the pair in an embrace, she ended this state of affairs. In May 1548, Elizabeth was sent away.
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After Grindal died in 1548, Elizabeth received her education under her brother Edward's tutor
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By the time her formal education ended in 1550, Elizabeth was one of the best educated women of her generation.
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On 17 April 1555, Elizabeth was recalled to court to attend the final stages of Mary's apparent pregnancy. If Mary and her child died, Elizabeth would become queen, but if Mary gave birth to a healthy child, Elizabeth's chances of becoming queen would recede sharply. -
On 17 April 1555, Elizabeth was recalled to court to attend the final stages of Mary's apparent pregnancy.
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Upon her half-sister's death in 1558, Elizabeth succeeded to the throne and set out to rule by good counsel.
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Upon her half-sister's death in 1558, Elizabeth succeeded to the throne and set out to rule by good counsel.
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By October 1558, Elizabeth was already making plans for her government.
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Mary recognised Elizabeth as her heir on 6 November 1558
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Mary recognised Elizabeth as her heir on 6 November 1558
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Elizabeth became queen when Mary died on 17 November. -
Elizabeth became queen when Mary died on 17 November.
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At first, only Elizabeth made a virtue of her ostensible virginity: in 1559, she told the Commons, "And, in the end, this shall be for me sufficient, that a marble stone shall declare that a queen, having reigned such a time, lived and died a virgin".
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15 January 1559, a date chosen by her astrologer John Dee, Elizabeth was crowned
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Painted portraits became less realistic and more a set of enigmatic icons that made her look much younger than she was. In fact, her skin had been scarred by smallpox in 1562
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Catherine "Kat" Ashley, was appointed as Elizabeth's governess in 1537, and she remained Elizabeth's friend until her death in 1565.
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After the pope declared her illegitimate in 1570 and released her subjects from obedience to her, several conspiracies threatened her life, all of which were defeated with the help of her ministers' secret service -
In religion, she was relatively tolerant and avoided systematic persecution. After the pope declared her illegitimate in 1570 and released her subjects from obedience to her, several conspiracies threatened her life, all of which were defeated with the help of her ministers' secret service
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By 1570, senior figures in the government privately accepted that Elizabeth would never marry or name a successor.
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Elizabeth's senior adviser, Lord Burghley, died on 4 August 1598. His political mantle passed to his son Robert, who soon became the leader of the government.
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Elizabeth would insist she was married to her kingdom and subjects, under divine protection. In 1599, she spoke of "all my husbands, my good people".
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Died 24 March 1603 (aged 69) -
Died 24 March 1603 (aged 69)
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Burial 28 April 1603 -
Burial 28 April 1603
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from 17 November 1558 until her death in 1603. Elizabeth was the last monarch of the House of Tudor and is sometimes referred to as the "Virgin Queen".