This Day in History: 17 November 2020
17 November 1558
462 years ago, today, the Elizabethan Age begun when Queen Mary I died and was succeeded by her half-sister, Elizabeth. The two half-sisters had a stormy relationship during Mary's five-year reign, as Mary had been brought up as a Catholic, and so enacted pro-Catholic legislation and tried to restore the pope's supremacy in the country. A Protestant rebellion commenced, resulting in Mary imprisoning Elizabeth in the Tower of London on suspicion of complicity. After Mary's death, Elizabeth likewise suffered several Catholic plots, but her ascension was greeted with approval by most of England's lords, as they were largely Protestant and hoped for greater religious tolerance.
In foreign affairs, Elizabeth practised a policy of strengthening England's Protestant allies and dividing her foes. She was opposed by the pope, who refused to recognise her legitimacy, and by Spain, a powerful Catholic nation. In 1588, Spain invaded England, in which the Spanish Armada, the greatest naval force at the time, was destroyed by storms and a determined English navy. With increasing English domination at sea, Elizabeth encouraged voyages of discovery, such as Sir Francis Drake's circumnavigation of the world and Sir Walter Raleigh's expeditions to the North American coast. Elizabeth also became known as the 'Virgin Queen' for her reluctance to marry. By her death, England had become a major world power, and Elizabeth passed into history as one of England's greatest monarchs.
Want to find out more about the reign of Elizabeth I? Click here for more information, or here for more about Elizabeth's spy network.
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