Queen Elizabeth I was born in 1533 in Greenwich, England, to King Henry VIII and his second wife, Anne Boleyn. Elizabeth was declared illegitimate after her mother’s execution in 1536, but was reinstated to the line of succession in 1544. She became queen in 1558, following the death of her half-sister, Queen Mary I. Elizabeth’s reign is known for its stability and prosperity, and for the cultural achievements of the Elizabethan era. She was known for her intelligence, political acumen, and forceful personality, as well as her resolve in maintaining the Church of England as the country’s established religion in the face of challenges from both Catholics and Puritans. Elizabeth never married or had children, and her death in 1603 marked the end of the Tudor dynasty and the beginning of the Stuart dynasty. She is remembered as one of England’s greatest monarchs.
