By: HISTORY.com Editors

Elizabeth I

Published: November 09, 2009Last Updated: February 02, 2026

Elizabeth I ruled England from 1558 to 1603, stabilizing the country after years of religious turmoil and firmly establishing Protestantism. Her reign—often called the Elizabethan Age—saw cultural flourishing, naval strength and England’s rise as a major European power.

The long reign of Elizabeth, who became known as the “Virgin Queen” for her reluctance to endanger her authority through marriage, coincided with the flowering of the English Renaissance, associated with such renowned authors as William Shakespeare. By her death in 1603, England had become a major world power in every respect, and Queen Elizabeth I passed into history as one of England’s greatest monarchs.

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