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TIMELINE. For a more detailed timeline visit the Chronology of Events section. 1533 - Elizabeth is born at Greenwich Palace. 1536 - Elizabeth's mother, Queen Anne Boleyn, is executed at The Tower of London. 1537 - Elizabeth's half-brother, Prince Edward, is born. 1547 - King Henry VIII dies and Prince Edward becomes King Edward VI.
- Overview
- September 7, 1533
- May 19, 1536
- 1547
- 1553–54
- 1558
- 1568
- 1577–84
- 1587
- 1588
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Elizabeth is born in Greenwich, England. Her father is Tudor king Henry VIII. Her mother, Anne Boleyn, is Henry’s second wife. In order to dissolve his marriage with his first wife, Catherine of Aragon, Henry had separated England from the authority of the Roman Catholic Church. Catherine of Aragon had only one surviving child, Mary. The king’s ard...
After having accused Anne Boleyn of infidelity and treason, Henry has her put to death at the Tower of London. Soon after the execution Henry marries Jane Seymour. She later gives birth to a son, Edward.
Upon Henry’s death on January 28, Edward succeeds to the throne as Edward VI. Because of his youth the government is run by regents during his reign. Both Elizabeth and Edward are brought up as followers of the Church of England. Their half sister, Mary, is brought up as a Roman Catholic.
Edward VI dies on July 6, 1553. Mary becomes queen and restores Roman Catholicism as England’s state religion. Mary suspects Elizabeth of plotting with the Protestants to gain the throne and has her imprisoned in the Tower of London in 1554. No conclusive evidence of treason by Elizabeth emerges, however, and she is released after two months.
Mary dies on November 17, 1558. Elizabeth is crowned queen of England. She is 25 years old. She has received a good education and is well prepared to rule. She reestablishes the independent Church of England. The young queen chooses as her chief minister William Cecil (Lord Burghley). He will serve as principal adviser to Elizabeth through most of ...
Having been forced to abdicate the Scottish throne, Mary Stuart flees across the English border to ask for Elizabeth’s help. Elizabeth is distrustful of Mary. Some Catholics regard Mary as England’s rightful queen. Elizabeth promptly has Mary taken into custody, where she will remain for the next 19 years.
Elizabeth encourages exploration and voyages of discovery. She provides financial support for Admiral Francis Drake’s circumnavigation of the globe (1577–80). In the 1580s Walter Raleigh, one of her favorites at court, sends out several expeditions in an effort to establish an English colony in North America. The name Virginia—in honor of the Virgi...
During the 19 years that Mary Stuart is Elizabeth’s prisoner, some English Catholics form plots to liberate her and to place her on the throne of England. Finally, Mary is accused of having a part in the so-called Babington Plot to assassinate Elizabeth. Parliament demands her execution, Elizabeth signs the warrant, and Mary is beheaded on February...
Catholic king Philip II of Spain assembles a great fleet of ships called the Armada to attack England. The Armada sails into the English Channel in July 1588. The English ships that meet them are smaller but possess superior speed and maneuverability. In the fighting that ensues the English inflict terrible losses on their enemy. The naval victory ...
Elizabeth I reigned as queen of England from 1558 to 1603. Her 44-year reign was so long and packed with momentous events that the second half of the 16th century is now known as the Elizabethan era and still regarded as a 'Golden Age' for England. More about: Elizabeth I of England Timeline
- Mark Cartwright
- Publishing Director
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Apr 26, 2024 · Elizabeth I (born September 7, 1533, Greenwich, near London, England—died March 24, 1603, Richmond, Surrey) was the queen of England (1558–1603) during a period, often called the Elizabethan Age, when England asserted itself vigorously as a major European power in politics, commerce, and the arts. Although her small kingdom was threatened ...
Elizabeth I (7 September 1533 – 24 March 1603) [a] was Queen of England and Ireland from 17 November 1558 until her death in 1603. She was the last monarch of the House of Tudor . Elizabeth was the only surviving child of Henry VIII and Anne Boleyn, his second wife, who was executed when Elizabeth was two years old.
- 17 November 1558 –, 24 March 1603
- Anne Boleyn
May 26, 2020 · Elizabeth I reigned as queen of England from 1558 to 1603. Her 44-year reign was so long and packed with momentous events that the second half of the 16th century is now known as the Elizabethan era and still regarded as a 'Golden Age' for England. Elizabeth succeeded her elder half-sister Mary I of England (r. 1553-1558).
