Elizabeth I

Elizabeth I (1533–1603) was queen of England and Ireland from 1558 to 1603 and was the last monarch of the Tudor period. She was the daughter of Henry VIII and his second wife, Anne Boleyn. She succeeded to the throne in November 1558 following the death of her sister Mary I and went on to reign for 45 years. Elizabeth never married but saw herself as wedded to her country. Her finest hour was arguably in 1588 when she defeated the Spanish Armada, a great fleet of ships sent by King Philip II of Spain to invade England. Elizabeth is also referred to as the Virgin Queen, Good Queen Bess and 'Gloriana'