Queen Elizabeth I

Elizabeth at 13 (www.earlywomenmasters.net)

My hero is Queen Elizabeth I, the last Tudor. You've probably heard of her. The old redheaded queen that never married? That was her. She was the second queen in European history to succeed the throne. Not only that, but "Good Queen Bess" reigned without a husband.

Her childhood was difficult. Elizabeth was the daughter of King Henry VII and Anne Boleyn, his second wife. At the tender age of three, her mother was beheaded. Her father then married four more times. The first three ended badly, but his sixth marriage survived through to his death.

After her father died, her brother ruled, but soon died, too. Her sister, Queen Bloody Mary, held her under house arrest for a year, then died of sickness. Elizabeth became queen. This all happened in thirteen years.

It shows her with power over weather.

The time Queen Elizabeth reigned lasted 45 years, and was named the Elizabethan Age, and the Golden Age. Bess was smart, and reigned well. She led England with power. In war, she was mainly defensive on land. At sea, she conquered the France and the Spanish Armada.

She tolerated both Catholics and Protestants, and often intervened between the two. The queen was known to ride through England, exciting the admiration of her subjects. Elizabeth gave brilliant speeches, and quickly collected admiration.

During her reign, the Spanish Armada fell. William Shakespeare was recognized. She didn't lavish the court, but enjoyed the arts. Virginia, then an American colony, was named after her. There are many paintings of the Queen, often depicting Elizabeth as a beautiful, ageless fairy queen. In truth, she was ordinary, and even scarred by smallpox.

As you can tell, Queen Elizabeth was an amazing person. After all hard times in her life, she still managed to rule with a proper and fair hand. This is why she is my hero.

"I will be as good unto ye as ever a Queen was unto her people...And persuade yourselves that for the safety and quietness of you all I will not spare if need be to spend my blood."