On This Day – March 24th

Elizabeth I who reigned until her death on 24th March 1603 was Queen of England and Ireland nearly 45 years – a record at that time. Sometimes called The Virgin Queen, Gloriana or Good Queen Bess, Elizabeth was the last monarch of the House of Tudor.

She was the daughter of Henry VIII and Anne Boleyn, his second wife, who was executed two-and-a-half years after Elizabeth's birth. Anne's marriage to Henry VIII was annulled, and Elizabeth declared illegitimate. Her half-brother, Edward VI, ruled until his death in 1553, bequeathing the crown to Lady Jane Grey and ignoring the claims of his two half-sisters, Elizabeth and the Roman Catholic Mary, in spite of statute law to the contrary.

Edward's will was set aside and Mary became queen, deposing Lady Jane Grey. During Mary's reign, Elizabeth was imprisoned for nearly a year on suspicion of supporting Protestant rebels.

In government, Elizabeth was more moderate than her father and half-siblings had been.3 One of her mottoes was "video et taceo" – "I see but say nothing". In religion, she was relatively tolerant and avoided systematic persecution.

Her reign is remembered for the flourishing of English drama, led by playwrights such as William Shakespeare and Christopher Marlowe, and for the seafaring prowess of English adventurers such as Francis Drake.

Some historians depict Elizabeth as a short-tempered, sometimes indecisive ruler, who enjoyed more than her share of luck, although towards the end of her reign a series of economic and military problems weakened her popularity. She is acknowledged as a charismatic performer and a dogged survivor in an era when government was ramshackle and limited, and when monarchs in neighbouring countries faced internal problems that jeopardised their thrones.

Her image is remembered in part for her make-up and wigs but particularly for her lavish dresses, of which she amassed a large number over her lifetime.

Today's questions is – how many?

This article is from our news archive. As a result pictures or videos originally associated with it may have been removed and some of the content may no longer be accurate or relevant.