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Queen Elizabeth I

Queen Elizabeth I was the daughter of King Henry VIII by his second wife Anne Boleyn. She was Protestant while her sister, Mary, remained Catholic. The two also had a brother named Edward who was sickly most of his life and died at an early age. Mary and Elizabeth were rivals from birth and they grew up during very tumultuous times in European history. Mary was the first to take control after their father's death, but in time Mary's Catholic reign began to wear on the English. When she died in November of 1558, Elizabeth took the throne. She reigned for forty-five years without ever marrying or giving birth to a child. For this reason, she became known as the "Virgin Queen". Elizabeth I accomplished much in her reign, one of the most important accomplishments being the defeat of the Spanish Armada. When Sir Walter Raleigh landed in the New World he claimed his land in the name of his beloved queen, "Virginia".

References: (1910). Elizabeth. Retrieved October 2, 2008, from The Life of Queen Elizabeth I Web site: http://www.luminarium.org/renlit/elizabio.htm

Thomas, H (1998-2007). Elizabeth I. Retrieved October 2, 2008, from Elizabeth R Web site: http://www.elizabethi.org/us/

(2007). Elizabeth I. Retrieved October 2, 2008, from Britannia History Web site: http://www.britannia.com/history/monarchs/mon45.html