Queen Elizabeth Golden Age

         The reign of Queen Elizabeth I is often referred to as "The Golden Age" of English history. Her reign,  was an era of great accomplishment in England. It was a heroic age of exploration. It was Elizabeth herself who vastly changed England's standing among European nations. When she came to the throne England was a poor, remote island that was likely to become the next possession of the growing empire of Spain. By the time England had become a power in Europe, and its navy ruled the seas. Elizabeth was an immensely popular Queen, and her popularity has waned little with the passing of four hundred years. She is still one of the best loved monarchs, and one of the most admired rulers of all time. She became a legend in her own lifetime, famed for her remarkable abilities and achievements. Yet, Elizabeth the woman is an enigma, and was an enigma to her own people. Although she entertained many marriage proposals and flirted incessantly, she never married or had children. By the time, Elizabeth, the last of the Tudors, died at seventy years of age after a very successful forty-four year reign, England had become a power in Europe, and its navy ruled the seas.

          The arts flourished during Elizabeth's reign. Country houses such as Longleat and Hardwick Hall were built, miniature painting reached its high point, theaters thrived - the Queen attended the first performance of Shakespeare's A Midsummer Night's Dream. The image of Elizabeth's reign is one of triumph and success. The Queen herself was often called 'Gloriana', 'Good Queen Bess' and 'The Virgin Queen'. Investing in expensive clothes and jewelery (to look the part, like all contemporary sovereigns), she cultivated this image by touring the country in regional visits known as 'progresses', often riding on horseback rather than by carriage. Elizabeth made at least 25 progresses during her reign.

Queen Elizabeth's Reign

September 7 1533- Elizabeth is born in Greenwich England. 

November 17 1558 - Elizabeth becomes Queen of England.

January 15 1559 -Coronation of Elizabeth.

May 8 1559- Act of Supremacy; restores anti-papal laws of Henry VIII and reasserts Crown's power over the Church.

May 10 1559- Act of Uniformity: imposes revised Book of Common Prayer in churches.

1562 October;- Queen Elizabeth gravely ill from smallpox at Hampton Cour.

1562 October -John Hawkins begins African slave trade from Sierra Leone to
Hispaniola

1563 March -Poor Relief Act; comples rich paishes to help poorer ones

1563 June-October: -severe outbreak of plague, over 20,000 die in London

1564 April 11- Peace Treaty of Troyes with france, Queen elizabeth receives 222,000 crowns to renounce claims to Calais

1564-5- Hawkins's second voage to South America, he introduces tobacco to England

1568 May 16,- Mary, Queen of Scots arrives in England after being forced to abdicate the throne of Scotland.

1568 October -Conference of York: anglo-Scottish inquiry into Queen Mary's alleged complicity in the murder of her husband Darnley, Elizabeth transfers inquiry to Westminster in late November

1569 January 10: Queen Elizabeth declares murder complicty of mary, Queen of Scots not proven

1570 May -Papal bull of 25 Feb, Regnans in Excelsis, exommunicating Queen Elizabeth, made public in London

1570 -Potatoes introduced into Spain from America

1572 -Treaty of Blois, Anglo-French cooperation against Spain, projected royal marriage with Francois, Duke of Alencon.

1575 March: Queen elizabeth agrees to top aiding dutch rebels in return for Spanish opening of Antwerp to english traders

1575 November 14 -Queen Elizabeth declines sovereignty of the Netherlands

1579 -Treaty of alliance with Dutch, under William of Orange

1580 September 26- Drake completes circumnavigation of the globe, his ship is renamed The Golden Hind

1581- Act against Reconciliation to Rome; heavy fines for hearing mass and for recusancy (non-attendance at the parish church)

1581 October- Duc d'alencon comes to Whitehall Palace to sign marriage treaty with Elizabeth, 20 years his senior in age. Renewed Commons oppossition to Alencon marriage.

1585 July 7 -Roanoke colony established in Virginia

1585 September 3,-Treaty of Nonesuch, promises dutch an expeditionary force, sent under Earl of Leicester, 17 Dec

1587 February 8- Execution of Mary, Queen of Scots

1588 July -August :Spanish Armada defeated by English fleet.

1594 -Hugh O'Neill, Earl of Tyrone, leads Catholic rising in Ulster

1598 -Poor Relief Act, local poor rate, workhouses set up.

1501 -Earl of Essex leads abortive revolt in London against Queen Elizabeth, he is executed for treason February 25

1603 -March 24 Queen Elizabeth dies at Richmond Palace