The First Matriarch of England: Queen Elizabeth the First

Queen Elizabeth I, ascended to the English throne in 1558 and reigned for 45 years. A Protestant, she successfully steered England through a period of religious turmoil, defeating the Spanish Armada in 1588 and establishing the country as a global power. Known as the "Virgin Queen," Elizabeth never married, and her reign marked the beginning of a new era for England, known as the Elizabethan Period, a golden age of literature, exploration, and economic prosperity. Her resolute leadership, intelligence, and sense of duty earned her the admiration of her people and established her as one of the most revered monarchs in English history.