Elizabeth I of England(1533 — 1603)
Elizabeth I of England
royaume d'Angleterre
8 min read
Élisabeth Ire (1533-1603) fut reine d'Angleterre et d'Irlande pendant 45 ans. Fille d'Henri VIII et d'Anne Boleyn, elle consolida le protestantisme en Angleterre et porta son royaume à un rayonnement européen exceptionnel. Son règne, dit « ère élisabéthaine », est marqué par la défaite de l'Invincible Armada espagnole et l'essor des arts et des lettres.
Frequently asked questions
Famous Quotes
« I know I have the body of a weak and feeble woman, but I have the heart and stomach of a king. »
« I would rather be a beggar and single than a queen and married. »
Key Facts
- Couronnée reine d'Angleterre en 1558, après le règne de sa demi-sœur catholique Marie Ire.
- Promulgue l'Acte de Suprématie (1559), réaffirmant la rupture de l'Église anglicane avec Rome.
- Ordonne l'exécution de Marie Stuart, reine d'Écosse, en 1587, après l'avoir tenue prisonnière 19 ans.
- Défeat de l'Invincible Armada espagnole en 1588, consacrant la puissance navale anglaise.
- Règne 45 ans sans jamais se marier, gagnant le surnom de « Reine Vierge » (Virgin Queen).
Works & Achievements
Founding texts of the Elizabethan Church of England, establishing Elizabeth as Supreme Governor of the Church of England. This 'Elizabethan Settlement' sought to reconcile moderate Catholics and Protestants.
Elizabeth was an accomplished woman of letters, author of lyric poems in English and translations from Latin, Greek, French, and Italian. Her poem 'On Monsieur's Departure' bears witness to her literary sensibility.
Founding document granting the East India Company a monopoly on trade with the East. This charter laid the groundwork for British commercial and colonial expansion over the following two centuries.
Iconic portrait of Elizabeth commissioned to celebrate the victory over the Spanish Armada, depicting her with her hand resting on a globe. This painting illustrates the elaborate royal propaganda that Elizabeth masterfully wielded.
Elizabeth's last major parliamentary address, considered a masterpiece of political eloquence. In it she declares that the greatest wealth of her reign is the love of her people.
Elizabeth patronised and funded the Lord Chamberlain's Men, the company to which Shakespeare belonged. Her patronage enabled the flourishing of one of the greatest periods in Western theatre.
Anecdotes
Elizabeth I was born on 7 September 1533 at Greenwich, daughter of Henry VIII and Anne Boleyn. Her mother was beheaded when she was just two and a half years old, and Elizabeth was declared illegitimate. She would nonetheless overcome all these obstacles to become one of the most powerful sovereigns in Europe.
At her coronation in 1559, Elizabeth received the Bible in English — not in Latin — symbolising the Protestant turn of her reign. She embraced the book and held it to her chest, a gesture interpreted by the crowd as a solemn commitment to the Anglican Reformation.
Faced with pressure from Parliament urging her to marry in order to secure a succession, Elizabeth responded with a now-famous phrase: 'I am already married to England.' Until her death, she cultivated the image of the 'Virgin Queen', turning her celibacy into a formidable political weapon.
On 19 August 1588, Elizabeth delivered her famous speech at Tilbury before her troops assembled to face the Spanish Armada. She declared: 'I have the body of a weak and feeble woman, but the heart and stomach of a king.' The Spanish fleet was ultimately scattered by storms and the English ships.
Elizabeth was a woman of great culture: she spoke six languages fluently (Latin, Greek, French, Spanish, Italian, and English), played the lute and the virginal, and danced with virtuosity. She encouraged the arts and theatre, fostering the rise of the Elizabethan stage where Shakespeare performed his first plays.
Primary Sources
I know I have the body of a weak, feeble woman; but I have the heart and stomach of a king, and of a king of England too.
Though God hath raised me high, yet this I account the glory of my crown, that I have reigned with your loves.
Like a shipman in stormy weather, plucks down the sails tarrying for better wind.
I am already bound unto a husband, which is the Kingdom of England.
Be it enacted by authority of this present Parliament, that the Queen's Highness is the only supreme governor of this realm.
Key Places
Elizabeth's birthplace, situated on the banks of the Thames. It was here that she was born on 7 September 1533 and grew up under the benevolent supervision of her humanist tutors.
Fortress where Elizabeth was imprisoned in 1554 during the reign of her half-sister Mary I. She spent two months there in fear of being executed, an experience that durably shaped her political character.
The principal royal palace during Elizabeth's reign, the centre of government and court life. It was here that royal audiences, diplomatic ceremonies, and the elaborate festivities of the Elizabethan court were held.
Royal residence where Elizabeth stayed regularly, particularly for hunting. She held many Privy Council sessions there and received foreign ambassadors.
Site of Elizabeth's famous speech to her troops on 9 August 1588, at the time of the threat from the Spanish Armada. This fort on the Thames is one of the most iconic sites of the Elizabethan reign.
Elizabeth's favourite palace in her later reign, where she died on 24 March 1603. She spent her final years there surrounded by her court, refusing to name her successor until her last moments.
Liens externes & ressources
Références
Œuvres
Acte de Suprématie et Acte d'Uniformité
1559
Poèmes et traductions
1544-1600
Charte royale de la Compagnie des Indes orientales
31 décembre 1600
Portrait Armada (Marcus Gheeraerts l'Ancien)
vers 1588
Discours au Parlement (Golden Speech)
30 novembre 1601
Soutien au théâtre élisabéthain et au Globe Theatre
1576-1603
