Elizabeth I: in profile<\/h4>\n
Elizabeth I<\/a>, daughter of Henry VIII<\/a> and his second wife, Anne Boleyn<\/a>, was queen of England from 1558 until her death, which marked the end of the Tudor dynasty<\/a>.<\/p>\n One of her first acts as monarch was to restore England to Protestantism; she also had Mary, Queen of Scots<\/a> imprisoned and executed, and the Spanish Armada was defeated during her reign.<\/p>\n This content forms part of our history hero series.<\/a><\/p>\n <\/p><\/div> <\/section> Probably at school, learning about the kings and queens of England in history lessons. But I suppose my interest was rekindled by watching big-screen dramatisations such as Elizabeth<\/em> (1998), in which Cate Blanchett portrayed her so vividly. I realise that such biopics aren\u2019t always entirely accurate, but I think [Blanchett] provided real insights into the character of this extraordinary woman.<\/p>\n She lived in an age when the powers that be would cut off a woman\u2019s head simply because she couldn\u2019t bear a son. So it obviously wasn\u2019t a safe time or place to be a woman, and she was very much aware of this \u2013 that\u2019s key to understanding the longevity of her reign.<\/p>\n She also had a real sense of style, spoke several languages and was an accomplished horsewoman. As a woman without a partner, she must have been extremely lonely at times but there is a strong sense that she put duty first. If she had married, even as queen she would have had to give up much of her power.<\/p>\n <\/p><\/div> \u00a0<\/p>\n First and foremost, the way she shaped the country that England became. I also admire Elizabeth for being a poster child for women who are independent: she was a strong woman who held her own at a time when it was very much a man\u2019s world. She wouldn\u2019t let herself be pushed around by her male advisors; I get the sense of her as a sort of chair of the board.<\/p>\n Women who are powerful are often portrayed as man-like \u2013 it\u2019s as if they have to give up some of their femininity in order to be powerful. But I think Elizabeth drew strength from and took pride in her femininity. Let\u2019s remember that she had to do everything she did while dressed up to the nines!<\/p>\n I think you have to look at her reign in its entirety \u2013 all the things she achieved as queen \u2013 though her skill at playing off the Spanish against the French, as well as the defeat of the Spanish Armada<\/a>, are worth noting. As is the strength and stability her long reign helped bring the country.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n <\/p><\/div> I think she was unnecessarily cruel \u2013 she seems to have had no qualms about removing heads from bodies.<\/p>\n Heads would almost certainly have rolled!<\/p>\n I\u2019d like to know her biggest regret. I suspect it might have been having Mary, Queen of Scots<\/a> beheaded.<\/p>\n Jackie Weaver is chief officer of the Cheshire Association of Local Councils; her taming of parish councillors online went viral last year. Her podcast is Jackie Weaver Has the Authority<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n This content first appeared in the June 2022 issue of BBC History Magazine<\/a><\/strong><\/em><\/p>\nWhen did you first hear about Elizabeth I?<\/h3>\n
What kind of woman was Elizabeth?<\/h3>\n
Watching Becoming Elizabeth<\/em>? Find out more about the real history that inspired the drama:<\/h4>\n
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<\/div><\/div> <\/div> <\/section>What made Elizabeth a hero?<\/h3>\n
What was her finest hour?<\/h3>\n
Learn more about Elizabeth I as Queen of England<\/h4>\n
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<\/div><\/div> <\/div> <\/section>Is there anything that you don\u2019t particularly admire about her?<\/h3>\n
How would she have handled a rowdy council meeting?<\/h3>\n
What would you ask Elizabeth if you could meet her?<\/h3>\n