Queen Elizabeth I ruled England from 1558 to 1603 during a time of religious conflict between Catholics and Protestants. As a Protestant monarch, Elizabeth persecuted Catholics who pledged allegiance to the Pope rather than her. In 1588, the Spanish Armada attempted to invade England on behalf of Catholic Spain but was destroyed in a storm, seen as an act of God protecting Protestant England. As she aged without an heir, Elizabeth centralized power in the monarchy and defended England against threats, dressing as a soldier to inspire troops against the Spanish. Upon her death in 1603 without children, King James VI of Scotland took the throne, bringing peace but less faith in the monarchy as he squandered funds.

1. Queen Elizabeth I
Reigned 1558-1603

2. Key differences between Catholics and
Protestants in the 16th Century:
Catholics pledge Highest spiritual
allegiance to the Pope authority in England is
the Monarch
Catholics believe in
transubstantiation Protestants celebrate
Lord’s Supper as
Catholic faith in symbolic
hierarchy and
authority of the Protestants suspicious
Roman Church of spectacle, images,
ritual, icons

3. 1553: The Catholic Mary Tudor
(daughter of Catherine of Aragon)
comes into power
Called “Bloody Mary”
for persecution of
Protestants
Attempts to make
England Catholic
again
Marries Phillip II of
Spain

4. 1558: Queen Elizabeth (daughter of Anne
Boleyn) takes the throne
Protestant
Persecutes
Catholics for
Allegiance
Institutes
Common Prayer
Book

5. QEI Perpetuates Image of “Virgin Queen”
Uses Suitors for
Political Leverage
Anxiety of Heirless
Realm
Challenges and
Perpetuates
Gender Roles

6. 1588: England “defeats” Spanish
Armada

7. Phillip II sends Spanish Armada (the
superior naval force in Europe) to invade
England
A storm destroys the Armada
This defeat is celebrated as an “act of
God”
Back on the island, QEI is centralizing
power in monarchy

8. QEI addresses the troops at Tillbury in full armor
“I have come amongst you, as you see, at this time,
not for my recreation and disport, but being
resolved, in the midst and heat of the battle, to live
or die amongst you all; to lay down for my God, and
for my kingdom, and my people, my honour and my
blood, even in the dust. I know I have the body of a
weak and feeble woman; but I have the heart and
stomach of a king, and a king of England too, and
think foul scorn that Parma or Spain, or any prince
of Europe, should dare to invade the borders of my
realm; to which rather than any dishonour shall grow
by me, I myself will take up arms.”

9. The Rainbow
Portrait: 1600
Imagery:
Fertility
Supremacy
Surveillance
Passion Checked by
Reason

10. 1601: Essex
Rebellion
Essex fails to quell rebellion
in Ireland
Attempts to overthrow the
Queen
Stages Richard II
Executed

11. 1603: QEI dies heirless; Scottish James I comes into power

12. James I of Scotland comes to the Throne
King James I brings peace
but not faith in the
monarchy
Squanders funds
Commissions King James
Bible