Queen Elizabeth I
(1533–1603)

Perhaps no other monarch has left as great an impact on British culture and history as did Queen Elizabeth I–in fact, it was for her that the term "The Elizabethan Age" was coined. The term "Elizabethan" is used to mark the poetry, prose, drama, and music of the period. While Elizabeth's reign is celebrated for its contributions to literature and the arts, the queen is also noted for preserving stability in a nation rife with political and religious dissention.

In addition to seeing the emergence of the literary genre of the essay, Elizabeth's latter years as queen fostered remarkable creativity in the arts. During this time, the great works of Edmund Spencer and Christopher Marlowe emerged, paving the way for the best known of all poets and playwrights, William Shakespeare. Thus, the works of these artists marked the "Golden Age" of English Literature.

Elizabeth's extraordinary success, however, rested on her sense of royal dignity and devotion, her political sophistication and shrewdness, and her ability to cleverly manipulate England's Parliament. By most accounts, she was the most successful monarch in England's history. Queen Elizabeth I ruled England and Ireland from 1558 to 1603.

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