My passion for Elizabeth I first began with Tudors history and particularly with her father’s life, Henry VIII, and her mother’s, Anne Boleyn. Of course before my interest in them grew, I already heard of this Virgin Queen, known to be one of the greatest monarchs in England of all time, but I never really paid attention to her reign or life.
I’ve seen the two films directed by Shekar Kappur (“Elizabeth” and “Elizabeth : the Golden Age”), however I really became interested in Elizabethan/Tudor history watching the Showtime series “The Tudors”, Justin Chadwick’s film “The Other Boleyn Girl” (based on Philippa Gregory’s book I read after) and reading Alison Weir’s book “The Six Wives of Henry VIII”.
Anne Boleyn’s life, a tragic and sad one beginning with a merry childhood at Hever Castle and ending in bloodshed in the courtyard of the tower, her execution’s warrant signed by her husband and king, deeply touched me.
That’s how I wanted to know what would be the repercussions of her mother’s life on Elizabeth own life.
When I read Anne Somerset’s book “Elizabeth I”, I realised her life was not a easy one at all. A woman being in charge of England was not see as a good thing and she has changed this vision for ever.
What had inspired me respect for this woman is her devotion for her people and the engagement she took being not married to a man, but as she said, to England. Even if she probably had intercourse with her favourite Robert Dudley, Count of Leicester and feelings for Sir Walter Raleigh, she never placed them above her duties towards England and English people. Moreover her desire to preserve peace among her country in which there were wars between Catholics and Protestants, and also peace with other great kingdoms and without wars showed her goodwill. Unfortunately she had to face her enemies, helped and advised by Francis Walsingham.
It’s especially those facets of Elizabeth’s life which make my interest growing for her reign and life. Even if I don’t really know a lot about her at this moment, I will read and read more books about her history. I want to know more of this Good Queen Bess.
By Jessica Creton from France
Related posts:
Elizabeth I and Mother Figures
Elizabeth I – England’s Greatest Monarch?
Good Queen Bess
Elizabeth Tudor
7th September 1533 – The Birth of Queen Elizabeth I
Elizabeth I: A Tudor Rose by Any Other Name
Why Elizabeth I?
Elizabeth I – Queen of PR
Tudor Places
Tudor Jewellery
Katherine the Queen by Linda Porter
Elizabeth I’s Reign – Just Survival?
What had inspired me respect for this woman is her devotion for her people and the engagement she took being not married to a man, but as she said, to England.
Agreed, she sacrificed her personla life for her country, she was awesome!
I am glad to see that you are questioning the role of religion and attitudes towards it from a Tudor, Elizabethan and Stuart point of view. Questions still predominate our thoughts over separation of state and church here in the U.S. Without the unfortunate bloody history of these times we would not have the liberties we do now. Without that separation and tolerance towards other faiths oppression would still be practiced in full force here as I have seen on some of the social networks the question of if we should have that separation. It forces people who do not share the same beliefs as the majority to go underground to know their own personal god, does not allow many to enjoy the many rights and responsibilities that we have now. When religion is used for a political end too many people suffer under oppressive regimes. It didn’t work with Russia, it saw the corruption of both the Catholic and Protestant churches and I fear for this society if we are forced to practice our diverse faiths in private and in fear and bigotry. Thank you for addressing the history and evolution of this issue to let us see how far we’ve come.
I agree; she was an amazing woman and queen. I personally love the Tudors and am reading as many books (about them) as possible.
The thing i find interesting is her childhood/teenage years – what made the Queen, you know? There’s so many different views on Elizabeth, but i belive that her over-all image is a great one.
To add to that – she paved way for a more equal world; a world or men AND women. The first great English Queen – how cool!