Over its centuries of existence, England has had many different rulers sit on its throne.
One of the longest and most celebrated reigns in the country’s history is that of Queen Elizabeth I, who ruled from 1558 to 1603. During her time as Queen, Elizabeth possessed many qualities that made her an exceptional monarch, including religious tolerance, support of the arts, and love for her people. Elizabeth I became queen during a period of religious conflict in England.Unlike her sister Mary, who had been queen before Elizabeth and used her position as ruler to force her own beliefs on her subjects, Elizabeth approved a sort of compromise between Catholicism and Protestantism to satisfy both groups (“Elizabeth I”).
This action showed that Queen Elizabeth had some compassion for the English as people, not just as subjects. As a result, the people of her kingdom loved her; those who had called her sister “Bloody Mary” now called Elizabeth “Good Queen Bess” (Lindbuchler; “Elizabeth I”).Of course, Elizabeth wasn’t perfect, and there was still some religious persecution under her reign. “[S]he passed harsh laws against Roman Catholics after plots against her life were discovered” (“Elizabeth I”), but she was still responsible for some steps toward religious tolerance in England. The religious atmosphere under her reign was certainly an improvement over past rulers and unusually tolerant for her time.
In addition to religious progress, Queen Elizabeth oversaw a great deal of cultural growth during her reign.Many of the arts for which England is known today began to grow while Elizabeth was on the throne: “Country houses . . . were built, miniature painting reached its high point, theatres thrived.
. . . Composers worked in Elizabeth’s court” (“Elizabeth I”). Elizabeth even attended the premiere of Shakespeare’s “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” (“Elizabeth I”).
Many of these art forms were successful in part because Elizabeth supported them. Thus, in a way, she was partly responsible for shaping the artistic culture of England.She also sponsored discovery expeditions and trading companies, which made many economic opportunities possible for her country (“Elizabeth I”). Because of her sponsorship, travelers were able to bring materials back from other cultures, which helped England to expand culturally as well as in politics and trade. This expansion was part of what made England into the world power that it is today. The most important quality of Elizabeth as a queen was her love for the people of her kingdom.
Elizabeth made many efforts throughout her reign to demonstrate how much she cared for her subjects, including the “progresses,” or tours of the countryside on horseback, that she made at least twenty-five times during her forty-five years as queen (“Elizabeth I”). The act of visiting among her people proved to them how highly she viewed and respected them. She also wanted them to love her, saying in a speech that “There is no jewel, be it of never so high a price, which [she] set before . .
. [the people’s] love” (qtd. in “Elizabeth I”).Another way in which Elizabeth showed her love for her people was by supporting them, especially in war. When the Spanish Armada was coming to invade England, Elizabeth personally visited the English soldiers who were preparing for battle (“Elizabeth I”).
In a speech to these soldiers, she declared her loyalty to the English people: “I am come amongst you . . . 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 kingdoms, and for my people, my honour and my blood even in the dust” (qtd. n “Elizabeth I”). Elizabeth loved and cared for her people so much that she was willing to die for them.
Elizabeth I’s religious acceptance, cultural support, and love for her subjects combined with other qualities to make her one of the most loved and respected monarchs in English history. Many kings and queens lived before her, and many others have come after her, but Elizabeth’s reign is always remembered as one full of success and progress. The leaders of today would be wise to learn from her example of tolerance, support, and love.
