Who was Queen Elizabeth I?

Almost 500 years ago, a princess called Elizabeth became Queen of England.

People were worried. It was unusual to be ruled by a woman, because at the time, they were seen as weak and not as clever as men.

But Elizabeth proved them wrong!

She was strong, loved by many, and some say, became one of England's greatest ever rulers.

Elizabeth was the daughter of King Henry VIII. She didn't expect to be Queen. She was third in line to the throne. Both her brother and sister died without having children so Elizabeth became Queen.

To show people she could rule the country well, she had portraits painted of her as strong, mighty and rich, just as a queen should be.

But Elizabeth had enemies like King Philip of Spain.

In 1588, he sent the Spanish Armada, a fleet of more than 100 ships, to invade England. Elizabeth stayed strong. She told her soldiers and sailors: "I know I have but the body of a weak and feeble woman, but I have the heart and stomach of a king, and of a king of England too." Her ships attacked and the weather helped blow the Armada away from England. England and Elizabeth had won!

Queen Elizabeth ruled for nearly 45 years.

Her reign was called the Golden Age.

There were many great artists and writers. William Shakespeare, the most famous playwright ever, performed his plays in front of her.

While Elizabeth was Queen, England became wealthy and powerful.

She had shown that a queen could be just as strong as a king. That a woman could do as good a job as a man!