Elizabeth I - Biography.

Elizabeth I - Biography. Queen of England and Ireland Birth September 7, 1533 Death March 23, 1603 Royal Family Tudor Reign 1558-1603 Significant Enacted the Act of Uniformity in 1559, which created an independent and uniform English litany for religious worship Acts Enacted the Act of the Thirty-nine Articles in 1563, a compromise which formally separated the Anglican church from the Roman Catholic church Enacted various so-called 'poor laws' during the 1590s, culminating in the Poor Law Act of 1601, which made local government responsible for its own impoverished citizens Milestones 1536 Was exiled from the court following the execution of her mother, Anne Boleyn 1554 Was imprisoned in the Tower of London by her half-sister, Mary I, who as a Catholic regarded the Protestant Elizabeth as a threat 1558 Ascended the throne following the death of Mary I 1558 Established Protestantism as the official religion, which she later solidified with the Act of Uniformity (1559) and the Thirty-nine Articles (1563) 1569 Suppressed a Catholic rebellion in northern England 1571 Uncovered a Catholic conspiracy involving her cousin Mary, Queen of Scots 1586 Increased the persecution of Catholics after learning of a plot involving Anthony Babington, a page to Mary, Queen of Scots 1587 Agreed to the execution of Mary, Queen of Scots, after establishing Mary's involvement in the Babington Plot 1588 Enjoyed increased popularity after English ships defeated the Spanish Armada's attempt to attack England and restore Catholic leadership 1600 Granted the East India Company a monopoly on trade with overseas colonies in Asia 1601 Ordered the execution of her former close associate, Robert Devereux, Earl of Essex, after his attempt to overthrow her Did You Know English forces were assisted in their defeat of the Armada by the 'Protestant Wind,' a huge storm that ravaged the Spanish ship formation. England emerged as a world economic and military power during Elizabeth's reign. The great drama and poetry of William Shakespeare, Christopher Marlowe, and other English writers established the Elizabethan era as one of the most important in the history of English literature. Microsoft ® Encarta ® 2009. © 1993-2008 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.