The life and times of Elizabeth I portraits of the Greatness

The book "The Life and times of Elizabeth I, portraits of the Greatness"
took my interest in the public library on my hometown. I had the chance to
acquire this wonderful book and I discovered a true treasure!

Book: "The Life and times of Elizabeth I, portraits of the Greatness"



About the Book

The life and times of Elizabeth I, portraits of the Greatness was published
by The Hamlyn publishing Group Ltd. 

The General Editor was Dr. Enzo Orlandi. The Text was written by
Massimo Rossaro. 

About the life and times of Elizabeth I

The story starts on 17 November 1558, the day that Queen Mary I of England
died.  Later it continues with the succession after King Henry VIII. First his
son Edward became King, later Queen Mary and finally Queen Elizabeth.
However when she became Queen, the country was a ruin.

The English life then was a mixture of medieval crudeness and Renaissance
refinement. Elizabeth's Court was a travelling court. It moved from one
residence to another. She also had a dazzling wardrobe. The appearance of the
Queen was always striking.


Queen Elizabeth I - Source picture: Wikipedia


But she had a big problem: to be a married woman or not. Robert Dudley,
Earl of Leicester was one of her tutors. There bond stayed close until his
death in 1588.

Later the story continued with the imprisonment and plots of Mary Stuart,
Queen of the Scots.

When Elizabeth came to the throne she wanted a religious policy that was
tolerant. But there was a Pope's Bull of Excommunication against her and
her ministers saw in the activity of the Catholics a threat to the State.

In 1572 the St. Bartholomew's Day massacre took place in France. Between
the two countries the relations were strained during the reign of Queen
Elizabeth I. Though Catherine de' Medici proposed three of her sons as a
husband for the English Queen: Charles IX, Henry III and Duke of Alençon
but finally England was her only love.

Queen Elizabeth took interest in the English fleet and in maritime matters.
Elizabeth took her place in the contest to conquer land and riches in
the New World which was until then the exclusive property of Spain and
Portugal. Of course, the story also mentioned Francis Drake.


Francis Drake: Source picture: Wikipedia


On 8 February 1587 the execution of Mary, Queen of Scots took place.

For years the cold war between Spain and England became more worse.
In July 1588 the Armada (130 ships) appeared before Plymouth. This
was led by the Duke of Medina-Sidonia. On 21 June 1588, Drake
and Hawkins opened fire. Later the first Battle of Britain was won by
Queen Elizabeth's sailors and by the wind.

During the later part of the 1580's a new talent was discovered:
William Shakespeare. The "Twelfth Night" was written by Shakespeare
and to be performed in presence of the Queen, probably in 1599.


Shakespeare - Source picture: Wikipedia


Later the story mentioned the Earl of Essex, Leicester's stepson. He was
placed under house arrest and executed for treason.



Queen Elizabeth I - Source picture: Wikipedia


In her final years, Queen Elizabeth had difficulties to adapt her to the new
and changing times. She always refused to appoint a successor.

Elizabeth became 69 years old and she reigned for 44 years. She was
buried at Westminster Abbey.

"The life and times of Elizabeth I, portraits of the Greatness" offers a brief
synopsis about the life and the time of Queen Elizabeth I. It also shows
wonderful pictures. For me it was a nice and pleasant reading.

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