Elizabethan Age
The period from 1558 to 1603 in English history, named after Queen Elizabeth I, characterized by significant developments in politics, culture, exploration, and the arts.
Queen Elizabeth I
Daughter of Henry VIII and Anne Boleyn, she became queen in 1558 and ruled until 1603, known for her political acumen, diplomacy, and patronage of the arts.
Anne Boleyn
Second wife of Henry VIII and mother of Queen Elizabeth I.
Heir presumptive
The person who is expected to inherit a title or position if the current holder dies or abdicates.
Example: Elizabeth was the heir presumptive to the English throne, which led to her half-sister Mary losing her position as a legitimate heir.
Tower of London
Historic castle in London where Anne Boleyn was imprisoned and executed.
Illegitimate
Not recognized as legitimate or lawful, in this case, referring to Elizabeth being declared illegitimate and deprived of her place in the royal succession.
Edward VI
Elizabeth's half-brother who became king in 1547 at the age of nine, with the government being run by regents during his reign.
Regent
A person appointed to govern a kingdom or state during the minority, absence, or incapacity of the monarch.
Mary I
Elizabeth's half-sister who became queen in 1553 and restored Roman Catholicism as England's state religion, known for her harsh treatment of Protestants.
Bloody Mary
Nickname for Mary I due to her harsh treatment of Protestants in England.
Church of England
The national church of England, established by Henry VIII after his split from the Roman Catholic Church.
Accession
The act of assuming a position of power or authority, in this case, Elizabeth becoming queen.
Virgin Queen
Elizabeth's decision not to marry earned her the nickname "Virgin Queen" or "Gloriana," known for her successful reign as a highly skilled monarch.
Gloriana
Another nickname for Elizabeth I, emphasizing her glory and greatness as a monarch.
Elizabethan Religious Settlement
The establishment of a Protestant Church of England with Elizabeth as its head, accommodating some Catholic practices while rejecting Puritan reforms.
Act of Supremacy
The law that declared Elizabeth as the Head of the Church of England.
Act of Uniformity
The law that established expectations for church appearances and services in England.
Treaty of Cateau-Cambresis
Signed in 1559, this peace treaty between England and France ended the Italian Wars and confirmed the loss of Calais to France.
Mary, Queen of Scots
Cousin of Elizabeth I and rival for the English throne, known for her Catholic faith and turbulent reign in Scotland.
Treaty of Edinburgh
A series of treaties negotiated between England and Scotland, with the Treaty of Edinburgh in 1560 ending the conflict known as the Rough Wooing and nullifying the Auld Alliance.
Revolt of the Northern Earls
A Catholic rebellion in 1569 led by the Percys and Nevilles, aiming to depose Queen Elizabeth I and replace her with Mary, Queen of Scots.
Pope Pius V excommunicates Elizabeth
In 1570, Pope Pius V issued a bull excommunicating Elizabeth from the Catholic Church, leading to legislative initiatives against Catholics in England.
The Ridolfi Plot
A plot in 1571 led by Roberto Ridolfi to invade England, kill Elizabeth, and place Mary, Queen of Scots on the throne.
The Babington Plot
A plot in 1586 supported by Philip II and the Pope, aiming to invade England, assassinate Elizabeth, and put Mary, Queen of Scots on the throne.
Mary, Queen of Scots
The Scottish queen who was executed in 1587 after being imprisoned by Elizabeth I for 19 years.
Dutch Revolt
Also known as the Eighty Years' War, a revolt by the Dutch against Spanish rule in the Netherlands from 1566 to 1648.
Genoese Loan
Money lent by Italian bankers from Genoa to Philip II of Spain to fund his campaign in the Netherlands.
The Spanish Fury
The mutiny of Spain's forces in the Netherlands, leading to a rampage of Spanish soldiers and the sacking of Antwerp in 1576.
Pacification of Ghent
A response to the Spanish Fury, demanding the expulsion of Spanish troops from the Netherlands, political freedom, and an end to religious hostility.
Francis Drake
An English admiral who circumnavigated the world from 1577 to 1580 and raided Spanish ports in South America, returning with Spanish treasure.
Francis Drake's Circumnavigation
Admiral Francis Drake's voyage around the world, funded by Queen Elizabeth I, during which he raided Spanish ports in South America and returned with Spanish treasure.
Treaty of Joinville
A treaty signed between the French Catholic League and Philip II of Spain to rid France of Protestantism.
Treaty of Nonsuch
A treaty committing Elizabeth I to support the Dutch rebels directly against the Spanish, leading to war between England and Spain.
Singeing of the King's Beard
Francis Drake's attack on the Spanish fleet at Cadiz, delaying the Spanish invasion and giving England more time to prepare.
Roanoke colony
The first English colony established in Virginia, which was ultimately abandoned and its colonists never found.
Failure of the Armada
The defeat of the Spanish Armada by the English navy in 1588, a significant victory for Elizabeth I.
Statute of Artificers
A law aimed at regulating labor relations and addressing economic challenges by setting maximum wage rates, working hours, and conditions.
Rise of Golden Age in English Literature
A period of literary flowering in England during Elizabeth's reign, characterized by a focus on the human condition and individualism.
Statute of Artificers
A law aimed at regulating labor relations and addressing economic challenges, emphasizing apprenticeships and setting maximum wage rates.
Vagabonds Act
A law passed to counter homelessness and begging, punishing vagrants with whipping, imprisonment, and death for repeat offenses.
Poor Relief Act
A law that divided the poor into the able-bodied and the impotent, providing raw materials for the able-bodied to make items to sell.
Elizabethan Poor Law
A comprehensive law enacted to address poverty and destitution, establishing a system where each parish was responsible for the care of its poor residents.
James I
Mary Stuart's son, James VI of Scotland, who succeeded Elizabeth I on the English throne and became James I of England.