Elizabethan England: Key Figures

Elizabeth I

Queen Elizabeth I was the last Tudor monarch and was the daughter of King Henry VIII. She ruled for 45 years in which throughout she overcame many challenges at home as well as threats from abroad. SHE WAS PROTESTANT.

Henry VIII

King henry VIII was the son of Henry VII and is one of the most famous kings in English history. This is probably because he had six wives and established the church of England so he could divorce his first wife Catherine of Aragon. He was Elizabeth’s father. HE WAS CATHOLIC.

Anne Boleyn

Anne Boleyn was the mother of Elizabeth I and was the second wife of Henry VIII. She was also the first English Queen to be publicly executed. The English reformation was being brought about because Henry divorced his first wife and married Anne. SHE WAS A CATHOLIC. She was Elizabeth’s mother.

Mary 1

Mary 1 was the first ever female monarch to rule England but soon got the nickname “Bloody Mary” as she persecuted protestants in attempt to restore Catholicism to the country. She married King Phillip II of Spain. She was Elizabeth’s half-sister. SHE WAS CATHOLIC.

Edward VI

Edward was the only legitimate son of henry VIII and became king at a very young age- age nine. However, he was only king for a few years but during it, he saw to the full-scale introduction of Protestantism. HE WAS A PROTESTANT.He was Elizabeth’s half-brother

John Hawkins

John Hawkins was England first slave trader and an English naval commander. His skills and work helped ensure the defeat of the Spanish Armada in 1588. HE ADOPTED THE RELIGION OF THE MONARCH AT THE TIME SO WAS PROTESTANT WHEN ELIZABETH WAS QUEEN. Elizabeth granted him a coat of arms.

Sir Francis Drake

He was an Elizabethan sailor and navigator and became the first Englishman to circumnavigate the earth. He made enemies with the Spanish and died at sea with John Hawkins. HE WAS PROTESTANT. He was knighted by Elizabeth aboard the Golden Hind.

William Cecil

William Cecil- also known as Lord Burghley- was one of the most important figures in the reign of Elizabeth. He held out all the major political posts and was the most powerful non-royal in England and Wales. HE WAS A PURITAN. He was he surveyor and her secretary.

Sir Walter Raleigh

He was an adventurer, navigator, scholar, author, poet, explorer and…