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Jul 6, 1533
Fathers death
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Sep 7, 1533
Birth
born at Greenwich on 7 September 1533, the daughter of Henry VIII and his second wife, Anne Boleyn. -
May 19, 1536
Mothers death
Elizabeth was two years and eight months old when her mother was beheaded on 19 May 1536. -
1548
Received her education
Elizabeth received her education under her brother Edward's tutor, Roger Ascham, a sympathetic teacher who believed that learning should be engaging. -
1550
Education ended
By the time her formal education ended in 1550, Elizabeth was one of the best educated women of her generation. -
1559
Told everyone she has been living a virgin and will die a virgin
At first, only Elizabeth made a virtue of her ostensible virginity: in 1559, she told the Commons, "And, in the end, this shall be for me sufficient, that a marble stone shall declare that a queen, having reigned such a time, lived and died a virgin". -
1559
Got proposed to
In the years around 1559 a Dano-English Protestant alliance was considered, and to counter Sweden's proposal, King Frederick II proposed to Elizabeth in late 1559. -
Jan 15, 1559
Coronation
The date chosen for Queen Elizabeth's coronation was 15 January 1559, and the festivities kicked off with a procession through London the day before. -
1562
Nearly died
Nearly died of smallpox -
1570
Pius V. excommunicated Elizabeth
Pope Pius V declared that Elizabeth was a heretic and, as such, she was excommunicated by way of a Papal Bull. The Bull released Catholics from any loyalty to Elizabeth and called upon them to remove her from the throne. -
1570
Passed harsh laws against Roman Catholics
A papal bull of 1570 specifically released Elizabeth's subjects from their allegiance, and she passed harsh laws against Roman Catholics after plots against her life were discovered. -
Jan 2, 1571
Marrage negotiations between Elizabeth and Henry
Negotiations for a marriage between Elizabeth I and Henry Duke of Anjou are opened. -
1574
Cleared the regime of debt
When Elizabeth I took over the throne of England, she inherited a virtually bankrupt state. So she introduced frugal policies to restore fiscal responsibilities. She cleared the regime of debt by 1574, and 10 years on the Crown enjoyed a surplus of £300,000. -
1578
Elizabeth's reign with John Lyly's
The first signs of a new literary movement had appeared at the end of the second decade of Elizabeth's reign, with John Lyly's Euphues and Edmund Spenser's The Shepheardes Calender in 1578. -
1579
Marage of the queen and duke of Alencon was announced
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Sent an English army to aid the Protestant Dutch rebels against Philip II.
Elizabeth avoided military expeditions on the continent until 1585, when she sent an English army to aid the Protestant Dutch rebels against Philip II. -
Defeated the Spanish armada
The Armada was difficult to attack because it sailed in a 'crescent' shape. While the Armada tried to get in touch with the Spanish army, the English ships attacked fiercely. However, an important reason why the English were able to defeat the Armada was that the wind blew the Spanish ships northwards. -
Recognised by establishing the East India Company
Elizabeth herself recognised by establishing the East India Company in at the very end of 1599 -
Became severely depressed
The queen's health remained fair until the autumn of 1602, when a series of deaths among her friends plunged her into a severe depression. -
Death
Elizabeth I died at Richmond Palace, after a short illness, in the early hours of 24 March 1603, aged 69. -
Burial
Elizabeth was buried in Westminster Abbey. Her body was first placed in the vault of her grandfather King Henry VII. However in 1606 Elizabeth's coffin was transferred to the Henry VII Chapel in Westminster Abbey, and placed beneath a monument to her erected by King James I.