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Elizabeth I

1533 – 1603 English Queen of England and Ireland

Tudor queen whose reign saw England's first slaving voyages and the charter of the East India Company, the seed of later empire.

Religion
Church of England
Affiliations
House of Tudor

Elizabeth I ruled England from 1558 to 1603 and presided over the first stirrings of English overseas expansion. She backed the slaving voyages of John Hawkins, taking a share of the profits and lending a royal ship, which made the Crown an early participant in the Atlantic slave trade. In 1600 she granted the charter that created the East India Company, the trading body that would eventually conquer much of India. Her reign also saw the defeat of the Spanish Armada, which cleared the way for English sea power.

Connections

  • ally of Francis Drake — Elizabeth backed and knighted Drake, sharing in his plunder of Spanish treasure.
  • associate of John Dee — Her astrologer and adviser; chose her coronation date and counselled her on empire and navigation.
  • associate of John Hawkins — Backed his slaving voyages and shared in the profits.
  • associate of John Hawkins — The queen who backed his slaving voyages and later his naval work.
  • rival of Philip II of Spain — Philip, once married to Elizabeth's sister Mary I, became her great Catholic adversary and sent the Armada against her.

In the timeline

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