Elizabeth I

2. Summarize how Elizabeth rises to the throne -- from her birth to her coronation.

Elizabeth was born by Anne Boleyn and Henry VIII.  When she was three months old, she was given her own household name.  All of the major decisions that had to be made in the household went through Elizabeth.  After Anne Boleyn miscarried a boy, Henry ordered for her to be killed.  After Anne died, Elizabeth became a bastard child.   Henry married twice after the death of Anne, the first time to Jane and the second time to Catherine Parr.  Henry had a boy with Jane, and she died two weeks later.  Elizabeth had always been fascinated by her father's power over people, and as Henry was dying, she became very upset that her idol was about to die.  After Henry's death, the throne went to Edward, Elizabeth's brother.  Catherine later died during child birth, so Mary, Elizabeth's envious sister, became the Queen of England.  Initially, the people of England loved the idea of having Mary as their queen, until she expressed an idea to convert England to Catholicism.  After the outrageous claim of religion, Elizabeth became very popular, and then she was sentenced to 16 months of house arrest.  Mary's husband begged her to reconcile with Elizabeth, for their past was very rocky and belligerent.  After this heart-felt reconciliation, Elizabeth was allowed to return to her household.  Mary fell ill, and she promised Elizabeth that she could rule England after her death as long as she agreed to maintain Roman Catholicism.  Elizabeth agreed, moved to London, and became the Queen of England in 1558 at the age of 25.

"File:Elizabeth I. Procession Portrait (detail).jpg." Wikipedia, the Free Encyclopedia. Web. 11 May 2010. <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Elizabeth_I._Procession_portrait_(detail).jpg>.