Elizabeth I of England: The Original “Girl Boss”

Elizabeth I of England (1533-1603) was a total badass who ruled England for 44 years, making her one of the longest-reigning monarchs in English history. Not only did she survive the Spanish Armada and countless assassination attempts, she also popularized the collar ruff - and let’s be real, who doesn’t love a good collar ruff?

Early Years

Elizabeth was the daughter of the infamous King Henry VIII and his second wife, Anne Boleyn. Despite her father’s tendency to behead his wives, Elizabeth grew up relatively unscathed and received a top-notch education. She was fluent in multiple languages and had an impressive knowledge of literature and history. In other words, she was a total nerd.

The Virgin Queen

Elizabeth was known as the “Virgin Queen” because she never married or had children. Some speculate that this was because she was deeply in love with a man who died tragically, while others think that she was just too busy running a country to worry about finding a husband. Either way, she was a fierce and independent woman who didn’t need no man.

A Fashion Icon

Elizabeth was a fashion icon long before Anna Wintour was even born. She loved to wear elaborate, colorful dresses with giant sleeves and gigantic skirts. She also popularized the collar ruff - a frilly, circular piece of cloth that went around the neck like a giant donut. Some say she wore it to hide a blemish on her neck, while others speculate that she just thought it looked cool. Regardless, the collar ruff remains a staple of Renaissance fairs to this day.

The Spanish Armada

In 1588, England was under attack by the Spanish Armada - a massive fleet of ships sent by King Philip II of Spain to invade and conquer England. Elizabeth rallied her troops and gave a rousing speech, famously declaring, “I have the heart and stomach of a king, and a king of England too!” The English were outnumbered and outgunned, but Elizabeth would not be defeated. The English navy managed to sink many of the Spanish ships, and a huge storm destroyed the remainder of the fleet. England had won!

Assassination Attempts

Elizabeth’s reign was not without its dangers, as she was the target of numerous assassination attempts. She survived multiple plots by Catholics who wanted to overthrow her and restore Catholicism to England. One particularly elaborate scheme involved a man who tried to blow up Parliament with Elizabeth inside. Fortunately, he was caught before he could carry out his plan. Elizabeth may have been small in stature, but she could certainly hold her own against her enemies.

Legacy

Elizabeth I is remembered as one of the greatest monarchs in English history. She presided over a period of immense growth and prosperity, and her refusal to marry ensured that her reign was defined by her own strength and intelligence, rather than the machinations of a husband. Plus, let’s not forget about how she rocked that collar ruff like nobody’s business. Elizabeth I was truly a boss babe ahead of her time.