At the age of two, after her mother, Anne Boleyn, was executed, Elizabeth was declared illegitimate, and her title of princess was revoked.

Elizabeth was resolute in her decision not to marry, despite the House of Commons’ pleas for her to secure the dynasty’s future. With characteristic eloquence, she convinced Parliament that her commitment was entirely to England and that all English citizens were her children. When the Commons persisted, she curtly ended the discussion with a firm «no more shall be spoken of this matter» and dissolved Parliament for four years.

Over the years, Elizabeth developed a tenacious resistance to aging, which became an obsession. Throughout her youth and into maturity, she accentuated her pale, virginal complexion, donned elaborate and sumptuous gowns accompanied by all the regalia of a true queen (gloves as a symbol of elegance, ermine as a symbol of purity, the crown and scepter as monarchical icons…), and thus fueled her own myth, having poets and painters exalt her as an immortal goddess.

Due to the economic hardships faced by the lower classes, Elizabeth’s government enacted progressive policies for the time: the Poor Laws, which declared that caring for the needy was a community responsibility to which every citizen should contribute. By ensuring a minimum standard of living for broad segments of society, Elizabeth prevented poverty from leading to unrest. Notably, two of these laws remained in effect until the 19th century.