On this day in 1603, Queen Elizabeth I passed away.

At 69 years old, she had ruled England for an extraordinary 45 years, bringing stability after the turmoil of her predecessors. The daughter of Anne Boleyn and Henry VIII, Elizabeth defied expectations from the moment of her birth. Declared illegitimate as a child, imprisoned in the Tower of London as a young woman, and underestimated throughout her life, she emerged as one of England’s most formidable monarchs.

With her death, the Tudor dynasty came to an end – perhaps a final irony for her father, who had upended England and murdered Elizabeth’s mother in his desperate quest for a male heir. The throne passed to James VI of Scotland, son of Elizabeth’s cousin and rival, Mary, Queen of Scots, uniting the crowns of England and Scotland under James I.

Elizabeth’s reign was remarkable, but she was also a deeply complex and flawed figure. I am eager to explore her life further in upcoming posts.