Elizabeth's character

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Historians have described Elizabeth in many ways. They suggest Elizabeth was:

A well-educated and intelligent woman	She was highly literate, spoke foreign languages and so was able to deal directly with foreign ambassadors.
Married to her people	It is possible that Elizabeth chose to remain unmarried to exploit the relationship she developed with the nation.
A dominant monarch	Elizabeth was always willing to assert her powers. She famously said, ‘I will have one mistress and no master’.
A skilful propagandist	Elizabeth understood the need to create the right image. She was partly responsible for creating a ‘Golden age’ and the ‘Cult of Gloriana’.
Loyal	To those who served her well she was extremely generous. This differed from her father, Henry VIII’s attitude.

A well-educated and intelligent woman

She was highly literate, spoke foreign languages and so was able to deal directly with foreign ambassadors.

Married to her people

It is possible that Elizabeth chose to remain unmarried to exploit the relationship she developed with the nation.

A dominant monarch

Elizabeth was always willing to assert her powers. She famously said, ‘I will have one mistress and no master’.

A skilful propagandist

Elizabeth understood the need to create the right image. She was partly responsible for creating a ‘Golden age’ and the ‘Cult of Gloriana’.

Loyal

To those who served her well she was extremely generous. This differed from her father, Henry VIII’s attitude.