Part I

Queen Elizabeth I of England–Having been traumatized as a child by her father’s “habit” of discarding wives, or possibly not wanting to share power at all, she remained unmarried and alone. She resisted marriage wholeheartedly, despite pressure and schemes to get her married off.

It took a lot of strength for a woman to refuse to get married and even more for a woman to rule–and rule well at that. She dealt with so much politics, her cousin trying to get her throne, (whom she had to execute) Spain wanting to claim England….I could write a 500 page book just on her early trials as Queen.

Yet, her personal charisma and political astuteness, got her through the rough patches of her reign. Her strength enabled her to rule and protect England and she was loved by *most* of her subjects.

She loved to hunt and dance. The Queen surrounded herself with youth and wit.

The Queen, like her father (Henry the 8th), had a capricious, mean spirited streak–although she had it in a lesser degree than he. She could be ruthless when it came to using people in the game of keeping her throne She rewarded loyalty, but if one of her nobles married without her permission…he/she could expect to spend some time in the Tower of London.

I admire her because of her great fortitude and ability to lead: I think she was truly a great woman. She proved to me that women do not need a relationship to succeed.