Queen Elizabeth is one of the most notable individuals in English history. During her forty five year reign (1558-1603) she successfully negotiated: religious conflicts, an attempted Spanish invasion and a series of rebellions. This apparent 'golden age' earns her the name Gloriana and solidified her as one of the most fondly remembered monarchs. But, is the 'virgin' queen really worthy of remembrance?
There is an argument that the perception of her reign as a 'golden age' is simply a product of Elizabeth's own propaganda and in some aspects luck. For example, the famous defeat of the Spanish Armarda wasn't solely the work of Elizabeth, in fact, elizabeth refused to send more cannonball to the Royal Navy. Instead, in Elizabeth's own words
