Queen Elizabeth I born 1533, died 1603 The legendary Virgin Queen, Elizabeth I is arguably the greatest of all English rulers. Her life began in intrigue when her father Henry VIII cursed the birth of a girl. The Pope declared her illegitmate and the marriage between her mother, Anne Boleyn, and her father invalid. Shortly after Elizabeth's birth, King Henry had her mother's head cut off. Her half-sister Mary Tudor regarded her as a threat and Elizabeth spent much of Mary's reign imprisoned in the Tower of London. Elizabeth acsended to the throne in 1558 at the age of twenty-five, and reigned for forty-five years. Her refusal to marry was a shrewd political tactic as it kept all options open for political/marital alliances. It was under Elizabeth's guidance that England grew in prosperity and power. Elizabeth was also responsible for a major period of cultural growth in England, as well as relative stability and peace in the land. She also established the right to a fair trial, and organized social welfare programs for the old, infirm, and the poor.