Virgin Queen : Character and Strengths

• Elizabeth was known as 'the Virgin Queen' because she remained unmarried. Many people in the 16th century felt this meant she could not rule alone.
• However, Elizabeth had a number of strengths as a ruling monarch.
• Elizabeth's character and strengths

  • Confident and charismatic - this enabled her to win over her subjects and command support in parliament
  • Resilient - she had spent time in the Tower accused of treason and facing possible execution. She could cope with the pressures of being queen
• Reinventing the role


  1. The Virgin Queen

  2. Elizabeth was able to use her strengths to reinvent herself as a different type of monarch

  3. She liked to demonstrate that, even though she was female, she was no ordinary woman

  4. She therefore argued that she did not need to marry and could govern England on her own
• Elizabeth


  • Well educated - she spoke Latin, Greek, French and Italian
  • Had an excellent grasp of politics - she understood the interests and ambitions of her subjects, and was able to use her powers of patronage effectively
  • Although Elizabeth was Protestant, the number of Protestants in England was growing, making her position as queen more secure
  • She could claim divine right with growing conviction
• Throughout her reign, Elizabeth was happy to portray herself as a strong, legitimate, popular monarch and a "Virgin Queen' - married only to England and not to a prince or king. This is reflected in paintings such as the one above of her coronation, which shows a confident but feminine monarch rightfully crowned queen.