Endearing nickname for Queen Elizabeth
When Queen Mary I of England
died in 1558, she left her country
a poor and divided nation. Her religious persecutions and those of her brother, Edward VI, had split the country and disrupted trade
Mary's successor was her younger sister, Elizabeth. Over the forty years of her reign, Elizabeth was to make England a rich and united nation. One of her first actions was to reach a compromise over religion
which satisfied most of her subjects. Shen then encouraged trade with foreign countries.
At home Elizabeth presided over the growth of a healthy economy
and a thriving culture
which encouraged artists
of high calibre. The startling success of her reign was in such contrast with her predecessors that Elizabeth gained the name of "Gloriana" from her subjects.