E ‧ liz ‧ a ‧ beth I, Queen /ɪˌlɪzəbəθ ðə ˈfɜːst $ -ˈfɜːrst/ BrE AmE
(1533–1603) the queen of England from 1558 until her death. She never married, and is sometimes called ‘the Virgin Queen’. She is thought of as a very strong woman and an effective ruler. While she was queen, England’s power in the world increased, and her navy defeated the Spanish ↑ Armada (=a large force of fighting ships) . The period is sometimes called ‘the Elizabethan age’, and is thought of as a great period in English history. ⇨ ↑ Mary Queen of Scots