Elizabeth I is arguably one of the greatest monarchs that ever lived. Against an uncertain political and religious backdrop of post-reformation Europe, she ruled at the conception of social modernisation, living in the shadow of the infamy of her parents' reputations and striving to prove herself an equal to the monarchs who had gone before her. This book seeks to explore some of the key events of her life, both before and after she ascended the English throne in late 1558. By looking at the history of these selected events, as well as investigating the influence of various people in her life, this book sets out to explain Elizabeth's decisions, both as a queen and as a woman. Amongst the events examined are the death of her mother, the role and fates of her step-mothers, the fate of Lady Jane Grey and the subsequent behaviour and reign of her half sister Mary Tudor, along with the death of Amy Dudley, the return of Mary Queen of Scots to Scotland, the Papal Bull and the Spanish Armada. AUTHOR: Born in London, Laura Brennan initially trained to become a journalist at Bournemouth University before gaining a BA Hons. degree in History (2:1) from London Metropolitan University in 2005. While working at BBC Outside Broadcasts, she studied part time to gain her MA in History at Queen Mary University of London 2007 to 2009. It was whilst writing her Masters dissertation that she fell in love with the Duke of Monmouth. Her previous publications for Pen and Sword are The Duke of Monmouth: Life and Rebellion (2018), and Elizabeth I: The Making of a Queen (2020). When not writing, Laura can be found enjoying the museums and galleries of London, snuggled up with a book or planning her next adventure in Europe. 30 b/w illustrations