My name is Elizabeth Tudor. I am the Queen of England, and have been since I took the throne in 1558, after the death of my half sister, Mary Tudor. I find myself in this unfamiliar time, and therefore look for those who are able to understand me and provide me with the soothing companionship I would feel were I home. I was born into this world September 7th, 1533 and died (so I have been told...ha!) March 24th,1603...that would make it New Year's Eve by the Elizabethan calander. I have had many trials and tribulation during my lifetime that have made me the strong person that I am. I lost my mother when I was but a little girl, and have spoken few words to anyone about her...though I love and honor her memory. My father was a Great King...Henry VIII...of the Tudor line. My grandfather, Henry VII "took over" the English throne in 1485 and ruled until his death in 1509. My father ascended at the age of 18...and married his brother's widow, Katherine of Aragon. Their marriage may have been a happy one for a few years, however she was not able to give my father a male heir. She had nine pregnancies with only one surviving child, my sister, Mary I. Had it not been for her inability to have a living male child, I would not be here at all! (Of course, what I hear now in this time...which we didn't know then, is that the woman is not at fault for the sex of her child. The MALE's seed is what decides whether the child is boy or girl! Wouldn't my father have been quite astounded by that!!)...my mother and father were truly in love I believe...he vowed to move Heaven and hell for her...and this he did. They were both amazing people in their own right...he was a figure to be reckoned with...brilliant and talented...and wrongly accused of tyranny by those who do/did not understand his motivations...my mother was beautiful, intelligent and tenacious...I have many thoughts and opinions on the relationship between my parents...I choose to keep these thoughts to myself and will honor their memory silently. I am quite tired now, and will finish this story of my life, to date, later when I have my scribe to assist me with this unfamiliar contraption...how tiresome! Why are there no quills nor ink??...
My christening gown:
Myself, at about 13 years
My coronation portrait...I was 26 years of age
A portrait from the early years of my reign
