Elizabeth I
There’s a wild rollercoaster behind our (hopefully) new figure - Elizabeth I!
Elizabeth I Art Toy, now on kickstarter.
You helped us pick her as our next leading lady, and we’re currently trying to fund production of this art toy over on Kickstarter. She was an unlikely queen, a strong feminist icon, and major fashionista.
We’ve made a fun little video of this on instagram, or read on below if you’re interested!
As the daughter of Henry VIII and his second wife Anne Boleyn, her birth was a crushing blow to her dad who was desperately seeking a male heir. Before Elizabeth was even three, Henry had charged her mother with treason and adultry / locked up in the Tower of London, and beheaded (you know the drill). Elizabeth was labelled a bastard at this point and associated with the ‘crimes’ of her mother.
After Henry’s death, both of Elizabeth’s siblings had short and disastrous reigns. Edward died young, and Mary I’s legacy included persecution of the country’s protestants before also suddenly dying. Elizabeth suddenly found herself Queen of England at the age of 25 in time when queen’s were not desirable. The country is in a troubled state with uprising and division, so she made immediate moves to unite her people.
Having witnessed her father’s troubled history with marriage she was likely never interested in it herself, however she used her prominent, single status as a weapon, warding off years of wars with countries of interested prospects. After many years of the charade, she carefully curated her image as a Virgin Queen - dedicated to her country. She worked hard to project herself as a steady and powerful leader, in part through strategy and strength but also through propaganda.
Her legacy as one of the greatest monarchs was sealed after a victory against 120 Spanish ships who had come to invade England. She had given a very powerful speech to motivate her troops, and encouraged them to fight for the honour of their country. This catapulted Elizabeth to the world stage, with even The Pope and many Kings expressing acceptance and admiration for her.
We’ve made a fun, little video about Elizabeth I
If you’d like to know more, we highlight recommend this Channel 4 Documentary - Queens that Changed the World. The episode on Elizabeth I is very well told and captivating.