Queen Elizabeth I, who reigned from 1558 to 1603, was a long-reigning monarch of England known for her cultural patronage. Her era, often referred to as the Elizabethan Age, was marked by remarkable developments in the arts, including the works of William Shakespeare and Christopher Marlowe. Elizabeth’s support for exploration also led to increased maritime ventures, evidenced by figures like Sir Francis Drake. Her reign stabilized England after the tumultuous reign of her predecessors and fostered a national identity and cultural renaissance that has had a lasting impact on English history and literature.