2016-11-17 Thu

A woman is the full circle .Within her is the power to create, nurture and transform. - Diane Mariechild

Sixteenth century England - the country during the times of William Shakespeare and Christopher Marlowe which transformed into a bridge between old and new eras where monarchy, faith and economy and was at constant struggle. During that time England saw rise of two queens one after another on its throne. Queen Mary I of Tudor and Queen Elizabeth I the daughters of King Henry VIII of England.

Mary Tudor was the first queen regnant of England. Ruled from 1553 until her death in 1558, she is also known as ‘Bloody Mary’ for persecution of Protestants and execution of over 300 subjects. Queen Mary’s marriage to the Spanish king resulted in an alliance with Spain which dragged England into a war with France which resulted in decline of both wealth and man power and a woke up climate of tension in the whole kingdom. After her death the throne was passed to her half-sister Elizabeth later known as Queen Elizabeth I.

It is said that ‘women is like a tea bag-you can’t tell how strong she is until you put her in hot water’ this was the situation when Queen Elizabeth accessed the throne of England the kingdom was in chaos with War, economic crisis and struggle between two beliefs. But, she overcame all these hurdles and her period was titled as the Golden age where trade, art and culture flourished and routes were open to the new world. England during her sovereign was called Elizabethan Age.

To remember and celebrate their reign and life of these two powerful Queens of England the Royal mail had issued 81 pence stamps with the portraits of both the Queen Mary I and Queen Elizabeth I.