Elizabeth R

The fragile succession heralds dangerous times for the young Princess Elizabeth. Narrowly avoiding implication in Sir Thomas Seymour's attempted abduction of her sickly half-brother, the boy King Edward VI; she becomes an unintentional figurehead for a Protestant rebellion led by Thomas Wyatt the Younger when her half-sister Queen Mary I of England, a devout Roman Catholic, succeeds the throne.

The new Queen Elizabeth I is 25 years old - and unmarried. Her council, particularly the man she trusts most Sir William Cecil, urges her to marry quickly to ensure the future of the thrown. Only Lord Robert Dudley, and eventually the Earl of Leicester, seems to interest the Queen. When Dudley's wife dies under mysterious circumstances, Elizabeth must decide if she really wants to marry.

Elizabeth meets her most eligible suitor yet: François, Duke of Anjou. A marriage will cement France's sought-for alliance with England. Despite the Puritans' rousing opposition in the country, Elizabeth seems taken with the witty and flower-tongued Francois. As her duties as Queen clash with her feelings as a woman, Elizabeth faces her toughest decision.

As long as the imprisoned Mary, Queen of Scots lives, she is the focus of revolutionaries. Despite a harsh attack against conspiring Roman Catholics, Mary inspires a valiant attempt to overthrow Elizabeth. Is the execution of Mary the only way Elizabeth will remain on the throne? Sir Francis Walsingham definitely thinks so, and will use any means to convince Elizabeth to eliminate Mary.

King Philip II of Spain is eager to avenge the death of Mary, Queen of Scots. Philip urges an unprepared fleet, commanded by the incompetent Duke of Medina Sidonia, to sail on England. Even as Elizabeth rebukes her council with hopes of peace, the Spanish Armada appears on the horizons of England. Her fate and the future of the country now lie in the hands of Drake, and the Navy.

Robert Devereux, Earl of Essex (the stepson of Robert Dudley, Earl of Leicester), is the people's champion, but he openly disputes the Queen's opinions. Elizabeth 'rewards' his daring feats in Spain with a tougher challenge: to quell the Irish uprising led by O'Neill, Earl of Tyrone. But Essex has a rebellion of his own in mind.