The Virgin Queen

              There are many secrets that were buried along with Queen Elizabeth I, otherwise known as The Virgin Queen. Queen Elizabeth I never married and she didn’t produce an heir to take her place either. This post won’t be about a conspiracy just a couple of theories that may explain the reasoning behind Queen Elizabeth’s negligence to marry and not produce and heir to England’s thrown.

              Elizabeth ruled over England for forty four years and today we know this time period as England’s golden age. She was very successful in her political duties to the country but many historians are still puzzled about her disinterest in marriage. Many theories circulate, even today, behindnElizabeth and her disregard for marriage.

The small, quite village of Bisley claims to know the reason why Elizabeth never married. A legend has spread throughout the small village and it claims that Elizabeth has not a she, but a he. Young Elizabeth was staying in the village for a short period of time, while staying at Overcourt, a hunting village of her fathers, King Henry VIII, she was in the company of a young boy around her age. However Elizabeth, soon after arriving, fell very ill and died. Her caretakers were terrified because her father was due for a visit and they didn’t not want to be held responsible for the young girls’ death. According to the theory, the caretakers quickly came up with the idea of dressing up the young boy Elizabeth played with. This boy resembled the young princess in complexion and hair color and the swap would have been unrecognizable. Elizabeth was known for her man-like features and she was rather good at hunting and men sports. There are portraits painted of her that look manly rather than feminine. The Bisley boy theory does explain why Queen Elizabeth I avoided marriage, although it is a stretch, even for a theorist.

Another theory surrounding Queen Elizabeth I decision to never marry lies in modern science. Some people are born with a condition called Complete Androgen Sensitivity Syndrome. People who have this syndrome have both male and female sex organs, and when they are born they appear to have female genitalia. However, people with this condition do not have a uterus or ovaries instead they have undescended testicles. Queen Elizabeth I had certain characteristics that those who have this condition have, such as long hands and fingers. In paintings of her she always is presented to have extremely long fingers. Elizabeth strictly stated that her body was not to be embalmed for any reason when she died, which supports her reasoning for not wanting people to find out about her condition. Also Elizabeth wore very thick white face makeup and some suggest that it was to cover up stubble. She was known for wearing neck collars and that accessory could have been a tool to cover an Adams apple.

Queen Elizabeth I was one of the most influential rulers of England. She was a pioneer for women’s rights and could be called a modern day feminist because of her bold decision to rule without a husband. Her life and privet decisions produce many questions among historians today. Was The Queen really a woman? Or was she both a man and a women? Queen Elizabeth I died at age sixty nine and she took whatever secrets she had, with her when she died.