This section focuses on what was to be Elizabeth’s finest hour - the rout of the Spanish Armada in 1588. Ironically, Elizabeth loathed war - as a woman, she could not lead her own troops and distrusted her military commanders. Several factors contributed to the outbreak of War, including the assassination of William Prince of Orange and Elizabeth’s decision to execute her Catholic cousin, Mary Queen of Scots. Elizabeth, the virgin Queen, the most powerful woman in English history. She emerged as a young princess against a backdrop of civil unrest, political intrigue, executions and coups. She ruled for 45 years and presided over a new kind of state. Her reign saw England emerge from the threat of European annexation to burst forth in a unique flowering of culture and became the world’s leading sea power. In this four part series David Starkey charts the rise and fall of her reign and reveals the powerful resonance it has for the present. This series covers one of the most glamorous and exciting reigns in English history, with bloodthirsty tales of sex, lust, murder and mayhem. Want to watch more full-length Documentaries? Click here: goo.gl/zCIIDC Content licensed from Digital Rights Group (DRG). Produced by United Film & TV Prods LTD.