Pirate Queen

Queen Elizabeth I, Her Pirate Adventurers, and the Dawn of Empire

By Susan Ronald | Publisher: HarperCollins

About the book

“A highly colorful, swashbuckling read, one that will give you new respect for Britain’s first Elizabeth.” —Seattle Times

An illuminating revisionist biography about Queen Elizabeth I and her merchant-adventurers who terrorized the seas, extended the Empire, and amassed great wealth for the throne.

Extravagant, whimsical, and hot-tempered, Elizabeth was the epitome of power, both feared and admired by her enemies. Dubbed the \"pirate queen\" by the Vatican and Spain's Philip II, she employed a network of daring merchants, brazen adventurers, astronomer philosophers, and her stalwart Privy Council to anchor her throne—and in doing so, planted the seedlings of an empire that would ultimately cover two-fifths of the world.

In The Pirate Queen, historian Susan Ronald offers a fresh look at Elizabeth I, relying on a wealth of historical sources and thousands of the queen's personal letters to tell the thrilling story of a visionary monarch and the swashbuckling mariners who terrorized the seas to amass great wealth for themselves and the Crown.


This riveting history explores how Elizabeth I used cunning, commerce, and piracy to save England:


  • Privateers as Policy: Learn how a network of brazen adventurers and merchants—including the legendary Sir Francis Drake—were employed by the Crown to fund the treasury and terrorize England’s enemies.
  • The Dawn of an Empire: Uncover how Elizabeth’s controversial methods planted the seedlings of the British Empire, challenging the dominance of Philip II's Spain.
  • A Queen's Correspondence: Go beyond the myth with a narrative built on thousands of the queen’s personal letters and a wealth of deeply researched historical sources.
  • The England vs. Spain Rivalry: Explore the decades-long clash between two powerful monarchs that culminated in the dramatic showdown of the Spanish Armada.

Editions of Pirate Queen

Paperback
ISBN 9780060820671
EBook
ISBN 9780061749452

Read an Excerpt

“A highly colorful, swashbuckling read, one that will give you new respect for Britain’s first Elizabeth.” —Seattle Times

An illuminating revisionist biography about Queen Elizabeth I and her merchant-adventurers who terrorized the seas, extended the Empire, and amassed great wealth for the throne.

Extravagant, whimsical, and hot-tempered, Elizabeth was the epitome of power, both feared and admired by her enemies. Dubbed the \"pirate queen\" by the Vatican and Spain's Philip II, she employed a network of daring merchants, brazen adventurers, astronomer philosophers, and her stalwart Privy Council to anchor her throne—and in doing so, planted the seedlings of an empire that would ultimately cover two-fifths of the world.

In The Pirate Queen, historian Susan Ronald offers a fresh look at Elizabeth I, relying on a wealth of historical sources and thousands of the queen's personal letters to tell the thrilling story of a visionary monarch and the swashbuckling mariners who terrorized the seas to amass great wealth for themselves and the Crown.


This riveting history explores how Elizabeth I used cunning, commerce, and piracy to save England:


  • Privateers as Policy: Learn how a network of brazen adventurers and merchants—including the legendary Sir Francis Drake—were employed by the Crown to fund the treasury and terrorize England’s enemies.
  • The Dawn of an Empire: Uncover how Elizabeth’s controversial methods planted the seedlings of the British Empire, challenging the dominance of Philip II's Spain.
  • A Queen's Correspondence: Go beyond the myth with a narrative built on thousands of the queen’s personal letters and a wealth of deeply researched historical sources.
  • The England vs. Spain Rivalry: Explore the decades-long clash between two powerful monarchs that culminated in the dramatic showdown of the Spanish Armada.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Pirate Queen about?

“A highly colorful, swashbuckling read, one that will give you new respect for Britain’s first Elizabeth.” —Seattle Times

An illuminating revisionist biography about Queen Elizabeth I and her merchant-adventurers who terrorized the seas, extended the Empire, and amassed great wealth for the throne.

Extravagant, whimsical, and hot-tempered, Elizabeth was the epitome of power, both feared and admired by her enemies. Dubbed the \"pirate queen\" by the Vatican and Spain's Philip II, she employed a network of daring merchants, brazen adventurers, astronomer philosophers, and her stalwart Privy Council to anchor her throne—and in doing so, planted the seedlings of an empire that would ultimately cover two-fifths of the world.

In The Pirate Queen, historian Susan Ronald offers a fresh look at Elizabeth I, relying on a wealth of historical sources and thousands of the queen's personal letters to tell the thrilling story of a visionary monarch and the swashbuckling mariners who terrorized the seas to amass great wealth for themselves and the Crown.


This riveting history explores how Elizabeth I used cunning, commerce, and piracy to save England:


  • Privateers as Policy: Learn how a network of brazen adventurers and merchants—including the legendary Sir Francis Drake—were employed by the Crown to fund the treasury and terrorize England’s enemies.
  • The Dawn of an Empire: Uncover how Elizabeth’s controversial methods planted the seedlings of the British Empire, challenging the dominance of Philip II's Spain.
  • A Queen's Correspondence: Go beyond the myth with a narrative built on thousands of the queen’s personal letters and a wealth of deeply researched historical sources.
  • The England vs. Spain Rivalry: Explore the decades-long clash between two powerful monarchs that culminated in the dramatic showdown of the Spanish Armada.

What core themes, tropes, or subjects are explored in Pirate Queen?

History and Archaeology > History

Where can I read a sample of Pirate Queen?

You can read an official preview of the few pages here https://www.book2look.com/book/9780060820671

Who is/are the Author/s of the book Pirate Queen?

Susan Ronald

Who is the Publisher of the book Pirate Queen?

HarperCollins

What are the ISBN numbers for the physical and digital editions?

Pirate Queen is available as paperback(ISBN 9780060820671) and ebook(ISBN 9780061749452)

Where can I buy Pirate Queen online or support local independent bookshops?

You can buy Pirate Queen from below

Where can I buy Pirate Queen?