Why wasn't Elizabeth I the Elizabeth the Great?

They had William the Conqueror but he’s also known as William the Bastard, which isn’t great, and there’s Richard Lionheart, but he wasn’t interested enough in England to be called “The Great” by the English. No. If there is going to be an Elizabeth the Great, maybe Elizabeth II should be the one. She’s lasted the longest of any of them. read more

Like Elizabeth, Mary had her illegitimacy established by an act of Parliament during Henry VIII’s reign. Since he had ostensibly disinherited Mary because of this act, he couldn’t let Elizabeth inherit – it simply wasn’t logical. So the throne would pass to the legitimate – and Protestant – Lady Jane Grey. read more