History Queen Elizabeth I Questions
The significance of Queen Elizabeth I's relationship with Francis Drake was that he was one of her most trusted and successful naval commanders. Drake's voyages and expeditions, such as the circumnavigation of the globe, helped establish England as a major naval power and contributed to the growth of the British Empire. Queen Elizabeth I knighted Drake in 1581, making him the first Englishman to receive such an honor from a reigning monarch. Their relationship also played a crucial role in the defeat of the Spanish Armada in 1588, as Drake's leadership and naval expertise were instrumental in the English victory.