ELIZABETH BECAME QUEEN after the death of her sister Mary I in 1558. She was 25. She had had a difficult path to the throne and, once there, her position was not means safe. Many Catholics did not believe Elizabeth should be queen because she had been announced illegitimate as a child. stress between Catholics and Protestants was also a main problem. With the support of clever, intelligent advisors, and using her own political skill, she was able to install a mild form of Protestantism This succeeded in both containing the unrest and securing her own position