ANNE BOLEYN, c. 1533–36 (black and colored chalks on paper), by Hans Holbein the Younger (1497/98–1543). Royal Collection Trust © Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, 2014/Bridgeman Images
THOMAS WYATT, c. 1535–37 (colored chalks with pen and ink on paper), by Hans Holbein the Younger. Royal Collection Trust © Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, 2014/Bridgeman Images
The Family of Henry VIII, c. 1545 (oil on canvas), English School (16th century). Royal Collection Trust © Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, 2014/Bridgeman Images
ELIZABETH I when a princess, c. 1546 (oil on panel), attributed to William Scrots (fl. 1537–53). Royal Collection Trust © Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, 2014/Bridgeman Images
MARY I, 1554 (oil on oak), by Hans Eworth (fl. 1520–74). Society of Antiquaries of London, UK/Bridgeman Images
EDWARD VI when Prince of Wales, 1546 (oil on panel), attributed to William Scrots. Royal Collection Trust © Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, 2014/Pictorial Press Ltd./Alamy
RICHARD II, 1390 (oil on panel), by an unknown artist. Westminster Abbey, London/akg-images/De Agostini Picture Library
ELIZABETH I, c. 1600 (oil on panel), English School (16th century). National Portrait Gallery, London, UK/Bridgeman Images
THE CLOPTON PORTRAIT OF ELIZABETH I, c. 1560–65 (panel), English School (16th century). Private Collection. Photograph © Philip Mould Ltd., London, UK/Bridgeman Images
Elizabeth I and the Three Goddesses, 1569 (oil on panel), attributed to Hans Eworth or Joris Hoefnagel (1542–1601). Royal Collection Trust © Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, 2014/Bridgeman Images
WILLIAM CECIL, 1558 (oil on canvas), English School (16th century). IAM/akg-images
PHILIP II OF SPAIN, c. 1553 (oil on canvas), by Titian (c. 1488/90–1576). Galleria Palatina, Palazzo Pitti, Florence © akg-images/Nimatallah
ROBERT DUDLEY, EARL OF LEICESTER, c. 1557–1609 (drawing on paper), by Federico Zuccaro (1542–1609). © The Trustees of the British Museum
NICCOLÒ MACHIAVELLI, second half of 16th century (oil on canvas), by Santi di Tito (1536–1603). Palazzo Vecchio, Florence © GL Archive/Alamy
THE PELICAN PORTRAIT OF ELIZABETH I, c. 1574 (oil on panel), by Nicholas Hilliard (1547–1619). © Walker Art Gallery, National Museums Liverpool/Bridgeman Images
IVAN IV THE TERRIBLE (color woodcut), by Hans Weigel (fl. 1577). Bibliothèque des Arts Décoratifs, Paris/Archives Charmet/Bridgeman Images
MURAD III, 1808, by John Young. © Heritage Image Partnership Ltd./Alamy
MEHMET III (oil painting on panel), after Cristofano Dell’ Altissimo (c. 1525–1605). © National Trust
The tomb of BATTISTA CASTIGLIONE in St. Mary’s Church, Speen. Photograph © Peter Orr
HENRY LEE, 1568 (panel), by Anthonis Mor (1517/20–76/7). National Portrait Gallery, London, UK/Bridgeman Images
FRANCIS WALSINGHAM, c. 1585 (oil on panel), attributed to John de Critz the Elder (c. 1552–1642). © World History Archive/Alamy
FRANCIS, DUKE OF ANJOU, late 1560s, French School (16th century). © Heritage Image Partnership Ltd./Alamy
MARY STUART, c. 1560 (oil on panel), follower of François Clouet (c. 1510–72). Victoria & Albert Museum, London, UK/Bridgeman Images
THE ARMADA PORTRAIT OF ELIZABETH I, c. 1588 (oil on panel), attributed to George Gower (1540–96). Woburn Abbey, Bedfordshire, UK/Bridgeman Images
ELIZABETH I in old age, c. 1610 (oil on panel), English School (17th century). Corsham Court, Wiltshire/Bridgeman Images
The signature of ELIZABETH I on a letter to Lady Southwell, 15 October 1598. © Rex/Nigel R. Barklie