Special features of this DVD: chronology of British monarchs ; interactive menus ; scene selections ; Dolby Digital.

Documentary.

Director of photography, Chris Openshaw ; music, Andy Price, City of Prague Philharmonic Orchestra and the Clifton Cathedral Choir.

Presenter, David Starkey.

Imogen Slaughter, Karen Archer, and Saskia Backwell.

From the prison to the palace: Elizabeth opens with a look at the obstacles that the princess overcame in the years prior to claiming the throne. Disinherited, sexually abused, imprisoned in the Tower and threatened with execution, she emerged emotionally and mentally strengthened -- and prepared to rule.

The Virgin Queen: Elizabeth played a deft and dangerous game with her many suitors throughtout her riegn, and her refusal to marry was key to England's transformation into a global power. And while her dalliances with domestic admirers like Lord Dudley provoked intense speculation, she remained the Virgin Queen, devoted only to her country.

Heart of a king: In July of 1588, beacons across England warned of the arrival of the Spanish Armada. After 20 years of masterful political maneuvering, Elizabeth finally had to face war. Britain's stunning triumph turned the conflict she had avoided for so long into her finest hour.

Gloriana: After the defeat of the Armada, England enjoyed an extraordinary cultural flowering, and Elizabeth was hailed as Gloriana. But these prosperous years also saw the death of many of the Queen's most trusted advisors, and she faced the final crises of her reign without their counsel.

One of the most important rulers in history, Elizabeth I came to the throne at a time when England was under threat of annexation from abroad and collapse from within. When she died after a reign of 45 years, she left behind a nation protected by the greatest navy on earth and in the midst of a cultural explosion she made possible. This series explores the life and rule of the woman who gave her name to an era. A blend of dramatic re-creations and commentary brings alive the courtly intrigues and epic conflicts that shaped her reign, opens a window into the Queen's private struggles and convictions, and examines her monumental legacy.

DVD.

Closed captioned for the hearing impaired.