While it's difficult to definitively name the absolute "first" unmarried queen in history due to limited historical records and varying definitions of "queen" and "marriage," Queen Elizabeth I of England is famously known as the "Virgin Queen" and a prominent example of an unmarried ruling queen.
Elizabeth I reigned from 1558 to 1603. The daughter of Henry VIII and Anne Boleyn, she inherited a kingdom facing political and religious turmoil. She chose not to marry, declaring that she was married to England. This decision was partly political, as any marriage would have entangled England in foreign alliances and potentially led to internal power struggles. While she entertained numerous suitors throughout her reign, she ultimately remained single, using her unmarried status as a tool for diplomatic maneuvering. Her unmarried status allowed her to play different suitors and countries off of each other, gaining England more geopolitical power.
Therefore, while other unmarried queens likely existed throughout history, Queen Elizabeth I is widely recognized and remembered as a powerful and influential unmarried queen.
