How does Gloriana represent Queen Elizabeth I in The Faerie Queene?

In Edmund Spenser’s epic poem The Faerie Queene, the character Gloriana serves as a central allegorical symbol for Queen Elizabeth I.12

Gloriana represents the concept of Glory and acts as the sovereign of the Faerie land, presiding over the court from which the poem’s knights embark on their quests. By casting the queen as this idealized figure, Spenser utilizes the decorative chivalry of the Elizabethan court to frame his work as a complex, multileveled portrayal of moral life.132

The representation functions on several levels:
* Political Allegory: Gloriana embodies the queen’s authority and the national pride associated with her reign.4
* Moral Allegory: As the knights serve Gloriana, their quests to exemplify specific virtues are ultimately directed toward her, reflecting the poet's intent to "fashion a gentleman or noble person in virtuous and gentle discipline".2
* Mythological Guise: Gloriana was one of several mythological roles, such as Diana or Astraea, through which poets and artists celebrated Elizabeth’s image as a powerful, chaste, and regal authority.4