No, Richard,

Actually, the “Virgin Queen” and Catherine (both on my Family tree), were coddled and had little need to go outside the Castle Walls, but, both were Master Spies (with huge Spy networks), and, consumate Wheedlers to get or accomplish what they wanted. (always digging for information). Elizabeth managed through her network of spies to stave off the “Spanish Armada” for many years. And, there is evidence to suggest that she actually sent Naval expeditions west seeking King Arthurs mystical Isles beyond the sea (forget what he called them).

However, neither Britain nor Russia fall within my definition of a Great Civilization, while being great Empires. Both were run by Male Bureaucracies, and, neither advanced the Human Race to any great extent.

I’d give you some names from the ventures of Elizabeth, but, the book I would reference is loaned out at the moment (about voyages before Columbus, a special interest of mine), and, in the day to day business of surviving Iraq, some things get pushed aside (haven’t finished it yet).