Sir Walter Raleigh's bravery and loyalty made him a favorite of Queen Elizabeth I at a time when England was competing with Spain for influence in the New World. A Soldier, Elizabeth chose Raleigh to lead an expedition to found a colony at Roanoke in North Carolina. But the queen prevented him from staying behind, and the settlement would later be found abandoned. Raleigh later sailed other expeditions to South America, but fell out of favor with the queen before she died. The new ruler, King James I, wanted peace with Spain. When Raleigh's men clashed with Spanish colonists, James decided Raleigh must pay-with his head.