Member-only story

Mary Tudor: The First Queen Regnant of England

Tennessee Williams

·7.3k Followers· Follow

Published in Mary Tudor: England S First Queen

5 min read · 2 weeks before

450 View Claps

52 Respond

Save

Listen

Mary Tudor, also known as Bloody Mary, was the first queen regnant of England and Ireland. She reigned from 1553 to 1558, during a period of great religious and political turmoil.

Mary Tudor: England's First Queen

by Anna Whitelock

4.6 out of 5

Language	:	English
File size	:	18015 KB
Text-to-Speech	:	Enabled
Enhanced typesetting	:	Enabled
Word Wise	:	Enabled
Print length	:	416 pages
Screen Reader	:	Supported

Mary was born on February 18, 1516, at Greenwich Palace in London. She was the only child of King Henry VIII and his first wife, Catherine of Aragon. Mary's early life was marked by her father's attempts to annul his marriage to Catherine and marry Anne Boleyn. This led to a break with the Catholic Church and the establishment of the Church of England in 1534.

Mary was declared illegitimate by her father and was sent to live with her mother at Hever Castle in Kent. She was educated by the humanist scholar John Heywood and became a devout Catholic. In 1536, Catherine of Aragon died, and Henry VIII married Anne Boleyn. Mary was forced to accept her new stepmother and was given the title of Princess of Wales.

In 1544, Henry VIII died and was succeeded by his son, Edward VI. Edward VI was a Protestant, and he continued his father's reforms of the Church of England. Mary was forced to attend Protestant services and was forbidden from practicing her Catholic faith. In 1549, Edward VI died and was succeeded by his half-sister, Mary.

Mary's accession to the throne was met with mixed reactions. Some people were happy to have a Catholic queen, while others were worried about what she would do to the Protestant reforms. Mary quickly set about restoring the Catholic faith in England. She repealed the laws that had been passed during Edward VI's reign and re-established the papal supremacy.

Mary's religious policies were unpopular with many people, and she soon earned the nickname "Bloody Mary." She had over 300 Protestants burned at the stake, including the Archbishop of Canterbury, Thomas Cranmer. Mary's persecution of the Protestants led to widespread unrest and rebellion. In 1554, a rebellion led by Sir Thomas Wyatt broke out in Kent. The rebellion was quickly crushed, but it showed the extent of the opposition to Mary's rule.

In 1554, Mary married Philip II of Spain. The marriage was unpopular with many people, who saw it as a betrayal of England's independence. Philip was a devout Catholic, and he supported Mary's religious policies. However, he was also a foreigner, and his presence in England caused a great deal of resentment.

Mary died on November 17, 1558, at St. James's Palace in London. She was 42 years old. She was succeeded by her half-sister, Elizabeth I. Elizabeth I continued Mary's religious policies, but she was more tolerant of Protestantism than her predecessor. Under Elizabeth I, England became a Protestant country.

Born: February 18, 1516, Greenwich Palace, London
Died: November 17, 1558, St. James's Palace, London
Reign: 1553-1558
Spouse: Philip II of Spain
Religion: Catholic

Mary Tudor was a complex and controversial figure. She was a devout Catholic who was determined to restore the Catholic faith in England. However, her religious policies were unpopular with many people, and she earned the nickname "Bloody Mary." Mary's marriage to Philip II of Spain was also unpopular, and it led to widespread resentment. Mary died in 1558, and was succeeded by her half-sister, Elizabeth I.

Mary Tudor's life and reign are a fascinating study in religious and political turmoil. She was a woman of strong convictions who was willing to fight for what she believed in. However, her policies were unpopular with many people, and she ultimately failed to achieve her goals.

Image: Portrait of Mary Tudor by Hans Holbein the Younger, c. 1540 (public domain)

Mary Tudor: England's First Queen

by Anna Whitelock

4.6 out of 5