Mary I of England
Mary Tudor entered the world on the 18th of February 1516 at the Palace of Placentia in Greenwich. She was the only child of King Henry VIII and his first wife, Catherine of Aragon, to survive infancy. Before Mary, her mother had three miscarriages and stillbirths and one short-lived son named Henry, Duke of Cornwall. The infant princess was baptised into the Catholic faith at the Church of the Observant Friars in Greenwich just three days after her birth. Her godparents included Lord Chancellor Thomas Wolsey, her great-aunt Catherine Countess of Devon, and Agnes Howard Duchess of Norfolk. Margaret Pole Countess of Salisbury stood sponsor for Mary's confirmation immediately following the baptism. At birth, Mary was initially placed in the care of Elizabeth Denton, a former royal governess of her father. In 1520, the Countess of Salisbury was appointed as Mary's new governess. This arrangement lasted until Amy Boleyn took over between 1521 and 1525 before the Countess returned to the role. Sir John Hussey served as her chamberlain from 1530 while his wife Lady Anne attended to her daily needs. Mary proved to be a precocious child who entertained visiting French delegations with virginals performances by July 1520. By age nine she could read and write Latin fluently. She studied French, Spanish, music, dance, and possibly Greek under the guidance of Juan Luis Vives. Henry VIII doted on his daughter and boasted to Venetian ambassador Sebastian Giustinian that she never cried.
Henry VIII grew deeply disappointed that his marriage produced no sons despite his affection for Mary. By the time Mary reached nine years old it became clear that Henry and Catherine would have no more children. In 1525 Henry sent Mary to the border of Wales to preside over the Council of Wales and the Marches. She received her own court based at Ludlow Castle where she held many royal prerogatives normally reserved for a Prince of Wales. The title Princess of Wales was used by scholars like Vives though she was never technically invested with it. Mary spent three years in the Welsh Marches before returning permanently to London around mid-1528. Throughout her childhood Henry negotiated potential future marriages for her. When she was two years old she was promised to Francis Dauphin of France but the contract was repudiated after three years. In 1522 at age six she was contracted to marry her cousin Charles V Holy Roman Emperor. Charles broke off the engagement within a few years with Henry's agreement. Cardinal Wolsey resumed marriage negotiations with the French while Henry suggested Mary might marry King Francis I or his second son Henry Duke of Orléans. A marriage treaty was signed which provided that Mary marry either Francis I or his second son Henry Duke of Orléans but Wolsey secured an alliance without the marriage. In 1528 Wolsey's agent Thomas Magnus discussed marrying Mary to James V of Scotland with Scottish diplomat Adam Otterburn. By this time Venetian Mario Savorgnano described her as developing into a pretty well-proportioned young lady.
On the 6th of July 1553 Edward VI died at age fifteen from a lung infection possibly tuberculosis. He did not want the crown to go to Mary because he feared she would restore Catholicism and undo reforms. His advisers told him he could not disinherit only one half-sister so he excluded both Mary and Elizabeth from succession in his will. Guided by John Dudley 1st Duke of Northumberland Edward named Lady Jane Grey as his successor. Lady Jane's mother Frances Brandon was Mary's cousin and goddaughter. Just before Edward's death Mary was summoned to London to visit her dying brother but warned it was a pretext to capture her. Instead of going to London from Hunsdon Mary fled to East Anglia where she owned extensive estates. On the 9th of July from Kenninghall Norfolk she wrote to the privy council ordering her proclamation as Edward's successor. On the 10th of July 1553 Lady Jane was proclaimed queen by Northumberland and his supporters. That same day Mary's servant Thomas Hungate arrived in London with her letter to the council. By the 12th of July Mary and her supporters had assembled a military force at Framlingham Castle Suffolk. Northumberland's support collapsed and Jane was deposed on the 19th of July. She and Northumberland were imprisoned in the Tower of London. Mary rode triumphantly into London on the 3rd of August 1553 accompanied by over 800 nobles and gentlemen.
Now aged thirty-seven Mary turned her attention to finding a husband and producing an heir. While English people expected her to marry there was general consensus that she should not marry a foreigner. On the 16th of November 1553 a parliamentary delegation formally requested she choose an English husband. Mary's first cousin Charles V king of Spain sent his minister to propose his only legitimate son Philip. The Spanish prince had been widowed a few years before by Maria Manuela of Portugal. As part of marriage negotiations a portrait of Philip by Titian was sent to Mary in late 1553. A marriage treaty presented to Privy Council on the 7th of December 1553 included safeguards but many feared England would become a province of Habsburg Empire. Lord Chancellor Gardiner and House of Commons unsuccessfully petitioned Mary to consider marrying an Englishman. When Mary insisted on marrying Philip insurrections broke out. Thomas Wyatt the Younger led a force from Kent to depose Mary in favour of Elizabeth. Wyatt rallied about 2,500 men in Kent though his army surrendered within sight of Tower after Ludgate was barred against him. Wyatt Duke of Suffolk Lady Jane and Guildford Dudley were executed while Elizabeth was imprisoned in Tower for two months then placed under house arrest at Woodstock Palace. Their wedding at Winchester Cathedral on the 25th of July 1554 took place just two days after their first meeting. Philip did not speak English so they spoke mixture of Spanish French and Latin.
In month following her accession Mary issued proclamation that she would not compel subjects to follow her religion. By end of September 1553 leading Protestant churchmen including Thomas Cranmer John Bradford John Rogers John Hooper and Hugh Latimer were imprisoned. Mary's first Parliament which assembled in early October declared parents' marriage valid and abolished Edward's religious laws. Church doctrine restored to form it had taken in 1539 Six Articles of Henry VIII. Married priests deprived of benefices. Reaching agreement with Pope Julius III required major concession: confiscated monastery lands remained with influential new owners. Heresy Acts revived by Parliament in January 1555. Around 800 rich Protestants including John Foxe fled into exile. Those who stayed became targets of heresy laws. First executions occurred over five days in February 1555: John Rogers on the 4th of February Laurence Saunders on the 8th of February Rowland Taylor and John Hooper on the 9th of February. Thomas Cranmer forced to watch Bishops Nicholas Ridley and Latimer burned at stake. He recanted then repudiated Protestant theology and rejoined Catholic faith. Under normal law he should have been absolved but Mary refused to reprieve him. On day of his burning he dramatically withdrew recantation. In total 283 executed most by burning. The burnings proved so unpopular that even Alfonso de Castro one of Philip's ecclesiastical staff condemned them.
In September 1554 Mary stopped menstruating and gained weight while feeling nauseated in mornings. Almost entire court including physicians believed she was pregnant. Parliament passed Treason Act of 1554 making Philip regent if Mary died in childbirth. Thanksgiving services held at end of April after false rumours spread across Europe that Mary had given birth to son. Through May and June apparent delay fed gossip that Mary was not pregnant. Susan Clarencieux revealed doubts to French ambassador Antoine de Noailles. Mary continued exhibiting signs until July 1555 when abdomen receded. Venetian ambassador Giovanni Michieli ridiculed pregnancy as likely to end in wind rather than anything else. It was most likely false pregnancy perhaps induced by overwhelming desire to have child. In August soon after disgrace Philip left England to command armies against France in Flanders. Mary heartbroken fell into deep depression. Michieli wrote she was extraordinarily in love with husband and disconsolate at departure. After Philip's visit in 1557 Mary again thought she was pregnant with baby due March 1558. She decreed in will that husband would be regent during child's minority. But no child born and Mary forced accept Elizabeth as lawful successor. Mary weak and ill from May 1558. In pain possibly from ovarian cysts or uterine cancer she died on the 17th of November 1558 aged forty-two at St James's Palace.
John White Bishop of Winchester praised Mary at funeral service calling her king's daughter sister wife queen and king also. She first woman successfully claim throne despite competing claims and determined opposition. Protestant writers condemned Mary's reign leading to adoption of sobriquet Bloody Mary by 17th century. John Knox attacked Mary in First Blast of Trumpet against Monstrous Regiment of Women published 1558. John Foxe vilified her prominently in Actes and Monuments published 1563. Foxe book remained popular throughout following centuries helping shape enduring perceptions of Mary as bloodthirsty tyrant. Historian Lucy Wooding notes misogynistic undertones in descriptions of Mary. She simultaneously lambasted for being vindictive fierce and spineless weak criticized for showing clemency yielding authority to husband. Mary remembered in 21st century for vigorous efforts restore primacy Roman Catholicism after rise Protestant influence. Protestant historians long deplored reign emphasizing several hundred Protestants burned stake within five years. Mid-20th century H.F.M. Prescott attempted redress tradition that Mary intolerant authoritarian scholarship since then view older simpler assessments with increasing reservations. Christopher Haigh argues revival religious festivities Catholic practices generally welcomed. English Catholics often remembered Mary favourably decades after death epitaph for John Throckmorton refers to Queene Marie of happie memorie.
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Common questions
When and where was Mary I of England born?
Mary Tudor entered the world on the 18th of February 1516 at the Palace of Placentia in Greenwich. She was the only child of King Henry VIII and his first wife Catherine of Aragon to survive infancy.
How did Mary I of England become Queen of England after Edward VI died?
Edward VI died on the 6th of July 1553 and named Lady Jane Grey as his successor while excluding Mary from succession. Mary fled to East Anglia and assembled a military force at Framlingham Castle before riding triumphantly into London on the 3rd of August 1553 to claim her throne.
Who did Mary I of England marry and when did their wedding take place?
Mary I of England married Philip II of Spain in a ceremony held at Winchester Cathedral on the 25th of July 1554. The marriage treaty included safeguards but many feared England would become a province of the Habsburg Empire.
Why is Mary I of England known as Bloody Mary regarding religious executions?
Heresy Acts revived by Parliament in January 1555 led to the execution of around 283 Protestants most by burning between February 1555 and May 1558. Protestant writers condemned her reign leading to the adoption of the sobriquet Bloody Mary by the 17th century.
What happened during Mary I of England's false pregnancies in 1554 and 1557?
Mary stopped menstruating in September 1554 and gained weight while feeling nauseated until her abdomen receded in July 1555 revealing she was not pregnant. She again thought she was pregnant with a baby due March 1558 after Philip visited but no child was born before she died.
When and how did Mary I of England die from illness?
Mary I of England died on the 17th of November 1558 aged forty-two at St James's Palace from pain possibly caused by ovarian cysts or uterine cancer. Her death followed months of weakness and illness starting in May 1558.