Mary I of England

Mary I (18 February 1516 – 17 November 1558), also known as Mary Tudor of Greenwich, was Queen regnant of England and Ireland from 19 July 1553 until her death. She was the oldest daughter of Henry VIII and the only child of Catherine of Aragon who survived childhood.

Mary succeeded her short-lived half-brother, Edward VI, to the English throne. She was the fourth crowned monarch of the Tudor dynasty. Mary is remembered for briefly remaking England a Roman Catholic country.

Mary had more than 280 disagreeing religious people burned at the stake, which are recorded in John Foxe's Book of Martyrs. That made many call her "Bloody Mary".   Her half-sister on her father's side, Elizabeth I, came to the throne after Mary's death. Elizabeth made England Protestant again and persecuted Catholics who were viewed as traitors.

 Early life 
Mary Tudor was born on 18 February 1516 in the Palace of Placentia, in Greenwich. Unlike Catherine's other children, she survived to be an adult. Her godfather was Cardinal Thomas Wolsey.

In 1521, the five-year-old Mary was betrothed to the three year old Duke of Brittany, Francis. 

Although she was not the son and heir that Henry VIII wanted, she was loved by her parents. When she was about 11, Henry decided to divorce Mary's mother, Catherine of Aragon so that he could marry Anne Boleyn.

After Anne Boleyn had a daughter, Elizabeth, Henry VlII distrusted Mary and thought that her behaviour came from her mother and so he purposefully separated Mary and Catherine of Aragon. He also banished both of them from court and removed Mary from the order of succession. Mary had to become one of her servants. After Henry had Anne killed, Mary's half-sister also became a servant. A month later, Henry VIII married Jane Seymour, who gave birth to Edward, Prince of Wales. Twelve days later, Jane died.

 Succession 
Mary lost a faithful friend and also her pride. She had acknowledged her parents' marriage as invalid and herself an illegitimate daughter. The rest of Mary's life with Henry VIII gave her a quick succession of stepmothers. Henry VIII died soon after marrying his last wife, Catherine Parr.

Henry had decided that the young prince was to succeed him. If he had no heirs, his older half-sister, Mary, was to be queen.

 Becoming Queen 
If Mary did not produce a child, Mary's half-sister, Elizabeth, was to be queen. After Elizabeth and her heirs would be the side of the family of Henry's sister Mary.

Edward succeeded to the throne as King of England and Ireland. Edward began to show signs of a coughing disease.
Edward did not want Mary to succeed him. Edward went ahead with a plan to let his Protestant cousin Lady Jane Grey become queen after he died. She was queen of England for only nine days. Mary executed her and married Philip II of Spain. 

After Mary died, Elizabeth succeeded to the throne and became Queen Elizabeth I of England. 

 Children 
Mary had two phantom pregnancies, or false pregnancies, but had no child. The phantom pregnancies were liver cancer. After Mary died, Elizabeth succeeded to the throne and became Queen Elizabeth I of England.
+NameTimePhantom pregnancyPhantom pregnacy

 References 

Category:1516 births
Category:1558 deaths
Category:House of Tudor
Category:Counts and countesses of Flanders
Category:Kings and Queens of England
Category:Kings and Queens consort of Spain
Category:English Roman Catholics
Category:16th century in England
Category:Heirs and heiresses presumptive