Mary I of england

### Relatives

King Edward VI ( younger half-brother) Queen Elizabeth I (younger half-sister) Henry Fitzroy (illegitimate half-brother) Henry Carey, Baron Hunsdon, and Catherine Carey ( half-siblings)

## Physical description

### Height

5 feet (152 cm) to 5 feet 4 inches (163 cm)

### Eye color

downcast

Mary I of England, also known as Mary Tudor, was the Queen of England from 1553 to 1858. She was the daughter of King Henry VIII and Catherine of Aragon. Mary is known for her aggressive attempts to reverse the English Reformation, which had taken the country away from the Roman Catholic Church. She persecuted Protestants and had hundreds executed, earning her the nickname "Bloody Mary". Mary's efforts to restore Roman Catholicism were largely reversed by her successor and half-sister Elizabeth I.

## History

Mary was born in 1516 to King Henry VIII and Catherine of Aragon. She was Henry's first child and heir, but he later broke from the Catholic Church and annulled his marriage to Catherine, declaring Mary illegitimate. After Henry VIII died in 1547, Mary's half-brother Edward VI took the throne. Edward was Protestant, and Mary was excluded from the line of succession due to her Catholic faith. However, Edward died at a young age in 1553. After Edward's death, Mary took the throne in 1553. She was the first woman to successfully claim the English throne. She reversed Edward's religious reforms and sought to restore Roman Catholicism as the official religion. As part of this, Mary persecuted Protestants. Over 300 dissenters were burned at the stake for heresy, earning Mary the nickname "Bloody Mary". The violence of these persecutions turned public opinion against Mary. Mary allied with Spain through her marriage to Prince Philip II. Their alliance and marriage was unpopular, and Philip spent little time in England. Mary believed she was pregnant at one point, but it turned out to be a false pregnancy. Mary died in 1558 at the age of 42. She was succeeded by her half-sister Elizabeth I, who restored the Church of England and reversed Mary's Catholic reforms. Mary's reign was marked by religious conflict and she is a controversial figure due to her persecution of Protestants.Mary's reign had a significant impact on the power struggle between Protestantism and Catholicism in England. Though her Catholic restoration was ultimately unsuccessful, she left a lasting legacy as England's first queen regnant.

## religious reform

Mary I's religious reforms had several significant consequences:

1. They led to the persecution and execution of hundreds of Protestants, which eroded public support for Mary and Catholicism. The violence of these persecutions stained Mary's reputation and earned her the nickname "Bloody Mary".
2. Mary's reforms were largely reversed after her death when Elizabeth I took the throne and restored Protestantism. This showed that Mary's attempts to re-establish Catholicism in England had not decisively succeeded, and Protestantism still had significant support.
3. The conflicts over religion during Mary's reign highlighted the divisiveness of the English Reformation. There were staunch defenders of both Catholicism and Protestantism, and Mary's reforms reignited the turmoil over the proper faith of the country. This religious turmoil would continue into Elizabeth I's reign.
4. Mary's reforms and eventual failure highlighted the strength of Protestant sentiment in England. Her efforts showed that simply restoring Catholic doctrines and practices would not end the spread of Protestant ideas. England remained deeply divided over religion following her reign.
5. Mary did successfully re-assert the power of the monarchy and the authority of the Catholic Church during her reign. But the longevity of these changes was limited, and she was unable to permanently counter the gains Protestants had made under Edward VI and Henry VIII. Her reforms reflected the ongoing struggle over religion in England.

## Facts

1. Mary took the throne after disputing the line of succession with her cousin Lady Jane Grey. Mary rallied supporters to her cause and Jane was executed for treason after just 9 days as queen. This showed Mary's determination and ability to seize power despite challenges to her claim.
2. Mary's mother Catherine of Aragon was first married to Henry VIII's brother Arthur, who died young. Henry later married Catherine and she bore him Mary. But Henry broke from the Catholic Church in order to annul his marriage to Catherine and marry Anne Boleyn, declaring Mary illegitimate. This deeply upset Mary and shaped her strong Catholic views.
3. Mary's reign was marked by conflict with France and Scotland as well. England lost the city of Calais to France, which was seen as a blow to English pride. Mary also sent forces to suppress a rebellion in Scotland led by Mary, Queen of Scots, who had a rival claim to the English throne.
4. Though Mary's reign was only 5 years, it was an important era in the turbulent history of the English Reformation. Her staunch Catholicism and persecution of Protestants still make her a controversial figure who highlights the violent religious conflicts of 16th century England.