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Mary I (1553- 1558)

Mary Tudor was the only surviving child born to Henry VIII and his first wife Catherine of Aragon. Mary was a devout Roman Catholic, even defying King Edward’s Act Of Uniformity and openly celebrating Mass.

Towards the end of Edward’s reign, Mary realized that there was a plot in place to put Jane Grey on the throne. Mary refused to flee the country to safety and instead chose to stay in England and raise support of her own in Framlingham, Suffolk. In the meantime the Privy Council declared Mary, Queen of England.

Once Queen, Mary began to look for a politically suitable husband. Philip II of Spain was a strong contender for a while although the English people were not in favour of the match. She later married him and despite several phantom pregnancies, was unable to produce an heir.

A series of plots were uncovered to depose Mary and put Elizabeth on the throne in her place. The Wyatt rebellion saw rebel armies from all over the country march to London. They were arrested and over one hundred rebels were hanged and four hundred released. Jane Grey and her husband were also executed as they were deemed to be figureheads for future rebellions. (Around this time Mary’s sister and future Queen, Elizabeth was also questioned and imprisoned,)

Mary started to restore the Catholic faith in England. Heresy laws were restored meaning that non-Catholics could be killed and their property returned to the Crown.

All in all, around two hundred and seventy five Protestants died in this way. Mary became extremely unpopular and earnt her nickname “Bloody Mary”

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