Bloody Mary

Mary I of England, popularly known as 'Bloody Mary' due to her heresy trials leading to the burning of roughly 300 protestants, and also known by her family name Mary Tudor, was monarch of England from 1553 to 1558. Her reign is notable for being the first instance of a woman ruler since Matilda in the twelth century, Mary's counter-reformation and persecution of protestants including burning at the stake, and the effects of her marriage to Philip II of Spain on English politics and foreign policy.

Coronation and Early Reign

Mary's succession to the throne of England was far from guaranteed. Her father, Henry VIII, had bastardized her when he divorced her monther, Catherine of Aragon, and only in the Third Act of Succession recognised her and her sister's rights to reign. Following this Edward VI had stipulated that the monarchy should pass to Lady Jane Grey and her heirs male rather than his siters. Indeed after Edward's death Lady Jane Grey was briefly made Queen by the Duke of Northumberland John Dudley, but was quickly deposed as a successful rising against this took place.

Religious Changes

Mary had been brought up as a Roman Catholic and thus disagreed with both the reformation of her father and her brother which had forced her to practice her religion in private. She sought to reverse these religious changes as much as possible in what became known as the Counter-Reformation. These changes were largely successful, with most aspects of the traditional religion being restored including the authority of the Pope. The only major aspect of the Reformation which was not restored was church lands which had been sold or given to the nobility. Indeed many aspects of the counter-reformation only passed through parliament was assurances that church lands would not be restored to church ownership.

While many of the changes were popualar with ordinary people, many of whom had disliked the end of their traditional Catholic religion including the ending of religious festivals and removal of images from churches, the changes proved highly unpopular with those who had become protestant as a result of the changes of the Reformation. These included Archbishop Thomas Cranmer who had written the English prayer book Mary now banned. He was among almost three hundred burnt for heresy by Mary during her reign. While the initial burnings were mainly leading protestants such as Cranmer and Hugh Latimer, most of the burnings were ordinary people who had become convinced protestants during the reigns of Henry VIII and Edward VI.

Marriage to Philip II of Spain

Mary's marriage to Philip II os Spain was always controversial - her advisors were split on who Mary should marry, many fearing that Philip would become more powerful than Mary and rule in the interests of the Spanish monarchy. As there was no recent precedent for female rule in England this fear was understandable. Women had a very clearly subordinate role in social and political life in Tudor England, as well as in marriage, and it was expected that this would naturally lead Mary to be subordinate to Philip. As Mary was set upon Philip to become her husband, Parliament in 1554 ratified a marriage treaty which clearly excluded Philip from political control, as well as excluding any of his children other than to Mary from the succession. Despite this many see Philip as controlling English policy through Mary, especially in the 1557 declaration of war against France. This control was most probably from Mary's own view of her subordinate position in the marriage, as is evidenced by her letters during Philip's absense where she wishes he was back in England as there was a "lack of firm hand" to deal with the dangers Mary saw.

Mary's marriage to Philip was not successful in producing heirs, and after a phantom pregnancy he left England and was only to return briefly. Mary appears to have genuinely loved Philip, while he appears to have been simply following the advise of his father for political reasons.