Mary Tudor
Born in Greenwich, LondonBorn on 18th of February 1516
Died on 17th of November 1558
Mary I was born on 18th February 1516 at Greenwich Palace, into the Tudor dynasty, her father was Henry VIII, and her mother was his first wife Catherine Of Aragon. Just a few years later, Henry divorced Catherine claiming that it should never have taken place, and was illegal as she had been married to his brother, this caused a massive rift with the Pope, and the Catholic Church, eventually declaring himself the head of the Church of England, and Protestant faith. This resulted in much destruction and ultimately the Dissolution of the monasteries. In 1533 Henry persuaded Parliament to declare Mary as illegitimate, and she was removed from the line of succession, she lost her title and privileges of princess, this didn't last long, and she did return to Henry's Court and was given her own household. She was then named as second in line for the throne, after Edward, Henry's young son who had been long awaited for.
When Henry VIII died, Edward ascended to the Throne in 1547 aged just nine, Edward had been a sickly child in his early years and Edward VI was placed under the guidance of his uncle, The Lord Protector, The Duke of Somerset he had different ideas to Henry, and when Edwards' illness grew critical, and due to Mary being a Catholic it was decided that she should not rule and not succeed him, Lady Jane Grey, who was The Lord Protectors' daughter In law was declared as the rightful heir, Edward died in 1553 aged just fifteen years of age.
Undeterred Mary had staunch support and was popular, she marched into London and took the crown from Lady Jane Grey, who had only ruled for nine days. Mary ascended to the throne at the age of 37, vowing to restore the Catholic faith, she was crowned on October 1st 1553, at Westminster Abbey. She married Philip II Of Spain in 1554, which proved an unpopular choice of the people, she changed laws ensuring heresy didn't occur, ultimately making it a treasonable act. Her obsession with her plight resulted in hundreds and hundreds of Protestants being murdered by burning them at the stake, this included three Bishops, and the former Archbishop of Canterbury Thomas Cranmer, this lasted for three years, and earned her the nickname of 'Bloody Mary'. Philip ascended to the throne of Spain in 1556, and spent most of his time away from Mary, this made for an unhappy marriage, also the alliance with Spain shunted England into a position of War with France, ending in defeat with the loss of Calais. Mary died on the 17th November 1558 at St James Palace in London, she was later buried at Westminster Abbey. She had died becoming the first ever queen to rule in her own right. Her half sister Elizabeth succeeded her and ruled as Elizabeth I.
Links:
http://tudorhistory.org/mary/ Tudor History site
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