Mary Tudor
Feb. 18, 1516 - Nov. 17, 1558
Nicknamed "Bloody Mary” after burning more than 300 people at the stake
by Rit Nosotro First Published:: 2003( )
Introduction:
The people knew her as "Bloody Mary", for during her reign as
queen over England, she killed over 300 people. Even so, she was not a
hateful person as people might think; instead she was a poor soul who
went through the many traumas of her father's six wives, one of which,
hated her up until her death. She profoundly believed that the nation
of England should be converted from Anglican Protestants to Roman Catholics.
This intense desire eventually drove her to burn 300 people at the stake
for heresy.
Mary's Childhood:
She lived a peaceful childhood until her father, King Henry the VIII,
decided to divorce her mother ,Catherine of Aragon, in 1527, because Catherine
had not borne a prince. Henry feared that if Mary inherited the throne
of England, the people would be displeased and a war might break out as
a result. The pope saw this as wrong, and refused to grant Henry the annulment
of his marriage. Against the pope's wishes, Henry's bishops dissolved
his marriage to Catherine of Aragon, and allowed him to marry Anne Boleyn
who bore Elizabeth, Mary's half sister. Later Henry proclaimed that the
pope would never have authority in England again. After Catherine's death
Henry proceeded to execute Anne Boleyn on charges of adultery and conspiracy.
His next wife, Jane Seymour, gave birth to his desired son, Edward.
Mary's relationship with her four stepmothers:
Anne Boleyn:
Anne Boleyn disliked Catherine of Aragon, and in truth, she hated Mary.
She found great pleasure in destroying any pleasant feeling Henry might
have still harbored towards Catherine. She undoubtedly tried to sever
Henry's bond with his daughter, but found this to be more challenging.
She did succeed, however, in breaking their close relationship somewhat,
for Henry stopped seeing Mary and succumbed to his wife's desires. Anne
once stated that "Mary will be the cause of my death unless I can
get rid of her!". There is some historical evidence that she conspired
to have Mary poisoned. Anne was later arrested for charges of adultery.
King Henry fell in love with Jane Seymour, one of Catherine of Aragon's
former ladies-in-waiting. Anne was hurriedly tried in court and put to
death. But, the day before she was to be executed, Anne had Lady Kingston,
wife of the Lieutenant of the tower; kneel before Mary, asking her to
"beg her to pardon an unfortunate woman the many wrongs she has done
her".
Jane Seymour:
Twenty - seven year old Jane Seymour was Henry's third wife. She was a
friend to Mary and persuaded Henry to reconcile his relationship with
his daughter, which Henry did publicly. Jane even attempted to get Mary's
title of Princess, which was taken away upon the arrival of Baby Elizabeth
when Henry was married to Anne Boleyn. Unfortunately she was unable to
do so. She also let Mary sit near her at meals and let her walk beside
her and not behind her, as was the custom in those days. Queen Jane was
also the only one of Henry's five wives to grant him a son, and on October
12, 1537, Prince Edward was born. Mary harbored no ill will in accepting
Prince Edward and the rightful heir to the throne of England. She was
even given the pleasure of being Baby Edward's godmother. Sadly, Queen
Jane died just 12 days after her son's arrival, due to complications with
his birth. Mary was the chief mourner at Queen Jane's funeral. She must
have surely grieved the loss of this kind and humble woman who accepted
her as her own flesh and blood.
Anne of Cleves:
King Henry married the German Anne of Cleaves in the year 1541. Their
marriage was based upon Henry's desire to form an alliance with a German
principality, knowing that England needed an ally when France and Spain
signed the treaty of Toledo in 1539 becoming a threat to the English,
thus he married Anne of Cleves. Henry had been very taken with Anne's
portrait, which he had sent Holbein, his court painter, to Cleves to paint.
But, when he asked to meet her he was greatly disappointed. She was in
her early thirties, had no social graces, worn unfashionable German clothes
and had a very long, pointy nose. Also, her education was lacking and
Henry found that they pair had nothing in common whatsoever. But it was
too late to back out of marriage, so the couple was married January6,
in the year of 1540. Mary had been one of the ladies sent to meet her
and the two of them eventually became friends. Anne accepted Henry's plea
for a divorce and lived the rest of her life quietly and attended Mary's
funeral. When Anne of Cleves died in 1557, Mary buried her in Westminster
Abbey.
Catherine Howard:
Henry soon found a replacement for Anne. He became infatuated with one
of Anne's ladies-in-waiting, Catherine Howard. She was the niece of the
Duke of Norfolk and also Anne Boleyn's cousin. Unbenonced to the King,
Catherine had a past. She had had lialations before this marriage, and
thought that she could go through with her marriage to the king without
her past life getting publicity. She also found the King "old and
unappealing" and planned to give the king a son by another man, without
the king's knowledge, naturally. In the beginning of this marriage, Mary
and Catherine did not get along well, mostly because Catherine was five
years younger then her stepdaughter and Mary found it difficult to give
Catherine the proper respect and honor the Queen deserved. Because of
this, Catherine had two of Mary's maids fired. Now, Mary and Catherine
seemed to "be at a truce" . Mary sent Queen Catherine a new
years gift and Catherine returned this kind gesture. This happiness was
short lived ,however, for when King Henry's heard of Catherine's infidelity
and unfaithfulness to the king, they were sent away to the countryside.
In the year 1542, Catherine Howard was executed, and the king was brokenhearted.
Catherine Parr:
Just eighteen short months after Catherine Howard's execution, the king
was to be married, once again. (You would think this guy would learn his
matrimonial lesson!!) In 1543, King Henry married his sixth wife, Catherine
Parr also known as Lady Latymer. She had been widowed twice and was very
rich. She also became a nursemaid to the obese king, and helped to tend
his ulcerous leg. Mary loved her kind stepmother, who regarded her as
a friend or a sister rather then a stepdaughter, being only four years
older then Mary. At this time, Mary was greatly in doubt that her father
would ever let her marry. "While my father lives," said Mary,
"I shall be only the Lady Mary, the most unhappy lady in Christendom."
Queen Catherine became very concerned about Mary's health and sent her
many medications and treatments. Catherine showered Mary with jewels and
gifts, and even gave her pocket money to satisfy her taste for gambling.
Mary had even taught her sister Elizabeth to play dice. By the time Christmas
came, the king was dying. Mary was at his side and he told her that he
regretted not having her married. He died on January 28, 1547. After his
death, Catherine married her former suitor, Thomas Seymour, Jane Seymour’s
brother. Edward became King Edward VI when he was only nine years old.
After an agonizing illness of tuberculosis and arsenic poisoning, the
young king died on July 6th, 1553.
Mary as Queen:
On July 19, 1553, the Lord Mayor of London proclaimed Mary Queen. Mary
began immediately working on bringing the Roman Catholic religion back
to England. She tried by rescinding the proclamations made by her half
brother during his reign, and replacing then with old English laws that
enforced heresy against the other religions and churches, basically demanding
that everyone in the entire nation be converted to roman Catholics. This
is when she earned her nickname, "Bloody Mary". It was during
this time that she had about 300 people burned at the stake for heresy,
including the Archbishop of Canterbury, Thomas Cranmer. Because of this,
she never was able to get the support of either her nobles or countrymen.
She also had an intense desire to find a male heir to the throne, so at
the age of 37, she married Philip II of Spain. This gesture made many
of her subjects despise her even more, because many of them saw Spain
as the archenemy of England itself. Her husband encouraged her to ally
with Spain in a war on France, because of this, Mary lost Calaist, and
the only English held possession in France. She continued to reign until
Philip II deserted her to return to the throne in Spain. She was forced
tto recognize that she would never produce an heir, and realized that
she had to give the throne of England up to her half sister, Elizabeth
who was an Anglican Protestant. In the past, she had put pressure on Elizabeth
to become a roman catholic, but Elizabeth successfully resisted and became
Queen Elizabeth I. Mary died peacefully on November 16, 1558 at the age
of 42.
Quick Quiz:
Which wife of King Henry VIII was not executed, divorced, or deceases
during their marriage?
a. Anne Boleyn
b. Catherine Howard
c. Jane Seymour
d. Catherine Parr
Which wife of King Henry’s was, perhaps, his most beloved, and
bore his only son?
a. Anne Boleyn
b. Catherine Howard
c. Jane Seymour
d. Catherine Parr
Which wife of King Henry’s, on the day of her execution, begged
Mary Tudor’s forgiveness for mistreating her?
a. Anne Boleyn
b. Catherine Howard
c. Jane Seymour
d. Catherine Parr
Which of King Henry’s wives was Mary Tudor’s mother?
a. Anne Boleyn
b. Anne of Cleves
c. Catherine of Aragon
d. Jane Seymour
Bibliography:
MARY I
http://tudorhistory.org/mary/
Mary Tudor: Complete biography
http://home.earthlink.net/~elisale/
Queen "Bloody" Mary I Tudor of England
http://www.kings.edu/womens_history/marytudor.html
