Background:
- Born on February 18, 1516, during the reign of her father, King Henry VIII.
- Daughter of Henry VIII and his first wife, Catherine of Aragon.
Religious Policies:
- A devout Catholic, Mary aimed to reverse the Protestant Reformation initiated by her half-brother, King Edward VI.
- She enforced severe measures to restore Catholicism to England and Ireland, earning her the nickname "Bloody Mary."
Persecution of Protestants:
- During her reign, around 300 religious dissenters, mainly Protestants, were burned at the stake for defying her Catholic policies.
- These harsh measures drew widespread criticism and contributed to her negative reputation.
Marriage to Philip II:
- Mary married Philip II of Spain in 1554 to form an alliance with a Catholic power.
- The marriage proved unpopular among English subjects, who feared Spanish influence and potential loss of English independence.
Loss of Calais:
- One of the notable events of Mary's reign was the loss of Calais in 1558.
- Calais was England's last possession in continental Europe, emphasizing her failures in military and foreign policy.
Title:
- Mary held the claim to the throne as Henry VIII's legitimate heir, having not been officially pronounced illegitimate (unlike her older half-sister, Elizabeth I).
Short Reign:
- Mary I passed away on November 17, 1558, just five years after assuming the throne.
- Her death paved the way for her half-sister Elizabeth I to become the next monarch.
Conclusion:
Mary Tudor earned the nickname "Bloody Mary" primarily due to her harsh persecution of Protestants who resisted her efforts to establish Catholicism in England and Ireland. The severe measures during her reign contributed to an enduring unfavorable portrayal of her character and impact as a ruler.