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Women in History: Bloody Mary. Mary i Tudor (Bloody Mary)

Mary Tudor has been Queen of England since 1553. This is the turn of the Middle Ages and early modern times in the history of Britain. The Tudor queen, who was famous, of course, not for her, but for her half-sister Elizabeth I the Great, daughter of Henry VIII from another marriage. The history of the Tudors did not end on the reign of Mary, but took a tremendous zigzag. Turn in an unexpected direction.

The thing is that the Tudor dynasty as a whole is characterized by support for the developing early capitalism and the Reformation, while the support is reasonable, without extremes. And of course, the rivalry with Spain. With Mary, the opposite is true. She, in essence, tried to stop time by raising the banner of the counter-reformation. Roman emperor Julian the Apostate of another era.

It is possible to try to carry out such a policy exclusively by direct violence. This was resorted to by Mary, who went down in history with the terrible nickname Mary Tudor - Bloody. And in the beginning she was the love of the nation, and even for some time a real idol as persecuted, offended. However, the same people that felt so sorry for her later named her Bloody. This nickname appeared in Protestant pamphlets during her lifetime. And Elizabeth I was worth a lot of effort to cope with the consequences of Mary's policy.

Of course, there must have been very serious reasons for the strange, almost unnatural behavior of the monarch. And the personal fate of Mary Tudor can explain a lot.

Maria was born on February 15, 1515. Father - Henry VIII - ascended the throne in 1509. Over the years of his reign, he has changed almost beyond recognition. He ascended the throne almost as a humanist, who loved not only knightly tournaments, but also ancient literature. Erasmus of Rotterdam wrote a laudatory ode in his honor. Henry appointed Thomas More as his first advisor, Lord Chancellor. And he was mercilessly executed because he rejected the Reformation.

By the time Mary was born, the king had been looking forward to the birth of an heir for six years. And the heir was supposed to be only a boy. In those days, no one could have imagined what an important role women's governments would play in the history of Great Britain - from Elizabeth I the Great and Queen Victoria to Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher. IN medieval Europe believed that a woman could not be in power.

The wife of Henry VIII at that time was Catherine of Aragon. And she gave birth to boys - but only dead ones. A long, difficult divorce followed, which she did not recognize until the end of her life.

The next wife is a representative English nobility- became the mother of Elizabeth, later she was executed, accused of state and adultery.

The king then married Jane Seymour, who died shortly after giving birth. There was also Anna of Klevskaya, who Henry disliked to such an extent that he ordered her to be sent away and obtained a dissolution of the marriage.

Another wife, Catherine Howard, was executed for depraved behavior. The king told everyone incredible stories about how she cheated on him with hundreds of men.

The last wife of Heinrich was Catherine Parr, young, sweet, meek, who persuaded the elderly glutton and lecher to calm down and recognize children from previous marriages. Perhaps he would have executed them too, were it not for her ennobling influence.

Mary Tudor's mother Catherine of Aragon was the youngest daughter of Ferdinand and Isabella, the famous Catholic kings who unified Spain. Isabella is a fanatical believer. Ferdinand is fanatically greedy.

At the age of 16, Catherine was brought to England and married off as 14-year-old Arthur, Prince of Wales, the elder brother of the future Henry VIII.

She was not supposed to be Queen of England at all. Catherine's husband was seriously ill and soon died. Henry, as soon as he became king, married his brother's widow, who remained in England due to the fact that her fantastically stingy father Ferdinand did not want to pay her dowry. Perhaps one of the main reasons for Henry's decision to marry Catherine was his intention to keep the peace with the growing power of Spain. This country was part of the Habsburg Empire, on which, according to its emperor Charles V, the sun never set. The empire united German, Italian lands, small possessions in France, the Netherlands, possessions in the New World. It was very tempting to be related to such a royal house. Moreover, Henry VIII treated marriage with ease.

Catherine was six years older than her husband. After two sons who were stillborn and a third who died in infancy, she gave birth to a daughter, Maria, at the age of 30. And although this was not the long-awaited heir, hope remained, and the girl was treated well. Her father called her "the biggest pearl of the kingdom." She was very pretty: lush blond curls, a slender, short figure. She was dressed up, brought to feasts, asked to dance in front of the ambassadors. By the way, it was their records that preserved the history of her childhood.

She had everything: both balls and dresses. There was no parental attention. The king was busy with the affairs of the state, and amusements, which he loved very much. Catherine tried to keep up. She was very worried, as if against his background not to look old. Especially since he always had favorites.

Little Maria is not only a child with whom parents spend too little time. With its birth, it became what can be conditionally called a dynastic commodity. In the Middle Ages, royal children were seen as a product that could be profitably sold on the international market.

From the age of 3, negotiations began on her future marriage.

The balance of power in Europe XVI century was very uncertain. The system of international relations took shape much later, in the middle of the next century, after the 30-year war. In the meantime, the situation remained unstable. The papacy, that outgoing theocratic force, weaved complex intrigues. France started the colossal Italian wars. The French king Francis I was in captivity during the war with the Habsburgs and sought to free himself from this humiliation through new conquests. In these contradictions, friendship with England could become a strong political trump card.

Mary, as the only heir, had a high price. At first, she was married to the Dauphin of France, the future Henry II. This marriage did not take place. Later, when the position of Mary became not so strong, they began to predict for her husband the maximum of the Duke of Savoy.

1518 - Catherine of Aragon, still trying to give Henry VIII an heir, a dead girl was born. And in 1519, the king had an illegitimate son from a noble court lady, Elizabeth Blount. He was given the beautiful romantic name of Henry Fitzroy. Little Mary did not yet understand what danger he posed to her. Nothing prevented Henry VIII from recognizing this child as legitimate. The king generally put his will above everyone, even above the will of the papacy.

But while Mary continued wonderful life. She was taught languages. She perfectly recited verses in Latin, read and spoke Greek, and was interested in ancient authors. She was even more drawn to the works of the Fathers of the Church. None of the humanists who surrounded the king were engaged in her upbringing. And she grew up a devout Catholic.

Meanwhile, a gloomy shadow hung over her: the King wanted to divorce Catherine of Aragon. Divorce from a Spaniard, a Catholic, the daughter of the "most Christian kings" Isabella and Ferdinand, who was the aunt of Emperor Charles V - this idea looked crazy. But Heinrich showed incredible perseverance.

What guided his actions? Among other things - the desire to profit from the wealth of the church. In England, beginning in the thirteenth century, monarchs continually found themselves in great dependence on the throne of Rome, as, for example, John Landless, who recognized himself as a vassal of the pope. The fact that a large tribute was paid to the Holy See caused a wave of protests. At the end of the 14th century, there was already the theologian Dison Wyclef, who questioned the authority of the Roman popes theoretically.

When Henry VIII married Catherine, he had to obtain permission from the See of Rome, along with a special document confirming that her marriage to Prince Arthur was not realized and the bride remained pure. Now the Pope did not want to give Henry VIII the right to divorce. In a rage, the king announced that in England he himself was the pope. And in 1527 he allowed himself a divorce. Moreover, he declared the marriage invalid, and Mary an illegitimate child.

1533 - the king eventually "divorced himself" from his annoying wife. After that, Mary, who had previously been the only legitimate heiress and already bore the title of Princess of Wales, was deprived of her status. From the age of 12 to 16, she, the daughter of a hated divorced wife, was in disgrace with her mother. Now she began to be called the illegitimate daughter of Henry VIII. And they treated her accordingly: they moved her to much worse conditions, deprived her of her own yard, and showed neglect in every possible way. Mary had reason to fear for her life: numerous executions of people objectionable to the king began, especially those who did not support the Reformation policy pursued by him.

Thomas More was executed for refusing to swear allegiance to Henry VIII as head of Anglican Church and legalize his marriage to Anne Boleyn. Thomas More did this knowing full well that he was condemning himself to death. The massacre with him made a terrible impression on the whole of Europe. Shortly after receiving the news of the execution of More, Erasmus of Rotterdam, who loved him as his closest friend, died.

It was at this gloomy moment that popularity again came to Mary. Before that, she was a sweet child, a pretty princess who danced for foreign ambassadors. Now she, persecuted, has become popular among the people. Catherine of Aragon showed amazing firmness in this story. Until the end of her days, she signed "Catherine, the unfortunate queen", although she was no longer officially the queen. She was neither executed nor even imprisoned, because she was from powerful Spain. But she was doomed to a miserable existence in a remote castle with Maria. The girl, rejected by her father, was sincerely pitied among the people. Catherine of Aragon and Mary became the banner of the future Counter-Reformation. In particular, Scotland fiercely resisted the reforms of Henry VIII.

And the Reformation took extreme, cruel forms in the 30s of the 16th century. For example, the famous tomb of Thomas Becket, the holy Archbishop of Canterbury, who was killed in the 12th century, was destroyed. It was a place of pilgrimage where miraculous healings took place more than once. And under the banner of church reform and the fight against Catholic prejudices, with the knowledge of Henry VIII, the tomb was plundered, dug out gems, pilfered precious fabrics, and burned the bones of the saint. This was done on the basis of the permission of Henry VIII, who signed the following text: “Thomas Becket, the former Bishop of Canterbury, proclaimed a saint by the Roman authorities, is no longer such. And it shouldn't be respected."

1536 - Henry VIII executed Anne Boleyn and after 11 days entered into new marriage- with Jane Seymour, who in 1537 finally gave birth to his son - the future King Edward VI. The birth was very difficult, and a few days later Jane Seymour died. Rumors spread throughout the country that it was necessary to fight for the life of both mother and child, but the king said: "Only save the heir."

22-year-old Maria became the godmother of the prince. It seems to be a mercy. But now she had no hope of regaining the status of heiress. Her position was very difficult: between the warring parents; between different faiths; between two Englands, one of which accepted the Reformation and the other not; between two countries - England and Spain, where there were relatives who wrote to the girl and tried to support her. The mighty Charles V, her cousin, was ready at any moment to move his huge troops against England.

Meanwhile, trading continued on the dynastic market. At first, Mary was married to the Dauphin of France, then Henry VIII turned to an alliance with the Habsburgs, and she became the intended bride of her cousin Emperor Charles V. As a child, she even sent him some kind of ring, which he put on his little finger with a laugh and said: "Well, I'll wear it in memory of her." Then the king of Scotland and someone from southeastern Europe were planned to be suitors. This meant a drop in status. IN worst of times there were rumors that Mary could be married off to some Slavic prince. Then there was the candidacy of the son of the Duke of Kyiv (this is also a province, a low level). Considered Francesco Sforza - the ruler of Milan. And again the French prince. Maria lived all the time as if in a window, put up for sale.

1547 - her half-brother Edward VI became king. Mary's position at court was restored.

But she had no political prospects, no personal life. She became increasingly interested in religious issues. Her inner loneliness, her broken fate, had an effect. And for the remnants of the Catholic clergy, she remained a symbol of the Counter-Reformation. She was the best fit for this role: persecuted, living in unceasing prayers, a faithful Catholic. In addition, she is the daughter of a fanatical Catholic Catherine of Aragon and the granddaughter of the most Catholic Western European kings.

There were many in England who would like to return to yesterday. There, where there was no Reformation, early capitalism with its mass impoverishment, land fencing, painful breaking of habitual relations. After all, even today there are often people who claimed that only in that irrevocably gone world would they be fine.

We do not know for sure how consciously Mary played the role of inspirer of the Counter-Reformation. Most likely, there was no politicking in her behavior.

Edward VI died very early - at the age of 15. So in 1553, Mary again becomes the real heir to the throne. But the court forces tried to prevent her and put forward another applicant - the young Jane Gray - the granddaughter of Henry VIII's sister. The people did not support this decision. Londoners warmly stood up for Mary, a pious, unmarried woman, who did not give grounds for any bad rumors.

After several days of popular unrest, Mary Tudor became Queen of England. The ghost of the crown, which seemed to have long since melted away, suddenly became a reality. And she immediately took revenge for all the years of persecution. The executions began immediately. Numerous grays were executed - not only the unfortunate protégé of the courtiers, but all her relatives. Archbishop Cranmer was executed, an ardent supporter of the Reformation, a man of wide education, intellectual, comparable to Thomas More. Every day, heretics were burned at the stake. In cruelty, Mary surpassed even her father.

The queen decided that only one person could be her husband - the son of Emperor Charles V, Philip II of Spain. He was at that time 26 years old, she was 39. But he was not just a young man - he managed, like herself, to become the banner of the Counter-Reformation, leading the fight against Calvinism, which was rapidly spreading in Europe. In the Netherlands, Philip, who constantly demonstrated unity with the Inquisition, eventually began to be considered a monster.

As you know, the husband of the queen in England does not become king. His title is Prince Consort. But even so, the appearance of such an odious figure in the kingdom was a terrifying event. And Maria also emphasized that this was the decision of her heart, her soul.

The wedding took place on July 25, 1554. Most thinking people it was clear that it was a rainy day. But Mary was happy. The young husband seemed to her handsome, although his surviving portraits clearly showed the opposite. Court feasts and balls began. Maria wanted to make up for everything she had lost in her youth.

But there were also many problems. Philip arrived with a large Spanish retinue. It turned out that the Spanish aristocracy is poorly compatible with the English. They even dressed differently. Among the Spaniards, the collars were such that the head could not be lowered and the person took on an arrogant look. The English wrote with resentment about the Spaniards: "They behave as if we were their servants." Conflicts began, at court it came to fights.

A trial followed, someone was executed. And they were punished generously.

Philip at court behaved secularly, but ardently supported the bloody policy of Mary. He brought with him special people who held trials of heretic Protestants. Burning has become commonplace. Philip seemed to be preparing for the nightmare he would unleash in the Netherlands in the 1560s.

In England, during the time of Henry VIII, 3,000 Catholic priests remained, who took refuge in abandoned, dilapidated churches, in the ruins of monasteries. They were hunted down and expelled from the country. 300 of those who were considered especially active and dangerous were burned. Now Mary and Philip launched repressions against those who accepted the Reformation. The unfortunate country was in the grip of religious fanaticism.

The persecuted Protestants began to arouse the sympathy of the people. Just as Mary herself was once an object of ardent sympathy, now her enemies have taken this place. During public executions some of them showed exceptional courage. If at first many repented, as they were ordered, asked for forgiveness, then in the face of death they changed their behavior. Archbishop Cranmer, who also repented, said just before his death: “I am sorry that I repented. I wanted to save my life to help you, my fellow Protestants.” The people were shocked by the courage of these people. The attitude towards Mary, on the contrary, was getting worse. After all, no one expected from her either such cruelty, or a crowd of foreigners.

There was another important incident. It was announced to the people that the Queen was expecting an heir from Philip of Spain. This important news meant that a new danger arose: Philip could get recognized and English king. The news of the queen's pregnancy turned out to be false. Perhaps Maria herself believed that she would have a child, or played a complex political game. Trying to change popular opinion.

People tend to believe that a woman with the birth of a child becomes softer, kinder. And the queen's husband, so disliked by the British, got tired of court entertainment and left for Spain. The subjects had to believe that now everything will be fine.

It is clear that the rumor about the imminent birth of a baby is difficult to maintain for more than nine months. Maria was able to hold out for 12 months. The medicine of that era did not differ in accuracy. But in the end I had to admit that there was a mistake. This happened in 1555, at the same time that Charles V abdicated and Philip became king of Spain. He received half of the Habsburg Empire and was preparing to fight for the unification of all its lands.

To support her husband, Mary came into conflict with France. An ill-conceived war began, for which England was not ready. In 1558, the British lost Calais - "the gates of France", the last fragment of their former possessions on the continent. The following words of Mary are known: “When I die and my heart is opened, Calais will be found there.”

Her whole life was one big failure. During her lifetime, the people began to call her Bloody. And he placed his hopes on another princess - the future Elizabeth I. As it turned out - not in vain. Being by nature much more intelligent, Elizabeth saw the terrible mistakes of her half-sister, who tried to forcibly turn History back.

Elizabeth, who for some time was in the retinue of Mary, behaved quietly and therefore remained alive. And after the death of her sister in 1558, she became the great ruler of England.

They died during fetal development or immediately after childbirth, and the birth of a healthy girl caused great joy in the royal family.

The girl was christened in the monastery church near Greenwich Palace three days later, named after Henry's beloved sister, Queen Mary Tudor of France.

The first two years of her life, Mary moved from one palace to another. This was due to the English sweat epidemic, which the king was afraid of, moving farther and farther from the capital.

The retinue of the princess during these years consisted of a lady mentor, four nannies, a laundress, a chaplain, a bed keeper and a staff of courtiers. They all dressed in Mary's colors - blue and green.

At this time, Francis I came to the throne in France. He was impatient to prove his strength and power, for which he sought to conclude friendly union with Henry through the marriage of Mary and the French dauphin, Francis.

Negotiations were completed by the autumn of 1518. Mary was to marry when the Dauphin reached the age of fourteen. Among the conditions was this: if Henry does not have a male heir, Mary will inherit the crown. However, Henry did not believe in such a possibility, since he still hoped for the birth of a son (Queen Catherine was on last dates pregnancy), besides, it seemed unthinkable that a woman would rule the country. But in November 1518, Catherine of Aragon gave birth to a dead child, and Mary continued to be the main contender for the English throne.

Mary's childhood was spent surrounded by a large retinue, corresponding to her position. However, she rarely saw her parents.

Her high position slightly staggered when the king's mistress Elizabeth Blount gave birth to a boy (). He was named Henry, the child was revered as having a royal lineage. He was assigned a retinue and bestowed titles corresponding to the heir to the throne.

The plan for raising the princess was drawn up by the Spanish humanist Vives. The princess had to learn to speak correctly, learn grammar and read Greek and Latin. Great importance was given to the study of the work of Christian poets, and for the sake of entertainment, she was recommended to read stories about women who sacrificed themselves - Christian saints and ancient warrior maidens. IN free time she was engaged in horse riding and falconry. However, there was one omission in her education - Mary was not at all prepared to govern the state.

In June 1522, Holy Roman Emperor Charles V arrived at Henry's court. Rich festivities were organized in his honor, and preparations were made for this meeting for several months. It was signed an agreement on the conclusion of the engagement between Mary and Charles (the engagement with the French dauphin was terminated).

The groom was sixteen years older than the bride (Mary was only six at that time). However, if Charles perceived this union as a diplomatic step, then Mary experienced some romantic feelings for her fiancé and even sent him small gifts.

In 1525, when it became clear that Catherine would not be able to give birth to an heir, Henry seriously thought about who would become the next king or queen. If his illegitimate son had been granted titles earlier, then Mary received the title of Princess of Wales. This title has always been held by the heir to the English throne. Now she needed to manage her new possessions on the spot.

Wales was not yet part of England, but only a dependent territory. Managing it was not an easy task, as the Welsh regarded the English as conquerors and hated them. The princess left for her new possessions at the end of the summer of 1525 with a huge retinue. Her residence at Ludlow represented the royal court in miniature. Mary was given the responsibility of administering justice and performing ceremonial functions.

In 1527, Henry cooled off in his love for Charles. The engagement between him and Mary broke off shortly before Mary's departure for Wales. Now he was interested in an alliance with France. Mary could be offered as a wife to Francis I himself or to one of his sons. Mary returned to London. She is old enough to shine at the balls.

Mary Tudor, portrait by Antonis More.

Mary I Tudor (February 18, 1516, Greenwich - November 17, 1558, London), British Queen from 1553, daughter of Henry VIII Tudor and Catherine of Aragon. The accession of Mary Tudor to the throne was accompanied by the restoration of Catholicism (1554) and cruel repressions against the supporters of the Reformation (hence her nicknames - Mary the Catholic, Mary the Bloody). In 1554, she married the heir to the Spanish throne, Philip of Habsburg (from 1556 King Philip II), which led to a rapprochement between England and Catholic Spain and the papacy. During the war against France (1557-1559), which the queen started in alliance with Spain, England lost Calais in early 1558 - the last possession of the English kings in France. The policy of Mary Tudor, which ran counter to the national interests of England, caused discontent among the new nobility and the emerging bourgeoisie.

Mary Tudor, Mary I (Mary Tudor), Bloody Mary (18.II.1516 - 17.XI.1558), - Queen of England 1553-1558. Daughter of Henry VIII and Catherine of Aragon. Mary Tudor, a fanatical Catholic, succeeded to the throne after the death of her brother King Edward VI, crushing a plot by a Protestant faction (in favor of Jeanne Grey, Henry VIII's great-niece). Mary Tudor was supported by a grouping of the old feudal Catholic nobility, who pinned restoration hopes on her and managed to take advantage of the dissatisfaction of the peasant masses with the reformation. The accession of Mary Tudor to the throne was marked by the restoration of Catholicism (1554) and the beginning of a Catholic reaction, accompanied by severe persecution of reformers, many of whom (including T. Cranmer and H. Latimer) were burned at the stake. In 1554, Mary Tudor married Philip, heir to the Spanish throne (since 1556 - King Philip II). The whole policy of Mary Tudor - the restoration of Catholicism, rapprochement with Spain - ran counter to the national interests of England, caused protests and even uprisings (T. Wyeth, 1554). The unsuccessful war (in alliance with Spain) against France (1557-1559) ended with the loss of the port of Calais by England. The death of Mary Tudor prevented an uprising that was being prepared by English Protestants who nominated another daughter of Henry VIII, Elizabeth, as a candidate for the English throne.

Soviet historical encyclopedia. In 16 volumes. - M.: Soviet Encyclopedia. 1973-1982. Volume 9. MALTA - NAKHIMOV. 1966.

Maria I
Mary Tudor
Mary Tudor
Years of life: February 18, 1516 - November 17, 1558
Reigned: July 6 (de jure) or July 19 (de facto) 1553 - November 17, 1558
Father: Henry VIII
Mother: Catherine of Aragon
Husband: Philip II of Spain

Mary had a difficult childhood. Like all children Henry , she was not distinguished by good health (perhaps this was the result of congenital syphilis received from her father). After the divorce of her parents, she was deprived of her rights to the throne, removed from her mother and sent to the Hatfield estate, where she served Elizabeth, daughter of Henry VIII and Anne Boleyn. In addition, Mary remained a zealous Catholic. Only after the death of her stepmother and the consent to recognize her father as the "Supreme Head of the Anglican Church" did she get the opportunity to return to court.

When Mary learned that her brother Edward VI, before his death, bequeathed the crown to Jane Grey, she immediately moved to London. The army and navy went over to her side. A secret council was convened and proclaimed her queen. On July 19, 1553, Jane was deposed and subsequently executed.

Mary was crowned on October 1, 1553 by the priest Stephen Gardiner, who later became Bishop of Winchester and Lord Chancellor. The higher ranking bishops were Protestant and supportive of Lady Jane, and Mary did not trust them.

Mary ruled on her own, but her reign was unhappy for England. With her first decree, she restored the legality of the marriage of Henry VIII and Catherine of Aragon. She tried to re-establish Catholicism as the dominant religion in the country. The decrees of her predecessors directed against heretics were extracted from the archives. Many hierarchs of the Anglican Church, including Archbishop Cranmer, were sent to the stake. In total, about 300 people were burned during the reign of Mary, for which she received the nickname "Bloody Mary".

To secure the throne behind her line, Mary had to get married. The heir to the Spanish crown, Philip, who was 12 years old, was chosen as the suitors younger than Mary and extremely unpopular in England. He himself admitted that this marriage was political, he spent most of his time in Spain and practically did not live with his wife.

Mary and Philip had no children. One day, Mary announced her pregnancy to the courtiers, but what was taken for a fetus turned out to be a tumor. Soon the queen developed dropsy. Weakened by illnesses, she died of the flu as a not old woman at all. She was succeeded by her half-sister Elizabeth.

Used material from the site http://monarchy.nm.ru/

Mary I - Queen of England from the Tudor family, who ruled from 1553-1558. Daughter of Henry VIII and Catherine of Aragon.

Married since 1554 to King Philip II of Spain (born 1527 + 1598).

Mary's life was sad from birth to death, although at first nothing foreshadowed such a fate. For children of her age, she was serious, self-possessed, rarely cried, played the harpsichord beautifully. When she was nine years old, businessmen from Flanders who spoke to her in Latin were surprised by her answers in their own language. My father was very fond of his eldest daughter and was delighted with many traits of her character. But everything changed after Henry entered into a second marriage with Anne Boleyn. Mary was removed from the palace, torn away from her mother, and finally demanded that she renounce the Catholic faith. However, despite her young age, Maria flatly refused. Then she was subjected to many humiliations: the princess' retinue was dismissed, she herself, banished to the Hatfield estate, became a servant with Anne Boleyn's daughter, little Elizabeth. The stepmother tore at her ears. I had to fear for her very life. Maria's condition worsened, but her mother was forbidden to see her. Only the execution of Anne Boleyn brought Mary some relief, especially after she, having made an effort on herself, recognized her father as the “Supreme Head of the Anglican Church.” Her retinue was returned to her, and she again received access to the royal court.

The persecution resumed when Mary's younger brother, Edward VI, who fanatically adhered to the Protestant faith, ascended the throne. At one time she seriously considered fleeing England, especially when she began to be obstructed and not allowed to say mass. Edward eventually dethroned his sister and bequeathed the English crown to Henry VII's great-granddaughter Jane Grey. Mary did not recognize this will. Upon learning of the death of her brother, she immediately moved to London. The army and navy went over to her side. The Privy Council declared Mary queen. Nine days after her accession to the throne, Lady Gray was deposed and died on the scaffold. But in order to secure the throne for her offspring and prevent the Protestant Elizabeth from taking it, Mary had to marry. In July 1554, she married the heir to the Spanish throne, Philip, although she knew that the British did not like him very much. She married him at the age of 38, no longer young and ugly. The groom was twelve years younger than her and agreed to marry only for political reasons. After the wedding night, Philip remarked: “You have to be God to drink this cup!” He did not, however, live long in England, visiting his wife only occasionally. Meanwhile, Maria loved her husband very much, missed him and wrote long letters to him, staying up late at night.

She ruled herself, and her reign was in many respects the highest degree unfortunate for England. The queen, with feminine stubbornness, wanted to return the country under the shadow of the Roman church. She herself did not find pleasure in torturing and tormenting people who disagreed with her in faith; but she unleashed on them lawyers and theologians who had suffered in the past reign. The terrible statutes issued against heretics by Richard II, Henry IV and Henry V were directed against the Protestants. Since February 1555, bonfires were blazing all over England, on which "heretics" died. In total, about three hundred people were burned, among them the hierarchs of the church - Cranmer, Ridley, Latimer and others. It was ordered not to spare even those who, facing the fire, agreed to accept Catholicism. All these cruelties earned the queen the nickname "Bloody".

Who knows - if Mary had a child, she might not have been so cruel. She passionately desired to give birth to an heir. But this happiness was denied to her. A few months after the wedding, the queen thought that she had signs of pregnancy, about which she did not fail to notify her subjects. But what was at first taken for a fetus turned out to be a tumor. Soon the queen developed dropsy. Weakened by illnesses, she died of a cold when she was not at all an old woman.

All the monarchs of the world. Western Europe. Konstantin Ryzhov. Moscow, 1999.

Read further:

England in the 16th century(chronological table).

Historical faces of England(biographical index).

Literature:

Stone J. M., History of Mary I, L.-N. Y., 1901;

Rollard A. F., History of England.... 1547-1603, L., 1910;

White B., Mary Tudor, L., 1935;

Prescott H. F. M., Mary Tudor, L., 1953.

Queen of England since 1553, daughter of Henry VIII Tudor and Catherine of Aragon. The accession of Mary Tudor to the throne was accompanied by the restoration of Catholicism (1554) and cruel repressions against the supporters of the Reformation (hence her nicknames - Mary the Catholic, Mary the Bloody). In 1554, she married the heir to the Spanish throne, Philip of Habsburg (from 1556 King Philip II), which led to a rapprochement between England and Catholic Spain and the papacy. During the war against France (1557-1559), which the queen started in alliance with Spain, England lost Calais in early 1558 - the last possession of the English kings in France. The policy of Mary Tudor, which ran counter to the national interests of England, caused discontent among the new nobility and the emerging bourgeoisie.

Mary's life was sad from birth to death, although at first nothing foreshadowed such a fate. For children of her age, she was serious, self-possessed, rarely cried, played the harpsichord beautifully. When she was nine years old, businessmen from Flanders who spoke to her in Latin were surprised by her answers in their own language. At first, the father was very fond of his eldest daughter and was delighted with many traits of her character. But everything changed after Henry entered into a second marriage with Anne Boleyn. Mary was removed from the palace, torn away from her mother, and finally demanded that she renounce the Catholic faith. However, despite her young age, Maria flatly refused. Then she was subjected to many humiliations: the princess' retinue was dismissed, she herself, banished to the Hatfield estate, became a servant with Anne Boleyn's daughter, little Elizabeth. The stepmother tore at her ears. I had to fear for her very life. Maria's condition worsened, but her mother was forbidden to see her. Only the execution of Anne Boleyn brought Mary some relief, especially after she, having made an effort on herself, recognized her father as the “Supreme Head of the Anglican Church.” Her retinue was returned to her, and she again received access to the royal court.

She ruled herself, and her reign was in many respects most unfortunate for England. The queen, with feminine stubbornness, wanted to return the country under the shadow of the Roman church. She herself did not find pleasure in torturing and tormenting people who disagreed with her in faith; but she unleashed on them lawyers and theologians who had suffered in the past reign. The terrible statutes issued against heretics by Richard II, Henry IV and Henry V were directed against the Protestants. Since February 1555, bonfires were blazing all over England, on which "heretics" died. In total, about three hundred people were burned, among them the hierarchs of the church - Cranmer, Ridley, Latimer and others. It was ordered not to spare even those who, facing the fire, agreed to accept Catholicism. All these cruelties earned the queen the nickname "Bloody".

Mary Tudor, known to her enemies as Bloody Mary, was the third woman to ascend the throne of England. She is known for opposing the religious reforms introduced by her father, King Henry VIII, and for bringing England back under the rule of the pope. The life of Queen Mary was full of torment, sorrow, wealth, passion and disease. Here we will talk about last period Bloody Mary's life - from coronation to death. /website/

Rapid loss of popularity due to religious reforms

After her coronation on October 1, 1553, one of the first steps taken by Mary, Queen of England, was to restore the legality of the marriage between her parents: Henry VIII and Catherine of Aragon. Initially, Mary was as popular as her mother, whom the people loved (even after she divorced Henry VIII). However, Mary's popularity quickly declined as soon as she repealed all laws favorable to Protestantism.

Shortly after she assumed the throne, Queen Mary decided to get married. Her haste is explained, among other reasons, by an obsessive desire to give the desired crown to the Catholic heir and not to allow her sister, the Protestant Elizabeth, to the throne.

Her religious fervor also quickly manifested itself - on November 30, 1554, with the support of Cardinal Reginald Pole, Queen Mary restored Rome's ecclesiastical authority over England. Religious persecution lasted almost four years, and dozens of Protestant leaders were executed. Many were forced to emigrate, about 800 remained in the country.

Among those executed were the Archbishop of Canterbury, Thomas Cranmer, Nicholas Ridley, Bishop of London, and the reformist Hugh Latimer. Despite disputes over the number of deaths, John Fox writes in his Book of Martyrs that 284 people were executed for "faith". The executions were enough for this Protestant historian to refer to Queen Mary as Bloodthirsty Mary or, more popularly, Bloody Mary.

Fragment of an illustration from The Book of Martyrs by John Fox depicting preparations for the burning at the stake of Hugh Latimer and Nicholas Ridley. Photo: Public Domain

Marriage to Philip II, Spanish prince

The story goes that Mary refused an offer from Edward Courtenay, Earl of Devon, as she apparently fell madly in love while looking at a portrait of the Spanish Prince Philip II, son of her cousin, Holy Roman Emperor Charles V.

Seeing her infatuation with Philip, Lord Chancellor Gardiner and the House of Commons begged Mary to choose an Englishman, fearing that England would be forced to rely on Spain in the future. But Mary stood firm, and on July 25, 1554, just two days after they met, Mary and Philip were married. The ceremony was held at Winchester Cathedral. Philip was 26 at the time and Mary 37. For him it was just a state marriage, but she really loved him.

Portrait of Mary, Queen of England and Ireland by Hans Eworth. On the chest of the queen is the famous pearl of La Peregrina, which Philip II gave her in 1554, on the occasion of their marriage. Photo: Public Domain

The marriage contract clearly stated that Philip's Spanish advisers could not interfere in the affairs of the English state, and England was not obliged to fight the enemies of Spain. In addition, Philip will be called the King of England, and all official documents, including parliamentary ones, will be signed by the king and queen. Parliament can only be convened under their joint leadership. Coins with portraits of both were also issued. But marriage to Philip did not add to the popularity of Mary, the British did not trust their new foreign king.

Portrait of a young Philip II by Titian (1554) Photo: Public Domain

Three months after their wedding, Mary began to suspect that she was pregnant, her belly began to grow. However, doctors attributed it to inflammation due to fluid retention. She subsequently suffered another false pregnancy. Symptoms that included secretion breast milk and loss of vision, suggest some kind of hormonal disorder (possibly a pituitary tumor).

Portrait of Mary, Queen of England, and her husband Philip II. The couple lived together for about 15 months. Artist Hans Eworth. Photo: Wikimedia Commons

Kingdom of Ireland and war with France

The establishment of the Kingdom of Ireland in 1542 was not recognized by the rest of Catholic Europe, but in 1555 Mary received a papal bull confirming her and her husband as Irish monarchs.

In August of the same year, Philip left the country to participate in the abdication of his father, Emperor Charles V. After long wait Maria urged her husband to return as soon as possible, but since he was busy with his new role as King of Spain, Philip refused to return until March 1557.

Philip II returned mainly to try to persuade Mary to support Spain in the war against France, which was allied with the new Pope Paul IV against the Habsburgs. The queen provided her husband with significant financial support and promised military assistance if the French attacked the Netherlands.

In June 1557 Mary declared war on France and in July Philip left England forever, Mary never seeing him again. The English army landed at Calais, a strategic point overlooking the English Channel. But in January 1558, the French captured the city in a surprise attack.

Then the Protestant faction, due to the fact that Mary violated the marriage contract (by starting a war with France at the request of Philip II), launched a campaign against the queen. The streets were filled with pamphlets inciting anger against the Spaniards. The loss of Calais, famine caused by crop failure, and a new influenza epidemic in the country did not bode well for Maria.

The French occupied Calais, 1558. Painting by François-Édouard Picot, 1838. Photo: Public Domain

The Last Years of Queen Mary

Despite the fact that Mary was married to the Spanish king Philip II, England did not benefit from the lucrative trade with the New World: the Spaniards jealously guarded their income. Because of her marriage to Philip, Maria could not approve of piracy against Spanish ships. In addition, constant rains and floods caused famine that hit the country.

Maria tried to create modern form government, with a corresponding increase in spending based on the medieval tax system. However, the absence of import duties deprived the state of its main source of income. To solve this problem, the queen drew up a plan for a currency reform, but it was not put into practice until her death.

Mary's health was gradually deteriorating, it was necessary to think about the heir to the throne. Knowing that her husband would never agree to take the reins of power in England, she chose her sister Elizabeth. Despite her sister's notorious Protestantism and her popularity, which threatened Mary, she respected Elizabeth, but limited her life to the palace, instead of taking more drastic measures.

In early November 1558, Queen Mary made her will. In it, she named her sister Elizabeth as her successor, sincerely hoping that she would renounce Protestantism. In addition, in her will, she expressed her desire to be buried next to her mother, Catherine of Aragon.

Princess Elizabeth Tudor, future Elizabeth I. Painting by William Scrots (1546). Photo: Public Domain

Queen Mary died on 17 November 1558 at St. James's Palace, said to be of a fever, at the age of 42. Against her last wishes, she was buried in Westminster Abbey, far from her mother's grave located in Cathedral in Peterborough. Years later, her sister Elizabeth, who restored Protestantism in England after her accession to the throne, was buried next to her.

Some argue that the Protestant Elizabeth I became queen only because of her older sister, the Catholic Mary, who, despite significant ideological differences between them, defended her sister's right to inherit the throne of England.