Mary I
- Mary succeeded to the throne in 1553
- Daughter of Henry VIII and Catherine of Aragon
- Considered illegitimate due to Henry VIII’s divorce with Catherine – blamed
Protestant influencers for this decision (especially Cranmer)
- Devout Roman Catholic
- Wanted to restore Catholic faith in England and take it back to the Pope
Character –
Catholicism was indivisible from her – was one of her driving ambitions – aim was to return
England to Catholicism under the rule of the Pope
Rejection of her mother shaped her upbringing and her views about being a monarch – she
was an adored princess and next in line for the throne but after divorce this changed – sense
of what it is to be a royal from her mother was gone – hardship she went through shows
Mary’s determination
Relies on Spanish family through her marriage with Philip – Spanish connection also
becomes important to her – if Henry had stopped to think for a second he would have
realised that forcing her towards Spain was not a good idea – made her completely besotted
by Philip and the English did not like this – they did not have a problem with a Spanish
Queen but did have problem with Spanish King – relies also on Charles V who is older than
her and rules most of Europe – corresponds with him frequently
Devoted to her father – even though Henry did all of this to Mary, she is still devoted to him
– instead she blames Cromwell, Cranmer, and Anne Boleyn
Accession problems –
Was a female – England never had a queen regnant before – not as problematic as
suggested – regardless, there was no credible male heir – only other heir was Elizabeth but
she is designated as illegitimate – problem rose in the fact that only person in line was her
bastard sister Elizabeth – need for her to get married and have male heir was at the top of
her agenda
Was a bastard – most people not worried by this as her mother was popular – but legally is
illegitimate – could have been a bigger problem but not due to love for Catherine
Was a Catholic – did not have to be a problem – majority of the English would have been
happy to return to religion in last years of Henry – problem was her devotion to Rome
Marriage –
It was absolutely necessary for Mary to marry – Gardener put forward Edward Courtney of
Devon as a possible suitor – descended from Plantagenet King and was RC – Mary preferred
Philip told her council in October that she would marry him – was significant opposition to
idea of a foreigner being the King – announced engagement in November where a petition
was raised asking her to marry within the realm – refused this and marriage treaty with
Philip was drawn up in Jan 1554 – treaty was favourable to England – Philip would have no
regal power and if Mary died without having children then he would have no further
interest in the country – people still thought England would just become another Hapsburg
province – marriage prompted Wyatt’s Rebellion – rebellion of the political elites and led by
- Mary succeeded to the throne in 1553
- Daughter of Henry VIII and Catherine of Aragon
- Considered illegitimate due to Henry VIII’s divorce with Catherine – blamed
Protestant influencers for this decision (especially Cranmer)
- Devout Roman Catholic
- Wanted to restore Catholic faith in England and take it back to the Pope
Character –
Catholicism was indivisible from her – was one of her driving ambitions – aim was to return
England to Catholicism under the rule of the Pope
Rejection of her mother shaped her upbringing and her views about being a monarch – she
was an adored princess and next in line for the throne but after divorce this changed – sense
of what it is to be a royal from her mother was gone – hardship she went through shows
Mary’s determination
Relies on Spanish family through her marriage with Philip – Spanish connection also
becomes important to her – if Henry had stopped to think for a second he would have
realised that forcing her towards Spain was not a good idea – made her completely besotted
by Philip and the English did not like this – they did not have a problem with a Spanish
Queen but did have problem with Spanish King – relies also on Charles V who is older than
her and rules most of Europe – corresponds with him frequently
Devoted to her father – even though Henry did all of this to Mary, she is still devoted to him
– instead she blames Cromwell, Cranmer, and Anne Boleyn
Accession problems –
Was a female – England never had a queen regnant before – not as problematic as
suggested – regardless, there was no credible male heir – only other heir was Elizabeth but
she is designated as illegitimate – problem rose in the fact that only person in line was her
bastard sister Elizabeth – need for her to get married and have male heir was at the top of
her agenda
Was a bastard – most people not worried by this as her mother was popular – but legally is
illegitimate – could have been a bigger problem but not due to love for Catherine
Was a Catholic – did not have to be a problem – majority of the English would have been
happy to return to religion in last years of Henry – problem was her devotion to Rome
Marriage –
It was absolutely necessary for Mary to marry – Gardener put forward Edward Courtney of
Devon as a possible suitor – descended from Plantagenet King and was RC – Mary preferred
Philip told her council in October that she would marry him – was significant opposition to
idea of a foreigner being the King – announced engagement in November where a petition
was raised asking her to marry within the realm – refused this and marriage treaty with
Philip was drawn up in Jan 1554 – treaty was favourable to England – Philip would have no
regal power and if Mary died without having children then he would have no further
interest in the country – people still thought England would just become another Hapsburg
province – marriage prompted Wyatt’s Rebellion – rebellion of the political elites and led by
