How Well Do You Know Mary Tudor, First Female Ruler of England?

Mary Tudor – Crowned Queen after Edward VI, Finally Had The Chance To Make Her Plans Into Reality, and That Is to Bring Back Old England.

You may or may haven’t heard about England’s first female ruler, Mary Tudor, or widely known as Mary I, the sad life she had when she was young, and how she struggled to restore the Catholic faith.

Being the only daughter of Queen Catherine of Aragon and King Henry VIII, she witnessed what was once the happy, peaceful, and flourishing England – turned into a chaotic but silent war, where people are always afraid of speaking out the truth, coward and threatened they might tried for treason.

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Crowned King Edward VI, Mary Tudor’s only brother, died at age nine

January 1547, King Henry VIII died, at age 55, no longer had the look of a great king like he used to be – obese, failing health and major injuries from hunting and tournaments. It was his only son, Edward VI, who ruled England for five years.

1553, King Edward VI died because of tremendous sickness. It was Lady Jane Grey that was chosen to to be crowned after, but things were upside down and several residents were strongly against, wanting Mary to be the queen.

 

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Mary Tudor of England and King Phillip of Spain
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Lady Jane Grey, Mary Tudor’s half sister

Mary wrote to the Council about her claiming the throne as her father’s daughter, which was approved and her supporters were in high spirit willing to fight for what is just. Lady Jane Grey by then was crowned throughout the country, however, commons proclaimed Mary as queen.

Asking for the help of her supporters, both commoners, Earls, and Lords marched down to join her. More than 20,000 men flocked against the 600 men of royal and some few from the cavalry.

Mary and her whole force battled and gained victory over the royal army, Lady Jane Grey and her husband were taken to tower imprisoned. Mary Tudor, now Queen Mary I, ruler and queen of England. People rejoiced and others filled with tears.

Catholic Faith was restored, altars rebuilt, chapels restored and expanded, masses were practiced everyday – the way as it should be.

The whole country was absolved by Cardinal Reginald Pole – son of the late Margaret of York, whom Mary’s almost second mother and her best friend when she was younger.

Mary I, who had been longing to restore England to its original faith, chose to end the lives of those who didn’t want to return to Catholicism.

It was considered a legal thing to do but no matter how we justify it, it was always a sin to do so. Due to the circumstances, and rooting it from her experiences as a child, one could say that she wanted o good revenge, believing it was for the welfare of everybody. Yes it was, but for those who only are willing to be converted.

Her reign lasted only for five years, her life ended on 17th of November 1558 because of uterine or ovarian cancer.

Her reign was one of the most unforgettable events in England but sadly was cut short and people deeply saddened because they all knew that Catholicism in England would soon end as well. Yes it is, when Elizabeth I, her half-sister took over.

 

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