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Queen Mary I of England, known to history as “Bloody Mary,” has long been enshrined in popular memory as one of the most ruthless monarchs to ever rule the nation. Not only did she boldly seize the crown with almost impossible odds, but her reign is marked by a brutal campaign that has overshadowed nearly every other aspect of her legacy. But Mary’s story is far more nuanced than the legend of a tyrannical queen consumed by violence and religious zeal.

Mary I’s tale is one of ambition, defiance, and resilience, set against a backdrop of religious upheaval and fierce political rivalries. Indeed, her reign was no bloodier than other Tudor monarchs who came before and after. So why has history portrayed Mary in such a horrible light? Click through this gallery to find out.

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Mary’s early life was marked by royal splendor. Mary was born to Henry VIII and Catherine of Aragon on February 18, 1516, and she grew up as a beloved princess in the public eye.

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In 1518, when Mary was two years old, she was engaged to marry Francois, Dauphin of France (pictured), who was also two at the time. The engagement was canceled three years later in 1521.

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When Mary was a teenager, her father became infatuated with Anne Boleyn (pictured), which led him to divorce Mary’s mother and split with the Catholic Church. Mary was stripped of her status, declared illegitimate, and separated from her mother.

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Though Henry VIII later reinstated Mary and her titles, she navigated the brutal politics of his court and endured three more stepmothers. Her steadfast Catholicism clashed sharply with her younger half brother Edward VI’s Protestant zeal.

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Once Edward VI took the throne in 1547, his aggressive Protestant reforms further alienated a largely Catholic England. Despite religious discontent in the public, Edward tried to bypass Mary’s claim to the throne by placing Lady Jane Grey in her place.

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Defying expectations, Mary did not retreat to safety when Edward died. Instead, she remained in England and fought to reclaim her rightful crown. Nine days after Jane’s accession to the throne, Mary took power, and both Jane and her husband Lord Dudley were executed.

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Mary’s strategic brilliance allowed her to rally key noble support and push her to ascend to power alongside her half sister, the future Elizabeth I (pictured).

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As the first reigning queen, Mary faced challenges unique to her gender. She had to prove she could rule independently, unlike previous queens who ruled as consorts. Her administration prioritized restoring Catholicism, with a determination that clashed with Protestant England.

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Mary’s religious mission centered on reviving Catholicism. Early efforts were cautious, but as tensions grew her measures became harsher. Over her five-year reign, she burned around 280 Protestants at the stake, branding them as heretics.

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The burnings of Protestant heretics were undeniably horrific. Yet, Tudor England was a harsh society where cruel punishments (such as being hanged, drawn, and quartered) were common. In this brutal context, Mary’s executions were not unusual, despite their infamy.

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Mary’s marriage to Philip II of Spain fueled xenophobic fears, linking her religious policies to foreign influence. Despite her own desire for a stable Catholic England, this alliance heightened suspicion, diminished her popularity, and tarnished her reputation further.

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The union with Philip was complicated. Though often depicted as a one-sided infatuation, Mary’s choice was pragmatic with the aim to preserve balance among English nobility. But public resentment towards Mary was fueled by xenophobia and rumors of Spanish cruelty in the Inquisition.

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In Mary’s era, heresy was seen as a threat to the stability of society, equated with treason. This fear justified severe punishments. Mary’s advisors believed that they were protecting souls from damnation, and so they considered execution to be a moral necessity.

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Mary’s execution of Protestant heretics was meant to be a deterrent, but this hope misfired spectacularly. Instead, Protestant resistance intensified. Many were prepared to die for their beliefs, and public sympathy for the victims grew. Mary’s reputation for excessive brutality was cemented in history.

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Respecting different religious beliefs was inconceivable in the 16th century. Society was polarized, and both oppressors and martyrs emerged. Mary’s uncompromising religious position was a reflection of the broader intolerance seen in Europe at the time.

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During his time as ruler, Mary’s father executed tens of thousands, often in more barbaric ways. Even Mary’s successor, Elizabeth I, resorted to brutal measures. Yet, Mary alone earned the damning nickname of “Bloody Mary,” simply because of the power of historical propaganda.

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While 280 people burned under Mary, Henry VIII and Elizabeth I executed thousands. Edward VI, too, crushed uprisings violently and killed thousands of Catholics. Mary’s total death count paled in comparison, yet propaganda immortalized her as a singularly bloodthirsty monarch, despite her reign being far less lethal.

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Mary’s image was also shaped by deep-seated sexism. Critics branded her both ruthless and weak, lambasting her for being both too merciful and excessively vengeful. These contradictory depictions were prejudiced due to her gender, which caused people to vilify her.

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In 1554, a mere months after her marriage, Mary announced her pregnancy. But this proved to be false, and resulted in a public and private disaster. The anticipation of an heir followed by crushing disappointment eroded confidence in Mary’s rule.

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When Philip left England a year after the marriage, it was widely described that he had abandoned Mary, but the truth was more complex. As a Spanish prince with duties abroad, his absence was expected. Still, the public saw Mary as a powerless, unloved wife, which reinforced her supposed vulnerability.

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Following her phantom pregnancy and Philip’s supposed abandonment, rumors began to spread about Mary’s aging and unappealing appearance. This worsened the monarch’s humiliation and overshadowed her genuine political and administrative successes.

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In early 1554, an uprising against Mary’s rule was quickly quashed. It was known as Wyatt’s Rebellion, named after one of the leaders, Sir Thomas Wyatt. Mary’s half sister Elizabeth was imprisoned in the Tower of London on suspicions of involvement, but no proof of this was found.

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In 1563, historian John Foxe published ‘ Foxe's Book of Martyrs,’ which immortalized Mary’s reign as a period of terror. With visceral illustrations and heart-wrenching stories, the Protestant text shaped English identity and villainized Mary for generations.

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Foxe’s book ensured Mary’s reputation stayed marred by religious persecution. His vivid descriptions turned her burnings into unforgettable atrocities. This exaggerated narrative laid a foundation that Elizabeth capitalized on during her reign.

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Elizabeth I carefully distanced herself from her sister’s religious zeal, and ensured that her Catholic persecutions appeared politically justified rather than religiously driven. This calculated approach shielded her image, presenting her as a more merciful, pragmatic ruler, despite her own record of brutality.

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Elizabeth’s executions of Catholics were gruesome and often involved disembowelment, yet they did not earn her the same vilification as Mary’s burnings. This double standard reveals how stories of the monarchs were manipulated to emphasize Protestant victimhood and cast Catholics as villains.

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Mary had grown increasingly ill and weak by 1558. Having no heir, she was forced to decree that Elizabeth would be her successor. She passed on November 17, 1558, and many historians have attributed her cause of death to ovarian cysts or uterine cancer. Her body was interred in Westminster Abbey, and she now shares a tomb with Elizabeth.

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Mary’s reign was not solely defined by religious struggle. She enacted significant financial reforms, supported exploration, and also bolstered the navy. These initiatives were foundational for Elizabeth’s later successes, yet Mary rarely receives credit for her contributions to England’s future prosperity.

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Mary was inflexible but undeniably strong-willed, navigating a male-dominated world with conviction. Her determination to restore Catholicism was both her strength and downfall. She made mistakes, yet her resilience and political acumen were ahead of her time.

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Mary remains a trailblazer in British history. She was a king’s daughter, sister, and wife, but more importantly, she was England’s first queen in her own right. Her reign, fraught with challenges, was pivotal and redefined what it meant for women to rule.

Sources: (Britannica) (Smithsonian Magazine) (Royal Museums Greenwich)