Queen Mary I, infamously dubbed “Bloody Mary,” is etched in the annals of history as the tyrant who ordered the beheading of 17-year-old Lady Jane Grey, her throne rival, and the execution of countless clergies and common folks who defied her mission to return the nation to Roman Catholicism.
Yet, one might muster some pity for her, thrust into the limelight as England’s premier female sovereign, a role fraught with trials.
An Unanticipated Reign
Born in 1516, Mary was the sole child of King Henry VIII and Catherine of Aragon’s 24-year union, which was annulled in 1533. She never anticipated queenship, especially with her half-brother Edward, born of Henry’s third wife, ascending the throne upon their father’s demise in 1547. But Edward’s untimely death, perhaps due to tuberculosis or pneumonia, at 15 in 1553, catapulted Mary into rulership at 37, unwed and feeling the pressure to swiftly produce an heir.
The Pursuit of a Spouse
Efforts to match Mary in matrimonial alliances began early, though these royal maneuvers, meant to cement international ties, were decided when she was a mere toddler and bore no fruit. The most promising match was with Philip, Duke of Palatinate-Neuberg, cousin to Anne of Cleves, whom she met at 23 and again at 36. Yet, despite multiple visits and the prospect of aligning with European Protestant powers, her father dismissed the union, unwilling to merge his lineage with German royalty.
Mary’s fervent Catholicism, inherited from her mother, demanded a Catholic consort to dismantle her father and brother’s Protestant legacy. This search led her to Philip of Spain, the Holy Roman Emperor’s son. Philip, a widower celebrated for his virility, sent Mary a dazzling portrait of himself by Titian, capturing her heart with his youthful charm and regal bearing.
A Contentious Union
Political figures were less than thrilled about Mary’s infatuation with Philip, wary of a Spanish Habsburg Catholic influencing governance. Despite Sir Thomas Wyatt’s revolt against their union, crushed with his and a hundred rebels’ execution, Mary persisted, exchanging diamonds with Philip and preparing for marriage.
Philip’s arrival in England was anticlimactic; he was unimpressed by Mary’s austere appearance, though he conducted himself with the decorum befitting his station. Their wedding in Winchester Cathedral on St James’s Day, 1554, saw Philip named “King Consort,” a title that brought him undue influence but little love from the English.
A Union Marred by Disillusionment
While Mary was elated, Philip felt sidelined, restricted in power and finance, and emotionally distant. His lack of affection contrasted sharply with Mary’s devotion.
The Illusion of Motherhood
The couple’s hopes for an heir were dashed by Mary’s phantom pregnancies, likely symptoms of a grave illness such as ovarian cancer. This personal tragedy coincided with Philip’s ascension as King of Spain and his prolonged absences, leaving Mary isolated.
A Legacy of Severity and Sadness
Mary’s relentless persecution of Protestants, resulting in the execution of 283 individuals, continued despite her personal miseries. Her death in 1558, with no children and her husband away, was solitary. She bequeathed the throne to her half-sister Elizabeth, her dreams of motherhood and religious restoration unfulfilled.
Philip’s subsequent marriage proposals to Elizabeth, and his eventual remarriage, suggest his pragmatic approach to alliances, untethered by affection for Mary. And though Mary’s harsh religious policies are inexcusable, her yearning for love, legacy, and the vindication of her mother’s memory paint a portrait of a woman burdened by unattainable aspirations, forced into a role for which she was unsuited, and whose marriage, seen as a beacon of hope, ended in desolation.
