When you hear the name Mary I, you probably hear one phrase: “Bloody Mary”.

A queen of fire and fear. A religious fanatic. A failure compared to Elizabeth I.

But that version of Mary is a shortcut, and it isn’t good history.

Before the burnings, Mary was Henry VIII’s celebrated heir. A princess educated to rule. A woman who endured humiliation, illegitimacy, and political coercion, and survived. In 1553, when Edward VI died and her succession was challenged, England rallied behind her. She became the first woman to rule England in her own right.

In this Beginner’s Guide to Mary I, we explore:

• Her celebrated birth in 1516
• The trauma of her parents’ annulment
• Her years of resistance under Henry VIII
• Her open defiance under Edward VI
• How she won the th ...