1553-1558: Bloody Mary

The ebb and flow of freedom continued through the 1540's and into the 1550's. When King Henry VIII died in 1547, his son took the throne. But Edward was a sickly boy who only ruled for 6 years and died at the age of 16. After Edward died, the throne passed to Henry’s eldest daughter; Queen Mary I. History would remember her as Bloody Mary. Mary was obsessed with undoing her father's work. She wanted to destroy the Church of England and return England to the Roman Church. Mary would burn anyone who disagreed with her on the stake. She would burn thousands of people all at once, their ‘crime’ was being a Protestant instead of a Catholic. The people hated her.

England wanted a new leader and when Mary died at the age of 42, the people got their wish. The throne passed onto Mary's half sister. A woman by the name of Elizabeth. Queen Elizabeth would become one of the most influential monarchs England has ever seen. Under her reign England flourished!

"Mary Tudor; Princess, Bastard, Queen"

Anne Whitelock

Click on the images below to learn more