Originally posted on Instagram 18th September 2022

Of the five crowned Tudor monarchs, only three – Henry VIII, Elizabeth I, and Mary I – are properly remembered in history, and only two are considered significant rulers.

Mary I, with a reign lasting five years and 121 days (shorter than her brother, Edward’s, reign of six years and 159 days) is often classed simultaneously as the weakest Tudor and the bloodiest – but are either of these true? Or has she become another woman to suffer being unreasonably villainised?

Certainly, Mary killed hundreds, which we can by no means applaud. But why is she ‘Bloody’, when her father and sister are not?

Rather than being cruel, Mary had an early reputation for being kind and caring. She was the apple of her father’s eye in her childhood, and even after the indignations she suffered as a result of Catherine of Aragon’s downfall, she was never needlessly hateful towards her younger siblings.

Indeed, she gave both Elizabeth and Edward gifts and showed them kindness – it wasn’t until they were older that Mary and Elizabeth’s rivalry really began.

She also showed care towards her fool, Jane, who likely had learning difficulties; Mary treated her kindly and gave her valuable presents.

The facts

Henry VIII: ~57,000 executions

Mary I: 283 executions

Elizabeth I: ~600 executions

As these figures demonstrate, Mary’s executions are a mere shadow compared to Henry’s , and even Elizabeth’s number is higher, resting at 600.

Note: numbers may not be entirely accurate – estimates for Elizabeth and Henry varied.

To get technical, Mary was also the least bloody in her methods. She is known for burning Protestants at the stake, whereas Henry favoured beheading and Elizabeth’s victims were often hung, drawn, and quartered. Though, of course, burning would be a much slower and more painful death.

In short, Mary was a Tudor, and the first Queen Regnant in over 400 years. She had to be forceful in order to keep her throne, which necessitated being brutal.

In historical memory, she has been overshadowed by both her father – who has been placed on an undeserved pedestal – and her sister – the queen with the ‘stomach of a king’.

She has been unfairly judged, and it’s about time we stopped thinking of her as ‘Bloody’ Mary – and maybe apply that moniker to someone else.

(looking at you, Henry 👀)

See also:

• Blog post: Marie Antoinette
• Blog post: La Malinche
• Bitesize History: Summary