Mary Tudor I essays

Mary Tudor I essays Mary I was born in 1516 into the Tudor dynasty of England. She was the daughter of King Henry VIII and Catherine of Aragon. She was the only surviving child from her parents marriage. Her early life consisted of neglect, intolerance, and bad health. She was a staunch catholic from birth, and was constantly pressured by others to renew her faith. She married Philip II of Spain in 1555, and after her marriage a gradual dislike for her husband became present. The events in England at the time involving the Protestant church brought England many problems when Mary I came to the throne. Mary Tudor did not like the idea of Protestant church service in England. She was steadfast in her beliefs as a Catholic and wanted to restore England to the Roman Catholic faith. Her chaotic reign began at the 37 and would last five more years. (1553-1558) Her major goal as Queen was the re-establishment of Catholicism in England, a goal in which she was totally devoted to. She began her reign by sweeping away the religious improvements of her father. Mass was restored without opposition and the authority of the pope reestablished, but Parliament refused to restore the church lands seized under Henry VIII. Other acts against the church eventually led to a complete failure in restoring Catholicism to England. It was apparent that England was more Protestant by the end of her reign that it had been at the beginning. Additional struggles outnumbered than accomplishments during her reign. The economic situation was in ruin, and religious dissent reached a peak. Even more disastrous was her marriage with Philip II of Spain. Her marriage was designed to enforce Roman Catholicism on the subjects of the kingdom. English people however, hated foreigners especially the Spanish. Twenty years of Protestantism had soured the English on practices with the Roman Catholic Church. Her anger towards Protestants in England brought her to carry out re ...