Page 37 - All About History 48 - 2017 UK

Bloody Mary On Trial

SISTER ACT

Mary I and Elizabeth I: just how similar
were the two Tudor queens?

VS

MARY I ELIZABETH I

LENGTH OF REIGN
5 YEARS 45 YEARS

INTELLIGENCE
Both Mary and her half-sister were Elizabeth was highly praised for
given an excellent education. Though her intellect, and her tutors were
her abilities as a scholar were never unanimously impressed with her. She
exclaimed as highly as Elizabeth’s, Mary took great pleasure in showcasing her
was an intelligent woman. A contemporary skills by translating work into various
observed that, “…she is skilled in five languages and presenting it as gifts,
languages,” speaking four fluently. notably to her father and Katherine Parr.
POPULARITY
LOVED IN HER LIFETIME STILL LOVED TODAY
At the time of Mary’s accession, she Although Mary had initially been popular,
was so popular that many remarked on this was nothing in comparison to
the commotion in London when her Elizabeth. In addition, Elizabeth had the
proclamation was read out. However, by her common touch that her sister lacked, and
death, her popularity had long since faded. was able to retain the love of her people.
LOVE
UNHAPPILY MARRIED THE VIRGIN QUEEN
Mary was deeply in love with her husband, Elizabeth never married, and the closest
Philip of Spain, and always felt great she came to love was with her friend Robert
sorrow when he left England. Although her Dudley. Rumours circulated, however, it
feelings were not reciprocated, Philip did at seems likely that, by her death, Elizabeth
least treat his wife with courtesy. was still the ‘Virgin Queen’.
MILITARY ACHIEVEMENTS
LOST CALAIS DEFEATED THE SPANISH ARMADA
Mary succeeded in asserting her right to The most famous victory of Elizabeth’s
the throne following the death of Edward reign was the defeat of the Spanish
VI, raising a large army of supporters. But Armada, sent by Mary’s former husband,
when England declared war on France, early Philip, in 1588. After this she was hailed
success was followed by the loss of Calais. as the saviour of the English people.
KILLINGS

300-380 200+
Not only did Mary order the execution of Although Elizabeth did not burn Catholics
Lady Jane Grey and many of those close to in the way Mary had Protestants, she
her, she also sentenced 284 Protestants to did order the disembowelment of more
be burned at the stake, including the man than 200. She also famously ordered the
Philip II was a
powerful monarch who had annulled her parents’ marriage, execution of another anointed queen,
who controlled Thomas Cranmer. Mary, Queen of Scots, in 1587.
territory on each
continent then
known to Europeans
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