Mary Tudor, the misjudged monarch
THERE were two Tudor queens: both strong, passionate women with the charisma of their father Henry VIII.
Yet, with different mothers and different life experiences, not surprisingly their reigns had little in common.
Inevitably, Mary, the first English Queen, has been overshadowed by the enormous economic and political success of her sister Elizabeth.
Anna Whitelock’s biography demonstrates how, despite Mary’s Roman Catholic fervour and politically unwise Spanish marriage, she was generally accepted as the popular, rightful ruler but, although determined to do her best for England, Mary owed much to her Spanish heritage.
Her mother, Katherine of Aragon, was the youngest daughter of the illustrious Ferdinand and Isabella, who together ruled and united Spain.
And it was Katherine who educated and influenced Mary’s upbringing as a typical Spanish lady.
Steeped in Catholicism and deeply suspicious by nature and experience, it was no wonder that Mary found it difficult to make friends.
Yet she had one quality that the English valued. She believed in herself. She was strong. She fought for her throne and the people responded by supporting her.
In those early days she was a pretty young woman with the Tudor red hair but her devotion to the Catholic Church led to unpopularity.
She was determined to bring Protestants to heel and, if that meant burning a few hundred at the stake, then so be it.
Unfortunately for Mary, it did not work. Martyrs bravely endorsed the cause, especially those as well known as Henry VIII’s old Archbishop Cranmer who, after a crisis of confidence, courageously entered the blaze.
Standing by her side was Mary’s husband, Philip of Spain, the son of her cousin, Charles V who, as Holy Roman Emperor, was the most powerful man in Europe.
Philip was 11 years younger than Mary and looked upon her as “a sort of aunt” but the lonely and neglected Mary fell deeply and passionately in love with him.
She married primarily to provide an heir and this proved another disappointment. Despite gynaecological irregularities, Mary convinced herself she was pregnant many times until well into her 40s.
Philip lost patience and retreated back to Spain.
Mary was heartbroken but she still put English interests first. When Philip demanded that she stopped valuable trade with his old enemy, France, she prevaricated, provided troops for this battle but maintained trading.
The book paints a sympathetic portrait of a Queen whose talents have been largely undervalued. An unhappy and lonely childhood shaped her character but we see glimpses of the woman Mary could have been in happier circumstances.
She made it possible for women to rule on the same terms as men and set the stage that was to provide Elizabeth with a starring role as possibly England’s most successful monarch.
The sisters, probably uneasily, share the same resting place in Westminster Abbey.
Hoping to upgrade his position in history, James I appropriated Elizabeth’s place in the central vault alongside the founders of the Tudor dynasty, moving her coffin to Mary’s tomb.
Mary and Elizabeth are closer in death than they ever were in life.
Mary Tudor: England's First Queen
By Anna Whitelock, Bloomsbury
