𝕋𝕙𝕖 𝕃𝕚𝕗𝕖 𝕠𝕗 𝕄𝕒𝕣𝕪 𝕀

Princess Mary

Mary Tudor, born from the blood of King Henry VIII, the 2nd King of the Tudor Dynasty, and Spanish Princess; Catalina of Aragon - known as Catherine in England.
Catherine was the offspring of Isabella I of Castile, and Ferdinand II of Aragon. Known as the 'The Catholic Monarchs', the extremely powerful rulers of Spain.
The alliance of England and Spain was originally planned for Prince Arthur Tudor of Wales and Catherine to be wed; however after their marriage, the pair would catch the Sweating Sickness in Ludlow Caste, only Catherine would survive.
Henry VII, not wanting to give up the alliance, was granted permission from the Pope in the Vatican to for Catherine of Aragon and his 2nd son, Prince Henry Tudor to be married.
Henry was determined to have a male heir, as only the 2nd Tudor Monarch he wanted his lineage to continue after his death; however, none of Catherine's pregnancies would bring this: her 5th of 6 pregnancies brought a healthy girl, none of their other children would survive.
The Girl, Princess Mary Tudor, was born on the 18th February, 1516; in the Palace of Placentia in Greenwich.
Despite her Father's preference for a male heir; he treated Mary like his world.
The Princess received an amazing education, being able to speak several languages and was gifted in the arts of dance and singing.
In addition to this, as the result of such a powerful alliance - Mary was in high debate for marriage.
Henry VIII tended to use his daughter as a diplomatic tool; discussing many marital affairs.
Mary was arranged to marry her cousin, Charles V, the Holy Roman Emperor; she was commanded by the Emperor to travel to her Mother's homeland of Spain; with a huge cash dowry which was ultimately ignored.
Despite this, the marriage would never come to fruition as Charles would marry somebody else.
Mary was treated extremely well by her Father, he even proclaimed his daughter as 'the Princess of Wales', in 1525.
A that was only used by the Male Heirs of the English Royal House.
In addition to this, Mary received her own Court; in Ludlow Castle, where her Mother and previous husband would catch the sweating sickness many years ago.

However, during the 1520s, Mary's almost perfect childhood began to slowly crumble, with the King's sudden interest in Lady in Waiting, Anne Boleyn.
Anne had returned from France, where she had originally been sent along with other ladies to attend to Mary Tudor, Queen of France; another Mary by the same name - however she was Henry VIII's sister.
After Louis XII's death, and the return of the King's sister to England, Anne Boleyn would remain in France for a further 7 years, apart of the household of Queen Claude; before returning to England in 1522.