"Bloody Mary, Bloody Mary, Bloody Mary."
She's held responsible for the burning of nearly 300 protestants, granting her the infamous title little girls chant today in dark mirrors. But do you know her true story? The story of how her father bastardi...
Much like her father, Queen Mary faced the problem of figuring out who would succeed her. Although she did not like being told what to do, she knew that marriage was as much her duty "as government and religion." [39] In order for her to even attempt to figure out who would ascend to the throne after her, she needed to first find a husband. Many names were proposed to her when she was a princess, but as Queen she had more of a say over whom she would wed. Yet, Charles V had a major influence on her decision. As a princess, Charles V was one of the potential husbands proposed for Mary. However, now at a much older age and battling a war with France and health issues, he decided that he was not fit to rekindle an old rumor. Working through his new ambassador to England, Simon Renard, Charles V suggested his own son, Prince Philip II of Spain, as a potential groom. Charles V instructed Renard to pass along a message to the Queen:
"If age and health had permitted, you would have desired no other match, but as years and infirmity rendered your person a poor thing to be offered to her, you could think of no one dearer to you or better suited than my lord the prince, your son, who was of middle age, of distinguished qualities and of honourable and Catholic upbringing." [40]
The reason for proposing his own son as a potential husband for Queen Mary was to "unite England with the Emperor's territories in a permanent alliance" through the royal marriage. [41] The Emperor got his way and on October 10, 1553, Simon Renard knelt before Queen Mary, offering her Prince Philip's hand in marriage.
That is when all hell broke loose.
Although it was possible for foreigners to rule different countries through a royal marriage, the general consensus was to avoid such marriages. Even if such marriages did occur, they generally included a woman princess or high lady being married off to a king in another court to establish an alliance between the two nations. But Queen Mary was different. Her title itself was revolutionary. Sure there were queens before her, but she was the first female ruling monarch of England. Everything with her would be different and revolutionary. As the sole ruler of England and as a woman, Queen Mary marrying another prince of foreign blood would make him the King of England. In this strongly patriarchal society, that would translate into this foreign prince ruling England; and no one believed that Philip would adhere to any restrictions placed on him (including barring him from English politics) once he became king. [42]
The idea of a foreign king ruling England angered many people. Not only was Queen Mary trying to reinstate the Catholic faith, she was betraying her country. Amongst the many people and leaders (including King Henry II of France) who protested this marriage, Thomas Wyatt had the loudest voice.
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(Image of Sir Thomas Wyatt, whose name represents the rebellion to overthrow Mary.)
Wyatt was a soldier who served in France under King Henry VIII's wars against the French. He was also a gentleman of Kent, and was depicted as being the mastermind behind the rebellion that bears his name. Yet Thomas Wyatt claimed he was "only the fourth or fifth man" in the leadership for the rebellion against Queen Mary. [43] His plan was to ignite various small rebellions in the areas surrounding London before marching on London itself. He began by sparking a rebellion in Devon.
