Mary I Biography and Timeline

Birth of Princess Mary

Catherine gives birth to Mary, Henry VIII's only child by her to survive infancy and the leading dynastic heir during her childhood.

Birth of Mary I

Birth of Mary Tudor daughter of Henry VIII and Catherine of Aragon

Role range: 1553-1558

Baptism of Mary I

Mary Tudor is baptised at Greenwich soon after her birth.

Role range: 1553-1558

Baptism

Mary is baptized soon after her birth at Greenwich

Role range: 1553-1558

Princess Recognized

Mary is recognized as Henry VIII's surviving legitimate child

Role range: 1553-1558

Dauphin Betrothal

Is betrothed by treaty to the infant French Dauphin Francis as part of the wider Anglo-French settlement.

Political Support at London

Mary's proposed marriage to the French dauphin is used to support Anglo French peace

Role range: 1553-1558

Betrothal

Is formally betrothed by proxy to Francis, Dauphin of France, as part of the Anglo-French settlement.

Role range: 1516-1558

Betrothal

Princess Mary is formally betrothed by proxy to Francis, Dauphin of France, as part of the Anglo-French peace settlement.

Role range: 1553-1558

Marriage Treaty

Two year old Mary is promised to Francis the Dauphin of France

Role range: 1553-1558

Marriage Discussions

Discussions begin about marrying Princess Mary to her cousin Emperor Charles V

Role range: 1553-1558

Imperial Marriage Plan

Mary is betrothed to Emperor Charles V as part of Tudor Habsburg diplomacy

Role range: 1553-1558

Charles V Visit

Mary meets Charles V during his visit to England

Role range: 1553-1558

Princess of Wales Household

Mary is sent to Ludlow with a household associated with the Council of the Marches

Role range: 1553-1558

Welsh Household

Mary presides ceremonially over a princely household in the Welsh Marches

Role range: 1553-1558

Mary Sent to the Welsh Marches

Mary receives a household associated with the Council of Wales and the Marches, reflecting the unusually elevated status of Henry VIII's only surviving child.

French Marriage Negotiations

Mary is considered in renewed French marriage diplomacy

Role range: 1553-1558

French Betrothal Ends

Earlier plans for Mary's French marriage lapse as Henry VIII pursues annulment

Role range: 1553-1558

Legitimacy Questioned

Henry VIII's annulment proceedings threaten Mary's dynastic position

Role range: 1553-1558

Separated from Catherine

Mary is separated from Catherine of Aragon as Henry pressures the royal household

Role range: 1553-1558

Refuses Royal Pressure

Mary refuses pressure to accept Anne Boleyn as queen

Role range: 1553-1558

Succession

Mary is no longer heir presumptive after the birth of Elizabeth

Role range: 1553-1558

Declared Illegitimate

Mary's status is reduced after Henry VIII's marriage to Catherine is declared invalid

Role range: 1553-1558

Household of Elizabeth

Mary is placed in the household of the infant Princess Elizabeth

Role range: 1553-1558

Illness and Isolation

Mary suffers illness and isolation while separated from her mother

Role range: 1553-1558

Catherine of Aragon Dies

Mary's mother Catherine of Aragon dies while Mary remains out of favour

Role range: 1553-1558

Anne Boleyn Executed

Anne Boleyn's execution changes Mary's prospects at court

Role range: 1553-1558

Legitimacy Submission

Mary is pressured to accept that her parents marriage was invalid

Role range: 1553-1558

Succession

Mary is forced to acknowledge her illegitimacy and submit to Henry VIII

Role range: 1553-1558

Reconciled with Henry

Mary is reconciled with Henry VIII after signing the required submission

Role range: 1553-1558

Third Succession Act

Third Succession Act restores Mary to the succession after Edward

Role range: 1553-1558

Regency Council Named

Mary is included among potential heirs under Henry VIII's later succession arrangements

Role range: 1553-1558

Edward VI Accession

Mary becomes heir presumptive after Edward VI under Henry VIII's settlement

Role range: 1553-1558

Henry VIII Dies

Henry VIII dies and Edward VI succeeds before Mary

Role range: 1553-1558

Catholic Household

Mary maintains Catholic worship in her household despite Protestant reform

Role range: 1553-1558

Prayer Book Refusal

Mary refuses to conform to the new English prayer book prepared under Edward VI

Role range: 1553-1558

Council Pressure

Edward VI's council pressures Mary to abandon private Mass

Role range: 1553-1558

Imperial Protection

Mary relies on imperial support to protect her Catholic worship

Role range: 1553-1558

Summoned by Council

Mary is summoned before Edward VI's council over religious nonconformity

Role range: 1553-1558

Mass Defiance

Mary defends her right to hear Mass despite Edwardian religious policy

Role range: 1553-1558