The life of Queen Mary I, the first female ruler of England, had been one regarded with much controversy. From her pampered childhood, her isolated and fearful teenage years to her unhappy adulthood as Queen of England, her life was a product of her circumstances and beliefs. She was known as "Bloody Mary" for the last four years of her life for the burning of 283 heretics at the stake in a misguided effort to bring England back to the religion that had been her only constant comfort amid the many uncertainties of her life (Lee).

Mary Tudor was born in February 1516 as the only surviving child of Henry VIII and Katherine of Aragon (DISCovering). There were pregnancies before her but none lived past a couple of months. Henry was disappointed that she had not been a male heir, but was optimistic about future children, since both he and...