The five years of the reign of Mary I (1553-8) have been deeply controversial. To some historians – and, perhaps, to the general public – Mary’s rule was marked by poor leadership, disastrous financial and military policy, and, above all, religious bigotry and persecution. More recently, however, this period has undergone a major reinterpretation, with some historians arguing that the achievements of this queen have been significantly underestimated.
This course will examine these claims, allowing students to develop their knowledge and their own interpretations of this contested historical period. We will begin with an overview of the reign, and of the many interpretations of it. From this, students will gain the knowledge needed for the next three sessions, each of which will examine one particular aspect of the reign in depth.
The first will address the strength of Mary’s leadership and governance. Mary had a difficult route to the throne, with men surrounding her younger brother, Edward VI, attempting to wrest the queenship from her. Once queen, she then had to deal with a number of issues: governance, war, finance and rebellion, among others. In this session, we will examine how well the Marian regime rose to these challenges.
In the next session we’ll consider probably the single most controversial aspect of Mary’s reign: her religious policies. Mary’s determination to reverse the evangelical reformation, that had taken place under her father and brother, and to return England to the Roman Catholic Church and faith, was her single greatest priority. It also drove and (to her) justified the most famous aspect of her reign: the persecution and execution of English Protestants.
The fourth session will address another aspect of Mary’s reign that has garnered increasing attention in recent years: Mary’s status as England’s first queen regnant. By examining contemporary ideas surrounding female rule, students will gain a greater understanding of the challenges that Mary’s gender posed for her rule – and of the legacy that she left for her younger sister, England’s next queen, Elizabeth I.
In the final session, we’ll return to that question of Mary’s contested reputation, considering why – and to what ends – the idea of ‘Bloody Mary’ developed. This will allow students to balance competing historical views with their own opinions, informed by the in-depth study of the earlier sessions. Throughout the course, there will be a strong emphasis on contemporary sources – both written and visual.
