Legacy Mary I of England

at funeral service, john white, bishop of winchester, praised mary: king s daughter; king s sister; king s wife. queen, , same title king also. first woman claim throne of england, despite competing claims , determined opposition, , enjoyed popular support , sympathy during earliest parts of reign, roman catholics of england.

protestant writers @ time took highly negative view. 17th century, mary s persecution of protestants had led sobriquet bloody mary. john knox attacked in first blast of trumpet against monstrous regiment of women (1558), , prominently vilified in actes , monuments (1563), john foxe. subsequent editions of foxe s book remained popular protestants throughout following centuries , helped shape enduring perceptions of mary bloodthirsty tyrant.

mary remembered in 21st century vigorous efforts restore roman catholicism after edward s short-lived crusade minimize catholicism in england. protestant historians have long denigrated reign, emphasizing in 5 years burned several hundred protestants @ stake in marian persecutions. in mid-20th century, h. f. m. prescott attempted redress tradition mary intolerant , authoritarian writing more objectively, , scholarship since has tended view older, simpler, partisan assessments of mary greater scepticism. historiographical revisionism since 1980s has degree improved reputation among scholars. christopher haigh argued revival of religious festivities , catholic practices welcomed. haigh concluded last years of mary s reign not gruesome preparation protestant victory, continuing consolidation of catholic strength.

catholic historians, such john lingard, thought mary s policies failed not because wrong because had short reign establish them , because of natural disasters beyond control. in other countries, catholic counter-reformation spearheaded jesuit missionaries; mary s chief religious advisor, cardinal reginald pole, refused allow jesuits in england. marriage philip unpopular among subjects , religious policies resulted in deep-seated resentment. military loss of calais france bitter humiliation english pride. failed harvests increased public discontent. philip spent of time abroad, while wife remained in england, leaving depressed @ absence , undermined inability have children. after mary s death, philip sought marry elizabeth refused him. although mary s rule ineffectual , unpopular, policies of fiscal reform, naval expansion, , colonial exploration later lauded elizabethan accomplishments started in mary s reign.