Mary I and Her Rule Flashcards
Mary’s religion
strong Roman Catholic
wanted to produce a Roman Catholic heir
marriage issue
She favoured Philip II of Spain, her second cousin and son of Charles V
In the 16th century the wife would be subordinate to the husband, which would mean that Philip would effectively become King of England
It was feared that he would do a Spanish takeover of England, making it’s interests subordinate to Spain’s
Unpopular marriage
nobility worried they would lose their land and status if Spanish people were brought into parliament
most of the population at the time were xenophobic
marriage treaty
April 1554
parliament tried to limit the power that Philip would have over England
What was set out by the marriage treaty
Philip would have the title ‘king of England’ and would be joint sovereign, but wouldn’t have any sovereign authority in his own right
Any heir would inherit England and the Netherlands but not Spain
England would help the Netherlands if invaded by France
Philip couldn’t claim the England throne is Mary I dies without children
political marriage
Philip and Mary did not love each other
They instead married for political convenience
Philip spent little time in England
Political opposition to the marriage
1554 - parliament rejected a law that would have included Philip alongside Mary with regards to treason
1555 - Parliament prevented Philip’s coronation as king
the issue of an heir
Mary was 37 when she came to the throne and had no children
if she did not produce an heir, the throne would go to Elizabeth, her Protestant sister
Mary did not want this since Elizabeth was protestant and Anne Boleyn, Elizabeth’s mother, caused Henry VIII, Mary and Elizabeth’s father, to divorce Catherine of Aragon, Mary’s mother
Elizabeth was only named as Mary’s heir 11 days before her death, when it was clear that she was dying
