Queen Mary Tudor

The popularity of Queen Mary Tudor

During the reign of Queen Mary Tudor, the English public was thinking more and more favorably of Elizabeth Tudor and less favorably of Queen Mary Tudor. Not only was Queen Mary Tudor annihilating Protestants, but she was considering marriage to Philip II of Spain, and Spain was England 's greatest enemy.

Queen Mary Tudor and relationship with Spain

Spain, which also ruled Austria, Holland, and South America, was the most powerful country in Europe. Mary was already half Spanish - if she married a Spaniard and had a child, the heir to the throne of England would be three quarters Spanish, more than the public could bear. But Elizabeth Tudor was one hundred percent pure unadulterated English.

Queen Mary Tudor ordered the arrest of Elizabeth Tudor, Prisoner

Queen Mary Tudor was unhappily aware of the public sentiment towards her half sister. When a rebellion broke out in Kent, she accused Elizabeth Tudor of conspiring with the rebels and had her taken prisoner. While imprisoned, Elizabeth Tudor scratched into the windowsill: "Much suspected of me, nothing proved can be, Quoth Elizabeth, Prisoner." A year later, when the rebellions quieted down, Queen Mary Tudor called Elizabeth Tudor back to court, where they seemed to become friends again.

The death of Mary Tudor

Queen Mary Tudor alienated her public even further by getting involved in her husband 's war against France. And, in the process, Queen Mary Tudor the last piece of English territory on the continent of Europe.

After the death of Mary Tudor few years later, England was at one of the lowest points in its history. It had no prestige abroad. There was strife at home. The treasury was exhausted. The throne automatically went to Elizabeth Tudor and as it did, the hopes of the English people soared. Elizabeth Tudor, now Queen Elizabeth, didn't fail them - by the end of her reign, England would be the wealthiest, most powerful nation in the world.