Full name:  Mary I Born:  18th February 1516 Place of Birth:  Palace of Placentia, Greenwich Ascended to the throne:  19th July 1553, aged 37 years Crowned:  1st October 1553, at Westminster Abbey Reign:  5 years Died:  17th November 1558, St James's Palace, London

As the first Queen Regnant, Mary was born 18th February 1516, to Henry VIII and Catherine of Aragon.

When no male children came of the marriage, Henry fought to annul his marriage to Catherine so that he could marry Anne Boleyn.

Mary was declared 'illegitimate', and was forbidden from seeing either of her parents.

After Anne Boleyn was beheaded in 1536, Mary reluctantly agreed to submit to her father, and was given a household and place in court. She was added to the line of succession after her younger brother Edward.

In 1547, Edward acceded to the throne, and promoted the Protestant faith. When it became clear that Edward was sick, Edwards's advisor Northumberland planned for the Protestant Lady Jane Grey to accede to the throne, instead of the Catholic Mary.

In 1553, when Edward died, Mary had widespread support, and even though Jane became queen, it was for only 9 days, then she handed over the throne to Mary.

Mary crushed a rebellion in 1554. In the same year, she married Philip II of Spain, even though he was distrusted by many.

She was determined to restore the Catholic faith, resulting in hundreds of protestant deaths, which led to her nickname 'Bloody Mary'.

Mary died in 1558, and without a child to inherit the throne, any chances of a Catholic England died with her.