Bloody Mary: reassessing England’s first queen

‘Bloody’ Mary’s reign (1553-58), commonly associated with the violent suppression of English Protestantism, is viewed as a dark interlude before the triumphant age of Elizabeth I. This course seeks to look beyond popular assumption to consider whether or not Mary was markedly successful as queen of England before falling victim to a run of bad luck and Protestant propaganda.

Aims of the course

This course aims to:
1. Provide a thorough understanding of the reign of Mary I;
2. Introduce you to relevant primary material;
3. Contextualise the reign within the wider framework of 16th-century history.

Course content

Mary I gets a very bad press. Her reign, 1553-1558, is sandwiched between that of her more (in)famous father, Henry VIII, and her sister the Virgin Queen, Elizabeth I. Both family members play a crucial role in determining the events and interpretation of the reign of England’s first queen regnant. Born the daughter of Henry VIII’s marriage to Catherine of Aragon, Mary came to symbolise England’s Roman Catholic past after the Henrician schism. It would be the mission of her life to reunite her country with the Papacy and to restore its Church. For the Elizabethan propagandists, the burnings with which she has become so deeply connected, provided the perfect material to blacken her name in perpetuity.

This course will look beyond the centuries of propaganda to consider Mary’s reign afresh. Her marriage to Philip of Spain; her re-establishment of the Roman Catholic Church; and her methods of government all point towards considerable success despite her unprecedented position as a female monarch. Using the most recent academic research on the topic, we will consider how Mary I’s reign is fundamental to understanding the subsequent developments of the Elizabethan Age. Rather than being the ‘bloodiest’ Tudor, was Mary I merely the unluckiest?

Presentation of the course

This course will be taught over five sessions. In each session students will be presented with a thorough analysis of the topic. Students will be encouraged to consider primary material and to discuss ideas within the group.

Class sessions

1. Mary, Princess of England
2. England’s first queen regnant
3. Marrying the King
4. Counter-Reformation
5. Death and legacy

Learning outcomes

The learning outcomes for this course are:
1. To understand the context of Mary I’s reign;
2. To identify and evaluate the major historiographical changes relevant to the period;
3. To examine and reconsider the realities of the Bloody Mary myth;
4. To examine a variety of primary sources to assess the historical significance of Mary I.

Required reading

Eamon Duffy, Fires of Faith: Catholic England under Mary Tudor (New Haven, 2010)
Anna Whitelock, Mary Tudor: England’s First Queen (London, 2010)

Typical week: Monday to Friday

Courses run from Monday to Friday. For each week of study, you select a morning (Am) course and an afternoon (Pm) course. The maximum class size is 25 students. 

Courses are complemented by a series of daily plenary lectures, exploring new ideas in a wide range of disciplines. To add to the learning experience, we are also planning additional evening talks and events.

Evaluation and Academic Credit 

If you are seeking to enhance your own study experience, or earn academic credit from your Cambridge Summer Programme studies at your home institution, you can submit written work for assessment for one or more of your courses. 

Essay questions are set and assessed against the University of Cambridge standard by your Course Director, a list of essay questions can be found in the Course Materials. Essays are submitted two weeks after the end of each course, so those studying for multiple weeks need to plan their time accordingly. There is an evaluation fee of £75 per essay.

For more information about writing essays see Evaluation and Academic Credit.

Certificate of attendance

A certificate of attendance will be sent to you electronically after the programme.