This talk took place on 16 September and was part of the 2023 programme for Winchester Heritage Open Days. It focused on how Mary I’s legacy was created and highlighted how Mary’s influence on England continued even after her death.
Mary I, England’s first crowned queen regnant, reigned from 1553 until 1558 and set a precedent for later queens regnant Elizabeth I, Mary II, Anne, Victoria, and Elizabeth II. Though she ruled for only 5 years, Mary’s afterlife continues to this day in a variety of ways, most often as a ‘villain’ of English history. This talk highlighted the ways in which authors from 1558 until 1660 manipulated memories of Mary’s life and reign in order to serve their own ends, often for the purpose of glorifying later monarchs or political leaders. Ultimately, Mary’s negative press is less a reflection on her and her policies and instead speaks volumes about those who succeeded her. In order to illustrate this point, the talk examined more famous works such as John Foxe’s “Acts and Monuments” alongside works such as chronicles and ballads to demonstrate how religion, national identity, and concepts of gender influenced posthumous memories of Mary.
Dr Johanna Strong 