On the 18th February in the year of our Lord 1516, a girl was born at Greenwich Palace to the happy parents Henry VIII and Katharine of Aragon. This girl would grow up to be the future Mary I of England, elder sister to both Edward VI and Elizabeth I, as well as wife to Philip II of Spain. In her 42 year life, she achieved many first, not least of all to be the first Crowned Queen of England in her own right. Posthumously, she was undeservedly given the moniker of ‘Bloody Mary’, as well as getting confused with Mary, Queen of Scots.
Today we talk to Dr Johanna Strong, who will set the record straight once and for all. Who was Mary, what did she achieve, and how we should remember her. Welcome, Jo!
You can listen to this episode wherever you get your podcasts or via Natalie’s website here.
Dr Johanna Strong 