Bloody Mary Become a Patron Mary Tudor. "She was a king's daughter; she was a king's sister; she was a king's wife. She was a queen, and by the same title a king also." - John White, Bishop of Winchester. She was the first woman to successfully claim the throne of England, despite competing claims and determined opposition. She was viewed as Vindictive and fierce but also Spineless and weak, criticized for such actions as showing clemency to political prisoners and yielding authority to her husband.

• Historical