Lady Mary Become a Patron The short reign of Queen Mary I lasted from 1553 to her death in 1558. In that time, she gained a reputation as a tyrannical zealot, condemning her detractors to death by burning and earning herself the long standing label of Bloody Mary. But what’s not remembered quite as often is her life before this reign, and what exactly led her to this point… Or indeed, what even truly happened during her years on the throne.

• Historical