Mary Tudor

Mary Tudor was born on 18 March 1496 at Sheen Palace, London, Surrey, in the Kingdom of England, as the fifth child and youngest to survive infancy of Henry VII of England and Elizabeth of York. Her early life was marked by a privileged upbringing, receiving instruction in French, Latin, music, dancing, and embroidery, and she was given her own household at age six. Mary was known for her beauty and was considered one of the most beautiful princesses in Europe. She married King Louis XII of France at age 18, becoming Queen consort of France for a brief period until Louis’s death in 1515. Her second marriage to Charles Brandon, 1st Duke of Suffolk, was performed secretly and without her brother Henry VIII’s consent, leading to a significant fine imposed on the couple. She bore four children with Suffolk and was the maternal grandmother of Lady Jane Grey.

Mary’s life was punctuated by notable events, including her betrothal to Charles, later Holy Roman Emperor, which was called off, and her time as Queen consort of France, which ended with Louis XII’s death. Her second marriage to Charles Brandon was a controversial one that required royal pardon and incurred a heavy fine. She lived the rest of her days as the Duchess of Suffolk and died on 25 June 1533 at Westhorpe Hall, Suffolk. She was buried at Bury St Edmunds Abbey and later reinterred at St. Mary’s Church, Bury St. Edmunds, Suffolk.