Mary I, known as "Bloody Mary," reigned as Queen of England and Ireland from 1553 to 1558. Her reign is infamous for its religious persecution, particularly the burning of over 300 Protestants as heretics. Driven by an unwavering devotion to Catholicism and the belief that England had strayed from its true faith, Mary enforced a strict policy of religious conformity. Her repressive measures included the revival of statutes that had punished dissent against Catholic practices, the enactment of new laws targeting Protestants, and the establishment of a Protestant execution tribunal. Mary's zeal and intolerance earned her the title of "Bloody Mary," a moniker that has forever tarnished her legacy and solidified her place as one of England's most reviled monarchs.
