01 October - The coronation of Queen Mary I of England is held at Westminster Abbey

 

The coronation of Queen Mary I of England was held on  01 October 1553, at Westminster Abbey. This significant event marked the formal ascension of Mary as the first reigning queen of England. Her rise to the throne followed the turbulent events of her half-brother Edward VI’s death and the brief reign of Lady Jane Grey, who was deposed after just nine days.

Background:

Mary, the daughter of King Henry VIII and his first wife, Catherine of Aragon, became queen after a long and challenging journey, which included her parents’ divorce and her mother’s death, leading to her being declared illegitimate. However, with the death of Edward VI, who attempted to exclude her from the line of succession, Mary rallied support and successfully claimed the throne.

Coronation Highlights:

• Religious Context: Mary, a devout Catholic, made her coronation a grand, traditional ceremony with a strong emphasis on her faith. Her coronation was the first one in many years to follow Catholic rites, symbolizing her intention to restore Catholicism in England after the Protestant reforms of her father and brother.

• Procession: The day before her coronation, on September 30, 1553, Mary made a grand procession through the streets of London, with lavish displays of pageantry. She rode through the city in a chariot, accompanied by nobles and clergy, greeted with widespread support from the public.

• Westminster Abbey Ceremony: On October 1, the formal coronation took place at Westminster Abbey. Mary was crowned by Stephen Gardiner, the Bishop of Winchester, a strong Catholic ally. The coronation adhered to the traditional rites, restoring many of the Catholic practices that had been abandoned during the reigns of her predecessors.

Significance:

Queen Mary I’s coronation was not only a pivotal moment for her personally but also a turning point in England’s religious history. Her reign, which followed her father’s break with the Catholic Church, was marked by her efforts to reverse the Protestant Reformation and restore Catholicism in England. This policy earned her the nickname "Bloody Mary" due to the persecution of Protestants during her reign.