Mary Tudor

Death of Mary Tudor, queen consort of Louis XII of France

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Born to Henry VII and Elizabeth of York on 18th March 1496, Mary was the youngest child of the Tudor King and Queen.

As she grew, Mary became a beautiful young woman, and was widely considered to be one of the most attractive women in Europe, at the time.

Tall, slender, pale with grey eyes, and shining long red hair.

In October 1514, Mary was sent to France, to marry King Louis XII, a man thirty-four years her senior.

On 1st January 1515, less than three months after their marriage, King Louis XII died.

Mary's brother Henry VIII, sent his friend Charles Brandon to France, to collect Henry's youngest sister, and bring her home.

A deep attraction already existed between Mary and Charles, and desperate to marry him, Mary persuaded Charles to go through with a secret ceremony, whilst they were still in France.

Angering Mary's brother with their marriage, Mary and Charles spent some months in self-imposed retirement at their country estates in Suffolk.

With the couple eventually forgiven, Charles returned to the royal court.

While at Suffolk, Mary became pregnant with their first Child,

They would go on to have four children together.

On 11 March 1516, Mary gave birth to a healthy baby boy called Henry after the king.

On 16 July 1517, a daughter was born, called Frances after the French king.

Frances would go on to marry Henry Grey (Great-Grandson of Sir John Grey, and Elizabeth Woodville).

They were the parents of the nine days Queen, Lady Jane Grey.

In 1519, another Daughter, Eleanor was born.

In 1523, another Son, also called Henry was born.

Their 18 year marriage only ended with Mary's untimely death.

Between seven and eight o'clock in the morning of 25th June 1533, Mary died, aged 37, at Westhorpe Hall, Suffolk.

Mary had never fully recovered from the sweating sickness she caught in 1528.

Her cause of death was likely Tuberculosis, or cancer.

Mary's funeral was very grand.

There was a huge cortege with French heralds.

Her body lay in state at Westhorpe, with candles burning day and night.

She was laid to rest in a splendid alabaster tomb.

On 10th July, Henry VIII ordered a Requiem Mass to be held for his sister at Westminster Abbey.

Mary's lavish funeral was the last great event at the abbey church, prior to the dissolution in 1539.

When the abbey was despoiled, she was moved to a somewhat plainer tomb in St Marys.

On 6th September 1784, it was decided to lower the height of her tomb as it got in the way of the communion table.

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https://www.burysociety.com/mary-tudor-queen-of-france

Wikipedia.

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https://ko-fi.com/thetudorintruders

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Mary's tomb at St Mary's Church, Bury St Edmunds.