The first queen of England was Mary I, known as "Bloody Mary," who reigned from 1553 to 1558. As a notable figure during the Tudor period, she sought to restore Roman Catholicism in England after her father, Henry VIII, established the Protestant Church of England. Her reign was marked by religious persecution against Protestants, resulting in numerous executions, which led to her notorious nickname. Mary I's efforts to reverse the religious reforms had lasting implications for the future of Christianity in England and deepened the divides between Catholics and Protestants.