Person of the Month

Eighteen year old Mary was obliged to marry the ageing Louis XII of France to cement an international alliance, but before she accepted him, she made her brother Henry VIII promise she could choose for herself if she outlived Louis. After a glittering three months as a queen, she was widowed, and secretly married the Duke of Suffolk, before Henry could prevent it. Eventually forgiven, Mary was a leading light at the English court four nearly ten years, before ill – health and the advent of Anne Boleyn drove her into retirement.

Other than her time in France, Mary lived in the palaces around London, and then on her estates in Suffolk and Norfolk.