This post comes from the highlights of Kendra Drown Pitts’ talk on the Trauma and mental health of Mary Tudor at Tudorcon 2024.
At Tudorcon 2024, Kendra Drown Pitts delivered a powerful and emotional presentation on the life and trauma of Mary I, England’s first crowned queen regnant. Kendra, who began her own historical journey as an attendee at the very first Tudorcon in 2019, has since pursued a degree in history and is now working on her master’s in public history. Her research into the life of Mary I, often remembered with the moniker “Bloody Mary,” challenged the audience to look beyond the oversimplified historical narrative of Mary’s reign and instead, consider the role of trauma in shaping her life and legacy.
Mary Tudor: The Princess Who Lost Everything
Mary I was born into a world of privilege and power, as the only surviving child of Henry VIII and Catherine of Aragon. She was doted on by her parents, raised in luxury, and recognized as the heir to the throne. But as Kendra highlighted, Mary’s life took a drastic turn when Anne Boleyn entered the picture in 1526.
Mary’s world collapsed as her father sought to annul his marriage to her mother. Mary was stripped of her title, declared illegitimate, and forced into servitude in the household of her baby half-sister, Elizabeth. According to Kendra, these experiences profoundly affected Mary, not only emotionally but also physically. The stress and trauma of her father’s actions began manifesting in severe health issues, marking the beginning of a pattern of illness that would plague Mary throughout her life.
“Here is this woman who was born a princess, yet went through hell and back on the whims of a man,” Kendra said. “She became the first regnant queen crowned in England in spite of this same man, her father.”
Mental Health in Tudor Times
One of the most compelling aspects of Kendra’s talk was her exploration of the possibility that Mary suffered from severe depression, exacerbated by the traumatic events of her life. Traditionally, many historians have focused on Mary’s supposed physical ailments, such as painful menstrual cycles and phantom pregnancies. However, Kendra urged the audience to reconsider these symptoms through the lens of mental health.
“What if Mary wasn’t going through a menstrual issue, but was actually suffering from severe depression?” Kendra asked.
Kendra drew parallels between her own struggles with depression and anxiety and what Mary might have experienced, explaining that depression often manifests in physical symptoms, such as gastrointestinal issues, migraines, and sleep disturbances. The idea that Mary’s lifelong battle with illness was linked to psychological trauma is a perspective that sheds new light on her reign.
Adverse Childhood Experiences and Their Lasting Impact
In her research, Kendra delved into the concept of Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) and how they relate to adult health issues. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) defines ACEs as potentially traumatic events that occur in childhood, such as abuse, neglect, or household dysfunction. These experiences can have long-lasting effects on physical and mental health.
Based on her findings, Kendra argued that Mary I’s childhood, marked by her father’s cruelty and her mother’s powerlessness, would have resulted in a high ACE score. The constant stress and upheaval in Mary’s life—from being separated from her mother to being forced to renounce her title—left deep psychological scars.
“Mary scored a 5 on the ACEs scale… going from a beloved daughter to being treated with disdain and derision by her father was a huge blow,” Kendra explained.
This trauma, Kendra suggested, likely contributed to many of Mary’s later health issues, including her bouts of melancholy, heart palpitations, and her well-documented phantom pregnancies.
Phantom Pregnancies: The Physical Manifestation of Trauma
Perhaps one of the most heartbreaking elements of Mary I’s story is her struggle with phantom pregnancies. Shortly after her marriage to Philip II of Spain, Mary experienced what seemed to be all the typical symptoms of pregnancy—morning sickness, a growing belly, and even lactation. Yet, no child was ever born.
“She had all the symptoms of a normal pregnancy,” Kendra noted. “But her belly began to shrink, and reports say she would sit on the floor with her knees drawn to her chin, rocking.”
This tragedy repeated itself later in Mary’s life, leading historians to speculate about what might have caused these false pregnancies. While many have assumed they were related to reproductive issues, Kendra offered an alternative explanation: that Mary may have been suffering from a prolactinoma, a non-cancerous tumor on the pituitary gland that can cause the body to mimic pregnancy symptoms. This theory aligns with the idea that Mary’s physical ailments were intricately linked to her psychological trauma.
Mary’s Strength Amidst Adversity
Despite her lifelong battles with physical and mental health, Kendra emphasized that Mary I was a survivor. She endured years of emotional abuse at the hands of her father, religious and political isolation, and the weight of ruling a divided kingdom. Yet, she remained steadfast in her Catholic faith and her determination to prove her father wrong by successfully ruling as queen.
“I think she put a lot of pressure on herself to prove her father wrong, that she could rule,” Kendra said, highlighting Mary’s resilience.
Though Mary’s reign is often remembered for the execution of Protestants during her attempt to restore Catholicism, Kendra encouraged the audience to view her actions within the context of the immense pressures she faced. Mary’s determination to secure her legacy and her deep religious conviction were products of a lifetime of trauma and suffering.
A New Perspective on Mary I’s Legacy
Kendra’s talk at Tudorcon 2023 offered a fresh perspective on Mary I, encouraging attendees to move beyond the traditional narrative of “Bloody Mary” and instead consider the profound impact of trauma on her life and reign. By examining Mary’s physical and mental health through the lens of modern psychology, Kendra’s research opens the door to a more compassionate understanding of one of England’s most misunderstood monarchs.
Mary I was not simply a woman who failed to produce an heir or a queen remembered for her religious persecutions. She was a survivor of immense personal trauma, a woman who struggled with both her physical and mental health, and a monarch who faced extraordinary challenges in a male-dominated world.
As Kendra powerfully concluded:
“I think she suffered as a child, and with trauma, and I think this affected her for the rest of her life, both physically and mentally.”
Final Thoughts
Kendra’s exploration of Mary I’s trauma provides a valuable reminder that history is not just about dates and events—it’s about real people, their struggles, and the lasting impact of their experiences. By re-examining the life of Mary I through this lens, we can better appreciate the complexities of her reign and the personal battles she fought every day.
To explore these fascinating stories and more, you can gain full access to the Tudorcon 2024 video collection. Learn directly from expert historians about the intricacies of Tudor life, politics, and power—right from the comfort of your home.
Heather Teysko is the creator, writer, and producer of The Renaissance English History Podcast, the original Tudor history podcast, started in 2009. She's been writing about history online for over 25 years, since her first site on Colonial American history became number one in history on Yahoo in 1998. In 2019 she created Tudorcon, which is now a yearly event, in addition to writing books, and running TudorFair.com - a whimsical Tudor Merch shop.
She has been passionate about Tudor England since she first read Alison Weir's The Six Wives of Henry VIII 30 years ago, and subsequently moved to London after college to spend her time immersed in Tudor history (how exciting when she got to interview Alison for the first time!). In addition to history, she is passionate about travel, and has lived in 3 countries and 4 states (not counting her perpetual state of confusion), and her family (who help her host her YouTube channel occasionally).
