Mary Tudor, Queen of France

For other people named Mary Tudor, see Mary Tudor.

Mary Tudor
Duchess of Suffolk
Cropped image from the wedding portrait, attributed to Jan Gossaert, c. 1516
Queen consort of France
Tenure	9 October 1514 – 1 January 1515
Coronation	5 November 1514
Born	18 March 1496 Sheen Palace, London, Surrey, Kingdom of England
Died	25 June 1533 (aged 37) Westhorpe Hall, Westhorpe, Suffolk, Kingdom of England
Burial	22 July 1533 Bury St Edmunds Abbey 1538 St. Mary's Church, Bury St. Edmunds, Suffolk
Spouse	Louis XII of France ​ ​ (m. 1514; died 1515)​ Charles Brandon, 1st Duke of Suffolk ​ ​ (m. 1515)​
Issue more...	Frances Grey, Duchess of Suffolk Eleanor Clifford, Countess of Cumberland Henry Brandon, 1st Earl of Lincoln
House	Tudor
Father	Henry VII of England
Mother	Elizabeth of York

Mary Tudor (18 March 1496 – 25 June 1533) was an English princess who briefly became Queen of France as the third wife of King Louis XII. Mary was the fifth child of Henry VII of England and Elizabeth of York, and she was the youngest of their children to survive infancy. Louis was over 30 years older than her.

After Louis’s death, Mary married Charles Brandon, 1st Duke of Suffolk. This marriage took place secretly in France without the consent of Mary’s brother, Henry VIII. The union led to the involvement of Thomas Wolsey, a key advisor to Henry, and the couple was eventually pardoned after paying a significant fine.

Mary had four children with Charles Brandon. Through her eldest daughter, Frances, Mary became the maternal grandmother of Lady Jane Grey, who was queen of England for nine days in July 1553.

Biography

Mary was the fifth child of Henry VII of England and Elizabeth of York, born at Sheen Palace.

Mary was known for her beauty and had a close relationship with her brother, Henry VII. In 1514, she married Louis XII at the age of 18. Louis was much older and died less than three months after their wedding, and they had no children.

Mary later married Charles Brandon, 1st Duke of Suffolk, in secret in 1515, without her brother’s permission. This was considered treason, but she and Charles were only fined due to Henry's affection for them. They officially married again later that year.

Mary had four children with Charles and was often still referred to as the Queen of France. Her relationship with Henry became strained over his marriage to Catherine of Aragon and later Anne Boleyn.

After suffering failing health for some years, Mary Tudor died on 25 June, 1533 at the age of thirty seven at Westhorpe Hall, Westhorpe, Suffolk, possibly of Tuberculosis, Cancer, or Angina. Her husband then married Catherine Willoughby.