The first queen regnant of England was Queen Mary I, who reigned from 1553 to 1558. She was the daughter of Henry VIII and Catherine of Aragon. Mary's reign is often characterized by her efforts to restore Catholicism in England after her father's Protestant reforms, leading to the persecution of Protestants during her rule. Her controversial reign earned her the moniker "Bloody Mary" due to the religious conflicts of her time, shaping the course of English history.