The first female ruler of England was Queen Mary I, also known as Mary Tudor, who reigned from 1553 to 1558. She was the daughter of King Henry VIII and his first wife, Catherine of Aragon. Mary ascended to the throne after the death of her half-brother, Edward VI. Her reign is known for her attempt to restore Roman Catholicism in England after the Protestant Reformation. This period was marked by the persecution of Protestants, earning Mary the nickname "Bloody Mary." Despite her efforts, her reign was short-lived, and she was succeeded by her half-sister, Elizabeth I, who reestablished Protestantism.