The first British queen to rule in her own right was Queen Mary I, who reigned from 1553 to 1558. Often referred to as "Bloody Mary" due to her persecution of Protestants, she was the daughter of Henry VIII and Catherine of Aragon. Mary I sought to restore Roman Catholicism in England, reversing the Protestant reforms enacted during her half-brother Edward VI's reign. Her marriage to Philip II of Spain was controversial and unpopular, leading to political strife. Mary's reign was significant in shaping the religious landscape of England and the monarchy's role.