Who was the first female monarch of England?

Mary I of England is recognized as the first female monarch to rule England in her own right. She ascended to the throne in 1553 and reigned until her death in 1558. Mary, the daughter of Henry VIII and Catherine of Aragon, is often remembered for her efforts to restore Catholicism in England after the Protestant Reformation initiated by her father.

Though Elizabeth I and Queen Victoria are well-known and significant monarchs in English history, they each ruled after Mary I. Elizabeth I reigned from 1558 to 1603 and is famous for her strong, impactful reign known as the Elizabethan Era, while Victoria ruled from 1837 to 1901 during the Victorian Era, a period marked by industrial, cultural, political, scientific, and military change within the United Kingdom. Anne was also a significant monarch but came later, reigning from 1702 to 1714.

Mary's reign marked a critical time in England's religious history, making her role as the first female monarch pivotal in understanding the evolution of monarchical power and gender in England.