The queen buried in Bury St Edmunds is Mary Tudor, Queen of France.
Who Was Mary Tudor?
Mary Tudor (18 March 1496 – 25 June 1533) was an English princess who became the Queen consort of France. She was the youngest surviving daughter of King Henry VII of England and Elizabeth of York, and the sister of the notorious King Henry VIII. Her life was marked by significant royal marriages.
- First Marriage: In 1514, she married King Louis XII of France, making her the Queen of France. Louis XII died just a few months later in 1515.
- Second Marriage: Shortly after Louis XII's death, she secretly married Charles Brandon, 1st Duke of Suffolk, in 1515. This marriage, undertaken without her brother Henry VIII's permission, initially caused a stir but was eventually recognized.
Burial Site in Bury St Edmunds
Mary Tudor died at Westhorpe Hall, Suffolk, on June 25, 1533, at the age of 37. Her burial history in Bury St Edmunds involves two distinct locations:
- Initial Burial: She was first buried on July 22, 1533, at Bury St Edmunds Abbey. This historic abbey was a significant Benedictine monastery in Suffolk.
- Reburial: Following the dissolution of the monasteries under King Henry VIII, her remains were moved in 1538 to St. Mary's Church, Bury St. Edmunds, Suffolk, where they remain to this day. St. Mary's Church is renowned for its magnificent hammer-beam roof and is one of the largest parish churches in England.
Her presence in Bury St Edmunds links the town directly to the Tudor monarchy and the turbulent religious changes of the 16th century.
Key Details of Mary Tudor
To provide a clearer overview, here are some key biographical details for Mary Tudor:
| Detail | Description |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Mary Tudor |
| Title | Queen of France (consort) |
| Born | 18 March 1496 |
| Died | 25 June 1533 (aged 37) at Westhorpe Hall, Westhorpe, Suffolk |
| Spouses | 1. Louis XII of France (m. 1514; died 1515) 2. Charles Brandon, 1st Duke of Suffolk (m. 1515) |
| Burial | Initial: Bury St Edmunds Abbey (22 July 1533) Final: St. Mary's Church, Bury St. Edmunds (1538) |
Mary Tudor's story is an intriguing footnote in English royal history, often overshadowed by her more famous siblings, but her final resting place in Bury St Edmunds is a tangible connection to her remarkable life.
