Queen Mary I of England was the first queen regnant of England, ruling in her own right from 1553 to 1558.
While there were women who held positions of power as consorts (wives of kings) before Mary I, she was the first female monarch to rule England directly, with the full powers and responsibilities of the crown. She was the daughter of King Henry VIII and Catherine of Aragon.
Prior to Mary I's reign, the throne had always been held by men or passed to male heirs. Mary's ascension to the throne marked a significant turning point in English history, establishing that women could indeed rule as sovereign monarchs.
