1553

1553 was a year in the 16th century characterized by a dynastic crisis in England and continuing religious upheaval across Europe. In England, the death of King Edward VI on July 6, 1553, at the age of 15, triggered a struggle over the succession. A plan supported by John Dudley, Duke of Northumberland, sought to prevent the Catholic-leaning Mary Tudor from ascending the throne by naming his protégé, Lady Jane Grey, as queen. On July 10, Jane Grey was proclaimed queen, but her reign lasted only nine days, as public support shifted toward Mary. By July 19, 1553, Mary I had been proclaimed queen and soon established herself as the monarch of England and Ireland.

Mary's accession signaled a return to Catholic orthodoxy in England. The first Parliament of Mary I, meeting in October 1553, moved to reverse many of the religious reforms of Edward VI and began the process of restoring papal authority in church governance. The transition contributed to the broader Counter-Reformation that was underway in Europe.

In the broader European context, 1553 fell within the long-running tension between Protestant and Catholic powers, with reformation and counter-reformation movements shaping politics, religion, and society across the continent. The year thus marked the consolidation of Mary I's Catholic restoration in England, while other regions pursued their own religious and dynastic trajectories.