5 Notorious Villains From British History

The worst characters from Britain’s past

A painting of Queen Mary I by Master John, 1544 (Wikimedia Commons)

British history is full of fascinating individuals, ranging from inspirational heroes to frightening villains. When it comes to the latter, there’s no shortage of people to choose from, and the following figures are amongst the most infamous in British history.

1. Queen Mary I

A painting of Queen Mary I by Antonis Mor, 1554 (Wikimedia Commons)

Queen Mary I was the daughter of King Henry VIII and Catherine of Aragon. When King Edward VI (Mary’s half-brother) died in 1553, he left the throne to his cousin Lady Jane Grey because she was a Protestant.

Mary, on the other hand, was a devout Catholic and wanted to reverse the Protestant Reformation. She marched on London, took the throne for herself, and imprisoned Jane, who was executed in February 1554.

Mary then dismissed and executed Protestant bishops, banned the Book of Common Prayer, and all forms of Protestant writing were subject to removal. Catholic bishops dominated the Church once again, and Catholic rituals became commonplace.

All those who opposed Mary’s new measures faced execution. Groups of Protestants were…