Legend has it that summoning Bloody Mary is a straightforward affair. One simply needs to stand in a dimly lit bathroom, gaze into the mirror, and chant her name thirteen times: “Bloody Mary, Bloody Mary, Bloody Mary, Bloody Mary…”
If the ritual proceeds as expected, a spectral woman should materialize in the mirror. Sometimes, Bloody Mary appears alone; other times, she cradles a deceased infant. According to lore, she often remains passive, merely fixing her gaze. Yet, on occasion, she purportedly bursts forth from the reflective surface, scratching or even claiming the life of her summoner.
However, the question arises: does the legend of Bloody Mary have roots in reality? And if so, who might be the woman behind the tale?
The tale of Bloody Mary, though likely a fabrication, draws connections to historical figures who could potentially embody the infamous character. Among them are Queen Mary I of England, a Hungarian noblewoman known for her brutality, and an enigmatic witch who allegedly preyed on children.
The Person Behind The Real Bloody Mary Story
Speculation persists that the legend of Bloody Mary is intricately linked to the queen who earned the moniker. Queen Mary I of England garnered the epithet “Bloody Mary” for her ruthless persecution of approximately 280 Protestants during her reign.
Born on February 18, 1516, in London’s Greenwich Palace to Henry VIII and Catherine of Aragon, Mary’s ascension to the throne appeared improbable, especially as a figure associated with such grim notoriety. Throughout her childhood, her father’s fervent pursuit of a male heir overshadowed her prospects.
Mary’s formative years were deeply influenced by Henry’s relentless pursuit of a male heir. During her adolescence, Henry scandalized Europe by annulling his marriage to Mary’s mother, Catherine of Aragon, on grounds of her previous marriage to his brother. He then married Anne Boleyn, breaking away from the Catholic Church and establishing the Church of England.
According to the Smithsonian Magazine, Mary faced the harsh reality of being declared illegitimate and relegated from a princess to a mere “lady,” separated from her mother. Despite pressure, she adamantly refused to accept the annulment of her parents’ marriage or acknowledge her father as the head of the Church of England.
Throughout Mary’s life, she witnessed her father’s tumultuous marital affairs. Following Anne Boleyn’s execution, Henry married Jane Seymour, who tragically died in childbirth. His subsequent marriages to Anne of Cleves and Catherine Howard ended in divorce and execution, respectively. Only his sixth wife, Catherine Parr, survived him. Despite the turmoil, Henry achieved his goal when Jane Seymour bore him a son, Edward VI.
Following the death of Edward VI after just six years on the throne, he attempted to secure the succession for his Protestant cousin, Lady Jane Grey. However, Mary seized the opportunity, leading an army into London in 1553. A surge of support propelled her to the throne, resulting in Lady Jane Grey’s execution. Yet, it was during her reign as queen that Mary I earned her infamous “Bloody Mary” reputation.
Is Bloody Mary Real? How The Queen’s Story Ties Into This Disturbing Legend
As queen, Mary I prioritized the restoration of Catholicism in England. She married Philip II of Spain, suppressed a Protestant uprising, and reversed numerous anti-Catholic policies enacted by her father and half-brother. In 1555, she reinstated the heretico comburendo law, which mandated the burning of heretics at the stake.
According to the Smithsonian, Mary believed that these executions would serve as a swift and forceful deterrent, prompting Protestants to return to the Catholic Church. She initially envisioned just a few executions, expressing to her advisors that they should be brief and impactful “that the people might well perceive them not to be condemned without just occasion, whereby they shall both understand the truth and beware to do the like.”
Despite Mary’s brutal measures, Protestants remained resolute. Over the course of three years, from 1555 until Mary’s demise in 1558, nearly 300 individuals were immolated at her behest. Among the victims were prominent religious figures such as Thomas Cranmer, the archbishop of Canterbury, and bishops Hugh Latimer and Nicholas Ridley, alongside numerous ordinary citizens, predominantly from impoverished backgrounds.
History records that the deaths of these Protestants were meticulously documented by John Foxe, a Protestant chronicler. In his 1563 work, “The Actes and Monuments,” commonly known as Foxe’s Book of Martyrs, he vividly recounted the executions of Protestant martyrs across history, accompanied by detailed illustrations.
“Then brought they a fagot kindled with fyre, and layd the same downe at D[octor]. Ridleyes feete,” Foxe wrote of Ridley and Latimer’s brutal executions. “To whom M. Latymer spake in this maner: ‘Be of good comfort M[aster]. Ridley, and play the man: we shall this day lyght such a candle by Gods grace in England, as (I trust) shall neuer be put out.'”
Mary’s relentless persecution of Protestants left an indelible mark. Following her demise, she earned the epithet “Bloody Mary” for her actions. Yet, this is not the sole reason why some speculate on the connection between Queen Mary I and the legendary tale of Bloody Mary.
The Tragic Pregnancy Of Queen Mary I
Reports of alleged sightings of Bloody Mary in mirrors often depict the apparition with a baby or searching for one. In some variations of the legend, summoners provoke Bloody Mary by claiming to have harmed or killed her child, uttering phrases like “I stole your baby” or “I killed your baby.” This particular refrain likely struck a nerve with Queen Mary I.
In addition to her persecution of Protestants, Mary’s quest for an heir was a significant focus. Ascending to the throne at the age of thirty-seven, she was determined to produce a child during her reign. However, her efforts took an unexpected turn.
Despite announcing her pregnancy just two months after marrying Philip and exhibiting all the signs of pregnancy, including physical changes, Mary’s anticipated due date passed without the arrival of a baby.
Rumors circulating in the French court suggested that Mary had given birth to what was described as a “mole” or a lump of flesh. It’s speculated that she may have experienced a molar pregnancy, a complication known as a hydatidiform mole, according to Refinery29.
Upon Mary’s death in 1558 at the age of 42, likely due to uterine or ovarian cancer, she passed away childless. Consequently, her Protestant half-sister, Elizabeth, assumed power, solidifying the dominance of Protestantism in England.
Meanwhile, Mary’s adversaries ensured that she would be remembered as “Bloody Mary.” Despite historical context revealing her father’s authorization of the deaths of up to 72,000 subjects and her sister’s execution of 183 Catholics, Mary bore the brunt of the epithet “Bloody,” as noted by the Smithsonian.
Her notoriety might stem from sexism or from her position as a Catholic queen ruling over a predominantly Protestant nation. Nonetheless, the epithet “Bloody Mary” associated Mary with the enduring urban legend. Yet, other women have been suggested as potential inspirations for the Bloody Mary narrative.
Other Possible Inspirations For Bloody Mary
Alongside Queen Mary I of England, two other prominent women are often linked to the Bloody Mary legend. The first is Mary Worth, a mysterious figure often depicted as a witch, while the second is Elizabeth Bathory, a Hungarian noblewoman infamous for her alleged atrocities against hundreds of girls and young women.
Details surrounding Mary Worth remain murky, with uncertainty even regarding her existence. According to Haunted Rooms, she is portrayed as a witch who purportedly ensnared children with her spells, abducted and murdered them, and used their blood in rituals to maintain her youth. Legend has it that when her townspeople discovered her actions, they executed her by burning at the stake. Allegedly, before her death, Mary Worth warned that if anyone were to utter her name in front of a mirror, she would return to haunt them.
According to the Lake County Journal, Mary Worth hailed from Wadsworth, Illinois, and was allegedly involved in the “reverse underground railroad.”
“She’d bring in slaves under false pretenses to send them back down south and make some money.” Bob Jensen, a paranormal investigator and head of Lake County’s Ghostland Society, shared insights with the Lake County Journal.
Jensen detailed that Mary Worth purportedly engaged in torturous acts and the murder of escaped slaves as part of her occult practices. Eventually, the townsfolk discovered her deeds and either burned her at the stake or lynched her.
While the existence of Mary Worth remains uncertain, Elizabeth Bathory’s reality is indisputable. A Hungarian noblewoman, she faced accusations of murdering a minimum of 80 girls and young women between 1590 and 1610. Gruesome tales circulated, alleging that she subjected her victims to horrifying tortures such as sewing their lips shut, beating them with clubs, and burning them with hot irons. It’s even claimed that she bathed in their blood to preserve her youth.
Moreover, during Bathory’s trial, a witness testified to seeing a diary in which Bathory meticulously documented her victims. Surprisingly, the list did not contain 80 names but a staggering 650. Consequently, Bathory emerges as a plausible candidate for the inspiration behind Bloody Mary. However, her defenders argue that the charges against her were fabricated due to debts owed by the king to her late husband.
Regardless, the genuine identity of Bloody Mary remains shrouded in uncertainty. The legend may draw from Queen Mary I, dubbed the real “Bloody Mary,” or from other candidates such as Mary Worth or Elizabeth Bathory. Yet, regardless of whom Bloody Mary may derive from, she remains entrenched within one of the most enduring urban legends in history.
