The Bloody Mary cocktail is most often served as a breakfast drink, but it’s also one of the most famous examples of a drinking tradition with a gruesome origin story. The tale is that this spicy concoction gets its name from the idea that it’s made with the blood of a murdered woman named Mary. Learn why this spooky cocktail got its unusual name, and if you like your drinks bloody and your history dark, read on…
Why Was Mary Queen Of Scots Called Bloody Mary?
Mary was called Bloody Mary because of the violent actions she took against anyone who opposed her rule. In just eight years, she ordered the execution of nearly 300 people. She also put thousands of others in prison and tortured many of them.
What Is The Reason Mary Queen Of Scots Was Called Bloody Mary?
- Mary, Queen of Scots was a powerful woman who ruled Scotland for 10 years. She was known for her beauty and intelligence, but her power also made her enemies.
- In 1567, Mary was forced to abdicate her throne in favor of her cousin, Elizabeth I of England. The two had been rivals as children, but now that they were both female rulers of Scotland and England, things got complicated!
- Elizabeth’s advisors did not want Mary to return to power and feared that she would try to take the throne back. So they decided to trap Mary by arranging a marriage between the queen and Henry Darnley, a man who had no claim to the Scottish throne but who was related to the king through his mother. This marriage would give Mary’s enemies control over Scotland so that they could keep an eye on her!
- But things did not go according to plan! Henry Darnley turned out to be a violent, abusive man. He was also a Catholic who wanted to reinstate the Catholic religion in Scotland. He convinced Mary that the marriage was not real, and she began to conspire with Elizabeth’s enemies to have him killed.
- In 1568, Mary’s people found Darnley dead in his bed. They then accused Mary of ordering his murder and put her on trial for treason! To prove her innocence, Mary told the court about a plot she had heard about involving poison and a blade that would be used to cut through the top of her head so that she would die instantly. This bizarre story is what gave Bloody Mary her name!
- The court believed this story and found Mary guilty of treason. She was then sent to prison in England where she remained until her death in 1587 at the age of 36!ARY’S OWN CLOSEST MATE of being the killer, and she was put on trial. Mary was tried for treason and sentenced to death.
- Her servants, who had helped her plot against Darnley, were also put on trial. They were accused of helping to murder their mistress, but they were eventually acquitted. The most famous of these servants was her secretary, David Rizzio. He was stabbed to death in front of Mary by one of her lords in 1566 because he had been close to the queen and knew too much about her plots against him!
- Mary confessed that she had killed Darnley but did not say who had stabbed him! She blamed the murder on a man named James Hepburn! It is said that she later ordered his execution as well! After being forced to abdicate her throne, Mary spent the rest of her life in captivity at Loch Leven Castle. She died there in 1587 story of killing him. Mary was forced to flee from Scotland, and she spent the next two decades in prison.
The History Of The Bloody Mary
- The Bloody Mary is named after Queen Mary I of England. She was the daughter of King Henry VIII, who had been one of the most famous and powerful monarchs in England. He was known for his love and interest in science, which he demonstrated by creating the Royal Society, an organization dedicated to promoting scientific research. His wife, Catherine of Aragon, was also a strong supporter of scientific research.
- Henry’s third wife, Anne Boleyn, did not share his interest in science or his enthusiasm for it. Her religious views were strongly Catholic but she also did not agree with him on many other points that were important to him such as religion and power. During their marriage she continued to have intimate contacts with her friends and confidants including Thomas Cromwell who later became the Chief Minister for Henry’s son Edward VI who would become King Edward VI (1547-53). It is believed that Anne’s relationship with Thomas Cromwell led to her downfall when she was accused of adultery and treason. She was executed in 1536.
- Henry remained a strong supporter of science and new ideas, however, and after his death in 1547 he was succeeded by his son Edward VI who continued his father’s interest in science. He supported the creation of the Royal Society which he had founded at the same time as his father when he was still alive. He appointed a group of scientists to be members of the Society including William Harvey who discovered that blood circulates through our bodies. Edward also created a body which would later become known as the Royal College of Physicians to promote scientific research among physicians.
- When Queen Mary I came to power she quickly became known for her extreme religious beliefs and her refusal to marry or produce an heir with her husband Philip II of Spain (1527-1598). Philip’s desire for an heir caused him to look elsewhere for wives, firstly Anne Boleyn whom he had been married to at the time of Henry’s death. Mary was very suspicious of Anne’s relationship with Thomas Cromwell and the other men in her husband’s court and she believed that they had worked together to have her executed. Mary took action against Anne and her supporters, including Thomas Cromwell, but she was not able to achieve her goal of executing them.
- In 1554 Mary began to be haunted by a prophecy that she would die on the same day as her great-grandmother, Queen Katherine of Aragon (1485-1536). She believed that this meant that she would die a painful death similar to the one which had befallen her predecessors’ wives. She, therefore, began to take steps to protect herself from harm by wearing a red damask gown which was made of cloth dyed with the color haematite (a type of iron oxide). This dress became known as the “Bloody” or “Bloody Mary” dress because it was stained with blood after she had worn f Henry’s death. He also looked at Catherine Howard whom he married in 1541. Catherine was also executed in 1542 for adultery, but this time it was as a result of her relationship with Thomas Culpepper who was the favorite of the King.
Other Origins For The Name “Bloody Mary”
- The name Bloody Mary is a reference to the story of Mary I, Queen of England. Bloody Mary was the daughter of Henry VIII and his first wife Catherine of Aragon. She was born on 7 January 1492 at Greenwich Palace in London. Her mother died when she was three years old and her father married Anne Boleyn in 1533. She became queen consort in 1533 and had a child with her husband, Edward VI (1537–1553) who died of a stroke when he was 15. She ruled as regent during the minority of her son Edward VI (1547–1553) until he came of age and took over his duties in 1547.
- The name “Bloody Mary” may also be a reference to the Spanish Civil War (1936–1939) which took place between the side supported by General Francisco Franco and those supported by the Spanish Republican government. During this war, many people were killed on both sides and thousands of prisoners were executed. This caused some people to refer to this period as the “Years of Blood” or “the Years of Lead” because of the high levels of violence and deaths.
- Another possible origin for the name “Bloody Mary” is the story of Bloody Mary I, Queen of England (1516–1558). She was married to Henry VIII of England and had a child with him, Edward VI (1537–1553) who died of a stroke when he was 15. She became queen consort in 1533 and had a daughter, Mary I (1553–1558) who was crowned as Queen Mary I in 1553. She ruled as a monarch until her death in November 1558.
Summing Up
The Bloody Mary is a classic cocktail that can be served all day long or as a breakfast drink with some bacon or sausage added. There are many variations on the classic recipe, with some making the drink spicy, others making it sweet, and others ramping up the alcohol content. The name of the drink is somewhat mysterious, with several different explanations for why it’s called “Bloody Mary”. No matter what the cocktail’s history is, one thing is for sure: it’s a delicious drink that’s perfect for any time of day.