Why was the transition from Edward VI to Mary I contentious?

The transition from Edward VI to Mary I was contentious due to religious differences and disputes over the legitimacy of Mary's claim to the throne.

Edward VI, the son of Henry VIII and his third wife Jane Seymour, was a staunch Protestant. His reign, although short, was marked by significant religious reform that moved England further away from Catholicism. Edward's advisors, notably the Duke of Northumberland, were also committed Protestants who sought to consolidate the Protestant faith in England. When Edward fell ill and it became clear he would not survive, Northumberland manipulated the young king into naming his cousin, Lady Jane Grey, as his successor, bypassing his half-sisters Mary and Elizabeth. This was a clear attempt to ensure the continuation of Protestant rule, as Lady Jane Grey was also a Protestant.

Mary, on the other hand, was the daughter of Henry VIII and his first wife Catherine of Aragon, and a devout Catholic. She had been declared illegitimate and removed from the line of succession following her parents' divorce, but was later reinstated by her father. Mary's Catholicism and her perceived illegitimacy made her a contentious figure among the Protestant nobility. When Edward died in 1553 and Lady Jane Grey was proclaimed queen, Mary rallied support and successfully claimed the throne, executing Lady Jane Grey in the process.

The transition was contentious not only because of the religious differences between Edward and Mary, but also because of the political manoeuvring and power struggles that accompanied it. Mary's ascension to the throne marked a return to Catholicism, which was met with resistance from the Protestant nobility and led to widespread unrest and rebellion. Furthermore, the legitimacy of Mary's claim to the throne was disputed, with some arguing that Henry VIII's will and the Act of Succession, which had reinstated Mary and Elizabeth in the line of succession, were legally binding, while others maintained that Edward's nomination of Lady Jane Grey was valid.

In conclusion, the transition from Edward VI to Mary I was contentious due to the stark religious differences between the two monarchs and the political disputes over the legitimacy of Mary's claim to the throne. This period of English history was marked by religious conflict and political instability, as the country oscillated between Protestant and Catholic rule.