Birth of Mary (later Mary I of England), daughter of Catherine of Aragon and Henry VIII.
Mary Tudor was born on February 18, 1516, at Greenwich Palace to Catherine of Aragon and Henry VIII. The birth was a source of great celebration, as she survived past infancy, a rare event in the couple's previous attempts at producing heirs. Mary would ultimately become Mary I of England, demonstrating Catherine's enduring influence on English history. The birth reinforced Catherine's royal credentials and her fitness as queen, but also underscored the familial tension over succession, as the quest for a male heir became more pronounced.