Mary and the Hapsburg Empire

Mary was half spanish through her mother, catherine of on. The hapsburg empire in england had traditionally been allies since they had a common enemy in france. Under this proposed marriage, charles's son, philip would become king of england,. at least in title. Mary would be his wife. So the marriage arrangement raised fears that philip would effectively rule england. It was thought that england would become little more than a northern outpost in the massive hapsberg empire.