The early history of the Rosary beads is seen in how hermits and monks in Egypt (known as Desert Fathers) tracked praying the 150 psalms using stones and later ropes.

They later prayed the Our Father 150 times with the use of string of beads with five decades called the Paternoster, Latin for ‘Our Father.’ 

The emergence of the ‘Hail Mary’ was much slower taking about one thousand years. The initial version of it added Mary’s name to the angel Gabriel's message: “Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee” (Luke 1:28). Sometimes in 1050 AD, Elizabeth’s words, which she used to greet Mary during the latter’s visit were added: “Blessed art thou among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb” (Luke 1:42). 

In 1261, Pope Urban IV added the name of Jesus to the end of Elizabeth’s words. 

The Hail Mary was published in 1555 in St Peter Canisius’ Catechism, with almost the final petition: “Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners. 

The entire final petition with the words “now and at the hour of our death. Amen” came eleven years later in the Catechism of the Council of Trent, a work Canisius himself was instrumental to its creation. 

The version of the Hail Mary we pray today was officially approved in 1568.

Tradition, however, holds that St. Dominic organised the rosary as we have it today, having been moved by the vision of Our Blessed Mother.

He preached the rosary in his missionary work among the Albigensians (those who believe there are two gods: a good spiritual and an evil one). Although this is contested, up to twelve Popes acknowledged and linked St. Dominic with the Rosary. 

Nonetheless, the rosary became popular in the 1500s during the ravaging of Eastern Europe by Muslim Turks. In 1571, the Holy Father, Pope Pius V, requested all the faithful to pray to the Blessed Mother through the Rosary under the title of Our Lady of Victory, that Our Lord would grant victory to the Christians. 

Despite that, the Muslim fleet was more than that of the Christians in vessels and sailors; the two forces met in battle. "The Christian flagship flew a blue banner depicting Christ crucified. 

On October 7, 1571, the Moslems were defeated at the Battle of Lepanto. The following year, Pope St. Pius V established the Feast of the Holy Rosary on October 7, where the faithful would remember this victory and give thanks to the Lord for all of His benefits and the powerful intercession of our Blessed Mother."

Source: William Saunder. History of the Rosary. https://www.ewtn.com/catholicism/library/history-of-the-rosary-1142

A Brief History of the Rosary: Ever Ancient, Ever New. https://www.dynamiccatholic.com/rosary/history-of-the rosary.html?srsltid=AfmBOooNd1syn5ZD3UB_oFPyqbnRDnQhauBkEW4evqBhx

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