Mary Stuart
(Mary I of Scotland, Mary Queen of Scots)
1542–1587Mary Queen of Scots is one of the most tragic figures of history. From the moment of her birth, she was surrounded by treacherous nobles who fought to control her future. Protestants fought Catholics, Englishmen fought Scots, and partisans of all persuasions fought each other for control of her dominions and affections. Before she was five years old, England and Scotland had gone to war over the question of who she should marry. Before she was seventeen she was a childless widow who was expelled from France where had formerly reigned as queen. At home in Scotland she was torn between rival factions and locked into a difficult marriage before becoming involved in two murders, running off with an adventurer, and losing her crown. Finally, she was imprisoned for eighteen years by her archrival, Queen Elizabeth of England, and condemned to die by beheading. There is scarcely a sadder story in English history, other than that of Lady Jane Grey, who suffered as similar fate, but in briefer circumstances.
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The marriage to the French prince took place when Mary was only fifteen, but her husband died after only two years, and she was forced to return to Scotland. She tried as far as possible to cooperate with the Protestant parliament, led by John Knox, but was herself a resolute Catholic. She arranged a marriage between herself and an English cousin, Lord Darnley, but it proved to be a disaster. Darnley was attractive but very cruel and immature, and the marriage broke down after only a year. During this time Mary gave birth to a son, and Darnley arranged for the brutal murder of her secretary Rizzio, with served to completely alienate Mary's already tenuous affection for him.
Shortly thereafter, Darnley himself was murdered, and Bothwell, a Baron who had attached himself to Mary, was suspected of involvement in his death. What happened thereafter is controversial. Mary claims she was kidnapped, but others say she ran away with Bothwell. In any case, there were several battles between Mary's supporters and those who opposed her, and she ended up being forced to abdicate in favor of her son. She tried to escape to France but was detained in England by her rival, Queen Elizabeth who kept her under arrest for the next nineteen years. During this time there were several rebellions aimed at deposing Elizabeth and placing Mary, who had a strong claim to the crown of England, on the throne. Whether or not Mary had anything to do with these schemes, Elizabeth considered her a threat and had her tried for treason an executed. After eighteen years of imprisonment, she claimed to welcome death as a release from her sufferings.
Key events during the life of Mary Queen of Scots:
| Princess Mary born, only child of James V of Scotland | |
| Mary crowned at 9 months. Marriage arranged between Mary, and Edward VI of England. | |
| Scots and English war for 7 years over Mary's unpopular betrothal. | |
| Mary engaged to a French Prince, and taken to France for safe-keeping. | |
| Marries the king of France, Francis II. | |
| Queen Elizabeth I, ascends to the throne in England. | |
| Francis II dies without producing and heir. Mary returns to Scotland. | |
| Mary marries Lord Darnley but the marriage is not happy. | |
| Birth of James I to Mary and Darnley. | |
| Darnley arranges to have Mary's secretary Rizzio murdered in her presence. | |
| Darnley is murdered by Bothwell, an adventurer who runs away with Mary. | |
| Mary forced to abdicate Scottish throne in favor of her infant son. | |
| Mary imprisoned by Queen Elizabeth while trying to escape to France. | |
| Mary executed by Elizabeth's order after 19 years imprisonment. |
| Book Links |
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Other Resources
| War in Scotland in | Queen Elizabeth by Jacob Abbott |
| Mary, Queen of Scots in | Cambridge Historical Reader—Primary by Cambridge Press |
| The Queen of the Scots in | The Story of Liberty by Charles C. Coffin |
| Elizabeth—The Story of a Most Unhappy Queen in | Our Island Story by H. E. Marshall |
| Mary Queen of Scots—France in | Scotland's Story by Henrietta Elizabeth Marshall |
| Elizabeth Queen of England and Mary Queen of Scots in | The Tudors and the Stuarts by M. B. Synge |
Image Links | ||
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 Mary Queen of Scots : Painted from the original by John Watson Gordon R.I.A in Mary Queen of Scots |
 Mary's Embarkation at Calais in Mary Queen of Scots |
 Mary, Queen of Scots in Cambridge Historical Reader—Primary |
 Mary Stuart in The Story of the English |
 Mary Stuart and Rizzio in The Story of the English |
Elizabeth defied by Mary Stuart in Back Matter |
For nineteen years this poor queen was kept in prison. in Our Island Story |
 In some sunny palace garden the days passed happily for the Queen and her Maries in Scotland's Story |
 Queen Mary and Knox had many talks together in Scotland's Story |
 Rizzio and Mary Queen of Scots in The Tudors and the Stuarts |
 Mary Stuart receiving her death sentence. in In the Days of Queen Elizabeth |
 Mary, Queen of Scots in In the Days of Queen Elizabeth |
 Last Moment of Mary, Queen of Scots in In the Days of Queen Elizabeth |
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| Queen of France who is generally held responsible for the St. Bartholomew's Day Massacre. | |
| First Stuart king of England. Intelligent and competent, but unable to work effectively with Parliament. | |
| Religious leader in Scotland who embraced Calvinism, founder of Presbyterian Church. | |
| Rizzio | French secretary of Mary, Queen of Scots, who inspired her husband jealousy. Murdered by Darnley. |
| Darnley | Cruel and immature husband of Mary, Queen of Scots. Murdered by Bothwell. |
| Bothwell | Scottish Baron who arranged the murder of Darnley and ran away with Mary, Queen of Scots. |
| Mary of Guise | Mother of Mary Queen of Scots, and regent during her minority. |