Mary, Queen of Scots: A Remarkable Life in Scottish History
Mary, Queen of Scots (8 December 1542 – 8 February 1587), alternatively known as Mary Stuart or Mary I of Scotland, left her mark on European history during her eventful reign. Ascending to the throne at just 6 years old, she navigated a complex landscape of power struggles, marriages, love, hate and political intrigue, shaping the destiny of Scotland and influencing the broader course of events in Europe.
She’s a fascinating historical figure that we talk about often and tell stories of on our tours throughout Scotland. A strong-willed but often vulnerable woman in Scotland’s past, her life story tells like a movie (and in fact became one, Mary, Queen of Scots, 2018).
In this article, we’ll dig into some of the most interesting and surprising facts about this legendary figure, the story of her ascendancy, reign, political intrigue and fall as well as all the dramatic moments that made her such an enigmatic woman.
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8 Facts About Mary Queen of Scots
Mary, Queen of Scots, led a life marked by early ascension to the throne, political intrigue, and personal tragedy.
Here are eight notable facts about her:
Queen at just 6 years old!
Mary's royal journey began almost immediately after birth. Born on 8 December 1542 at Linlithgow Palace, she ascended to the Scottish throne just six days later upon the death of her father, James V. Imagine inheriting a kingdom before even uttering your first word!
Entangled in Politics as a child
From a tender age, Mary was entangled in the complex web of political alliances. At five, she was betrothed to Henry VIII's son, Edward, aiming to unite Scotland and England. However, the Scots had other plans and declined the match. Instead, at six, she was promised to Francis, the French heir, marking the beginning of her deep ties with France.
3. Queen Consort in France
Mary's life in France saw her ascend to the role of Queen Consort. She married Francis in 1558 at Notre Dame Cathedral, notably donning a white gown—a bold choice, as white was traditionally a mourning colour in France.
Their union was short-lived; Francis became king in 1559 but tragically died in 1560, leaving Mary a widow at eighteen.
4. Prosecuted as a Catholic
Raised in Catholic France, Mary's faith was unwavering. Upon her return to Scotland, she initially aligned herself with Protestant factions to stabilise her reign. However, her marriage in 1565 to Henry, Lord Darnley, a fellow Catholic, reignited religious tensions and political unrest in her homeland.
5. Terrible Luck in Love
Mary's personal life was marred by tragedy and betrayal. In 1566, her close confidant and secretary, David Rizzio, was brutally murdered in her presence—a plot orchestrated by her own husband, Lord Darnley.
This traumatic event was a precursor to further turmoil in her short reign.
6. A Life of Imprisonment
Mary was confined for most of her life starting in Loch Leven castle (pictured) - where she did manage to escape - and later held captive by her cousin Queen Elizabeth for 19 long years in England until her eventual execution.
Not exactly the glamorous life that Mary would have had in mind while growing up in France.
7. Daring Escape!
On 2 May 1568, Mary, Queen of Scots, escaped from Loch Leven Castle with the help of young Willie Douglas, who orchestrated a May Day celebration, got the island’s inhabitants drunk, and secured all but one boat. Disguised, Mary walked out through the castle gates unnoticed and was rowed across the loch to safety. She was soon reunited with her supporters, finally free after nearly a year of captivity.
8. The Most Dramatic of Ends
Mary’s life was anything but ordinary, and her execution followed suit. Dressed in black, she maintained her signature elegance even in death, revealing crimson petticoats beneath—red being the colour of martyrs. The execution was gruesome, requiring multiple swings of the axe, and when the executioner lifted her severed head to declare, “God Save Queen Elizabeth,” he was left holding a red wig as Mary’s real head tumbled to the floor.
Early Life and Ascension
Mary's life began with tragedy and destiny intertwined. Born in Linlithgow Palace (pictured) in 1542, as the sole legitimate child of James V of Scotland, her father's death just six days after her birth thrust her into the role of monarch.
In her infancy, regents governed Scotland, first James Hamilton, Earl of Arran, and later her mother, Mary of Guise, who oversaw her upbringing amid a realm in flux.
French Alliances
In 1548, a significant turn in Mary's life occurred when she was betrothed to Francis, the Dauphin of France. This alliance led her to the safety of the French court, shielded from the turmoil of the "Rough Wooing," a period of conflict where Henry VIII invaded Scotland, determined to take Mary as a bride for his son.
Her marriage to Francis in 1558 saw her ascend as queen consort of France, only to be widowed in 1560 upon his untimely death. This event brought her back to Scotland, now a young widow with the formidable task of ruling her homeland.
Queen Mary
Upon her return, Mary faced a Scotland that had undergone significant religious transformation during her absence, with Protestantism gaining a strong foothold. Despite being a devout Catholic, she initially adopted a policy of religious tolerance, aiming to balance the interests of both Catholic and Protestant factions within her kingdom.
Her reign, however, was filled with personal and political struggle. In 1565, she married her cousin, Henry Stuart, Lord Darnley, a union that quickly deteriorated. The situation escalated when Darnley was murdered under mysterious circumstances in 1567, and Mary's subsequent marriage to James Hepburn, Earl of Bothwell, the chief suspect in Darnley's murder, led to widespread scandal and rebellion among the Scottish nobility.
Exile, Imprisonment, and Tragic End
As the great-granddaughter of King Henry VII, Mary, Queen of Scots, had a legitimate claim to the English throne, a right strongly advocated by her French father-in-law, King Henry II.
When Elizabeth I ascended the throne in 1558, following the death of her half-sister Mary Tudor, many Catholics viewed Elizabeth’s reign as illegitimate due to her mother, Anne Boleyn, being declared unlawfully married to Henry VIII. This belief made Mary, a devout Catholic, a natural figurehead for those who opposed Elizabeth’s rule.
So when seeking sanctuary across the border, it stirred both allegiance and apprehension. Despite her lineage and the hopes of English Catholics, Mary's claims to the English throne spurred fear in Elizabeth, resulting in Mary's imprisonment in various English strongholds.
During this time, English Catholic factions conspired to place Mary on the throne, with several plots centered on assassinating Elizabeth. One such scheme, the Babington Plot, directly implicated Mary through letters exchanged with conspirator Anthony Babington.
When Elizabeth’s spymaster uncovered this secret correspondence in 1586, Mary was put on trial for treason, found guilty, and sentenced to death. Despite hesitations, Elizabeth ultimately signed the execution order, and on February 8, 1587, Mary was beheaded at Fotheringhay Castle at the age of 44. Initially buried at Peterborough Cathedral, her remains were later moved to Westminster Abbey in 1612 by her son, King James I of England, securing her place among English royalty even in death.
Why did Elizabeth become queen and not Mary?
Elizabeth became Queen of England instead of Mary, Queen of Scots, because of the line of succession established by Henry VIII and the religious and political divisions of the time. Here’s why:
Henry VIII’s Act of Succession – Elizabeth was the daughter of Henry VIII and Anne Boleyn. Despite the controversy surrounding her legitimacy (since many Catholics did not recognise Henry’s marriage to Anne), Henry VIII had placed Elizabeth in the line of succession through the Third Succession Act of 1543, which restored both Elizabeth and her half-sister Mary (daughter of Catherine of Aragon) to the line of inheritance, after their brother Edward VI.
Mary’s Foreign Ties and Catholicism – Mary, Queen of Scots, was the great-granddaughter of Henry VII, which gave her a strong claim to the English throne. However, she was born in Scotland and had close ties to France through her marriage to the French Dauphin. Her staunch Catholic faith made her a threat in Protestant England, where many feared she would restore Catholic rule if she became queen.
3. Edward VI’s Death and Mary Tudor’s Rule – After Henry VIII’s death in 1547, his son Edward VI ruled first, followed by Mary I (Elizabeth’s half-sister), who restored Catholicism to England. When Mary I died in 1558, Elizabeth, as the next in line under the Succession Act, became queen.
4. Religious Divisions – England was deeply divided between Catholics and Protestants. Many Catholics saw Mary, Queen of Scots, as the rightful ruler because they considered Elizabeth illegitimate. However, Elizabeth was the legal heir according to English law and was supported by most of the English nobility and government.
5. Mary’s Claim Was a Threat to Elizabeth’s Reign – Because Mary was a Catholic with a strong claim, many English Catholics viewed her as the true queen and plotted to depose Elizabeth. This is why Elizabeth saw her as a danger and ultimately had her imprisoned for nearly two decades before ordering her execution in 1587.
In short, Elizabeth became queen because English law, set by Henry VIII, placed her in the direct line of succession. Mary's claim, though strong, was undermined by her Catholic faith, her foreign influence, and Elizabeth’s legal right to the throne.
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