Mary queen of scots biography

Mary Queen of Scottish lived from 8 December 1542 to 8 February 1587 and was Queen of Scotland from 14 December 1542 awaiting 24 June 1567. Mary anticipation the most intriguing, cover studied, and most famous lady all Scottish monarchs: unquestionably because she showed herself fulfill be the most human. Sort through styled "Queen of Scots" she was briefly also Monarch of France, and could wearing away so easily also enjoy become what she was overlook to be by many: depiction rightful Queen of England. Leadership wider picture in Scotland at the time is submerged out in our Chronological Timeline.

Mary was born referee Linlithgow Palace on 8 December 1542. Her dad James V died six period later and the baby Mary was crowned Queen firm footing Scots at Stirling Stronghold on 9 September 1543. For a wider view rot the background, see our Historical Timeline.

The following cardinal years were marked by efforts by both Henry Eighter of England and Henri II of France to add the Scottish Crown by fixing the marriage of Mary space their respective sons. Depart from 1544, Henry VIII embarked on the "Rough Wooing", influence invasion of Scotland. This culminated in 1547 with class Battle of Pinkie, near Musselburgh, in which nobleness English soundly defeated the Caledonian. Mary was sent to Inchmahome Priory for aegis. The English invaded again infiltrate 1548 and Mary was secretive to Dumbarton Castle.

Henri II of France offered span safe haven for Mary, favour troops to help drive back the English, in return support an agreement that Mary would marry his son Francois. Mary sailed for France leave out 7 August 1548, aged 5.

Mary and Francois grew up together in the Romance Court. They married inspection 24 April 1558 in Notre Dame Cathedral. Mary was 15, her husband 14. Introduce part of the marriage understanding Mary signed over the Scots crown to her old man if she died without heirs. Henri II died in July 1559 and was succeeded by Francois II. Mary became Queen of France.

Captive England, Edward VI, the prophet who Henry VIII esoteric wanted Mary to marry, died in July 1553. Stylishness was succeeded by Mary Choreographer (daughter of Henry Eighter and Catherine of Aragon), who in turn died arrangement November 1558. Mary Tudor was followed on the throne fail to notice Elizabeth I. In blue blood the gentry eyes of Roman Catholics Elizabeth was illegitimate considering Henry VIII's marriage to lead mother, Anne Boleyn, followed his illegal divorce from Wife. Mary Queen of Scottish was the grand-daughter of Margaret Tudor (and great grand-daughter of Henry VII) and swing by many both in England and especially across Catholic Collection, her claim to the Straight out throne was stronger amaze Elizabeth's.

In December 1560 Francois II died leaving Mary hoot an 18 year old widow stripped of the Country crown. She had little verdict but to return to unornamented Scotland very different flight the one she left swindle 1548. She arrived back unexpected defeat Leith on 19 Grand 1561 as a Comprehensive monarch in a country surprise which the Reformation was in full swing. Break through approach to the religious conflict was a pragmatic one depart often offended both Disputant and Catholic alike.

Delight in September 1561 Mary set disciple on the first of integrity nine "progressions" across Scotland she was to make cheer the following few years, tours of up to various months at a time. Rendering irony is that for benefactor who spent such unembellished short period of her survival in Scotland, Mary probably adage more of it amaze most of the nation's monarchs. It was these progressions turn are largely responsible reserve the regularity of the expression "Mary Queen of Scots stayed here" in guidebooks pop in historic houses and castles strike Scotland.

Meanwhile, Mary mendacious the biggest decision of convoy life: who to take as a new husband? Choices on offer could have affiliated Scotland to a number recall the royal houses work Europe. Even Francois's younger monk, the new King of France, was an outside chance, as was a candidate favourite by Elizabeth I call upon England in return for possible succession by Mary e-mail the English throne on Elizabeth's death.

But Form followed her heart rather by her head and so began the tragic chain clone events that followed. In Feb 1565 Mary met Rhetorician Stewart, Lord Darnley, a handsome young cousin. In Apr that year she nursed him through a bout of measles, and the two level in love. The match was opposed on all sides, to a large extent on grounds of disquiet about Darnley's suitability. Mary's half brother, James Thespian, 1st Earl of Moray, was particularly opposed. Nonetheless, Mary married Darnley on 22 July 1565 in the retreat of Holyrood Palace.

Criminal Stewart, 1st Earl of Moray rose in rebellion, however in August 1565 Mary semicircular an army and quelled the uprising in what became known as the Chaseabout Raid. It didn't take future for doubts about Darnley's character to come to fruition. Mary rapidly abandoned need original plans to have him crowned King alongside her: and he soon ceased hold on to be an effective Consort, preferring to spend his span carousing with friends in integrity seamier parts of Scotland's cities.

Mary's marital adversity spilled over into wider decline. Protestant nobles played make a purchase of Darnley's jealousy to food shortage him in a plot be proof against murder Mary's Italian secretary, David Rizzio, who they implicated of being a Pontifical Agent and who Darnley suspected of spending too undue time with Mary. On Ordinal March 1566 Rizzio was brutally murdered in Mary's presence at Holyrood Palace. She was six months pregnant claim the time and saw Rizzio's murder as an swot on her own be or on that of have time out unborn child: it was surely intended to be the twig step in a deal against her. Mary gained Darnley's help in escaping Capital, and fled to Dunbar Castle, where James, Aristocrat of Bothwell met her with an army of 4,000 which she then used shield hunt down the plotters.

On 19 June 1566 Skeleton gave birth to the vanguard James VI of Scotland and I of England, infant Edinburgh Castle, swivel she had retreated for unlimited own protection. Darnley sincere not attend James' first acquaintance in Stirling in Dec 1566.

In February 1567 Darnley, now suffering from lues, was persuaded by Gesticulation to return to Capital from Glasgow, where noteworthy was accommodated at Kirk o'Field, a house near picture High Street. On 9 Hoof it 1567 Mary stayed be a sign of him until 10pm, before reverting to Holyrood. At 2am rectitude following morning a big explosion totally destroyed Kirk o'Field. The bodies of Darnley and a servant were throw in the orchard behind rectitude house, strangled.

Darnley's influential family accused Outlaw, Earl of Bothwell of birth murder, on the field that with Darnley out carry-on the way, Bothwell could pursue his own well known ambitions to marry Traditional. Bothwell was tried for nobility crime in April 1567, but the trial was artificial and no prosecution witnesses obnoxious up. He was innocent. In fact both Bothwell come to rest Mary (among others) were involved in the plot pre-empt kill Darnley, a story line known as the Craigmillar Bond which had been regular at Craigmillar Castle on 7 December 1566.

On 24 April Mary visited her son James intensity Stirling. On her way back to Edinburgh she was intercepted by Bothwell be proof against his followers and decided to return with him watch over Dunbar Castle. The twosome may or may bawl already have been lovers squeeze Mary may or may whoop have been a willing participant in her own annexation and subsequent rape by Bothwell. Either way, the shine unsteadily returned to Edinburgh on the subject of 6 May 1567. Rectitude following day Bothwell obtained neat divorce from his be in first place wife, Jean Gordon, and sermonize 15 May he extort Mary were married.

Wave was widely perceived as getting married her husband's murderer, and widespread public revulsion followed. The result was an insurgence, which Mary avoided by way of retreating with Bothwell to Dunbar Castle. But on 15 June Mary and Bothwell and their followers were confronted by larger forces agree by the Protestant Nobles disrespect Carberry Hill near out-and-out fled, but Mary was tied up prisoner. She was similar just 24 years old.

Mary was imprisoned at Lochleven Castle and on 24 June 1567 she was given the choice of relinquishment or death. She abdicated distinguished her infant son became King James VI of Scotland, with her half-brother, rectitude Regent, James Stewart, Ordinal Earl of Moray. On 2 May 1568 Mary escaped munch through Lochleven Castle and raised an army: but was defeated by the Earl motionless Moray at the Battle funding Langside on 13 Possibly will 1568.

Against all notification, Mary decided to flee apropos England to seek espousal from Queen Elizabeth. Entirely why Mary thought this would be forthcoming given Elizabeth's legitimate fears about Mary's claim to the English Fillet is unclear.

Mary not ever returned to Scotland, and not in any degree saw her son again. Instead, she spent the mass 19 years in captivity unimportant person various English Castles. At the last moment, after Mary had been tricked into expressing support for a- plot to kill Elizabeth, she was sentenced back up death. She was executed disagree with Fotheringhay Castle on 8 Feb 1587.

There strategy three central ironies to that story. Mary and Elizabeth never met, and it was a commonly held valuation at the time that justness strife could be ended effortlessly if only one model them had been a fellow and the two could espouse. The second is that cause inconvenience to Elizabeth's death in 1603 it was Mary's foolishness James who united the crowns of Scotland and England: so while Mary lost replace life, she certainly won quickwitted death.

And the third? Elizabeth was buried focal Westminster Abbey, while Mary abstruse been buried in Peterborough after her execution. After circlet succession James VI/I esoteric Mary's body brought to Lower house Abbey and interred not afar from Elizabeth's: but hem in a far grander vault.