Scottish History - The House of Stewart
Mary, Queen of Scots part 1 of 3

• Robert II (1371-1390) & Robert III (1390-1406)
• James I (1406-1437)
• James II (1437-1460)
• James III (1460-1488)
• James IV (1488-1513)
• James V (1513-1542)
• Mary Queen of Scots (1542-1587)
• James VI (1567-1603)

Mary, Queen of Scots (1542 - 87) Part 1

• Mary Queen of Scots Part 1
• Mary Queen of Scots Part 2
• Mary Queen of Scots Part 3

There has always been a fascination about Mary Stuart, Queen of Scots. Her life has been romanticized in novels and in the movies. However, the story of Mary is a great tragedy in history.

Mary was a very high-spirited, impulsive, highly-sexed woman and a devout Catholic in the bargain. There were bound to be problems when she returned to Scotland during a period of austerity in religion.

Childhood of Mary Queen of Scots

Mary was a baby when she was crowned at Stirling Castle, the only legitimate child of James V who died immediately after her birth. Not only was she Queen of Scotland, but as the granddaughter of Margaret Tudor, she was in line for the throne of England after the children of Henry VIII. Mary was supposed to marry Henry VIII's son, Edward. How history would have been changed if that had happened. By proposing marriage with his son, his interference in Scottish politics could be taken as a benevolent interest. However, there were Catholics who were opposed to such a marriage and Henry overplayed his hand and made demands to which Mary of Guise, Mary's mother, who was acting as regent, could not acquiesce so they took the little Queen to Stirling Castle.

Henry then began his "rough wooing" of Mary by invading Scotland. He sent an army north and they burned Edinburgh and the abbeys in the Borders. These terrible brutal attacks gave Mary of Guise and Cardinal Beaton an opportunity to gain control. The effect of his actions was to alienate the hearts of many Scotsmen. "Scotland might have come to England as a bride, but as a bondswoman she would never come."

English aggression drove Scotland into the arms of the French.

Mary was sent to France at the age of five for her safety. Accompanying her were four Scottish noblewomen, the four Marys, and they were educated at the French Court with the little Queen. Mary was brought up at the French court as a Catholic and developed into a very accomplished and beautiful young woman, almost 6 feet tall, with beautiful red hair. At the age of 15 she was married to the dauphin, Francis, the son of Henri II of France, her childhood playmate. She was very fond of white and wore white for her wedding, although it was regarded as the color of mourning. Upon his death, she became Queen Consort of France.

A few months after she went to France, Henry VIII's daughter, Bloody Mary Tudor died childless and the English throne passed to Elizabeth, the Queen of Scots' cousin.

Because of her marriage to the Daphne, the Catholics believed that Mary Stuart had a better claim to the English throne and the King of France declared that his daughter-in-law was the rightful queen of England. Elizabeth was furious about the French's putting forth a claim for Mary as the rightful Queen of England. Elizabeth was very jealous of Mary's beauty and feared greatly for her throne. Roman Catholics had never recognized the marriage of Henry VIII to Anne Boleyn and so for many, Mary was more than the true heiress to the English Crown, she was the Queen of England.

Mary became the Queen of France when Henri died in 1559 and the Dauphin assumed the throne. Secret treaties were signed stating that if Mary should die without heirs, that the throne of Scotland would be conveyed to the French. The Guises were now in a very solid position of power. The following year her mother, Mary of Guise, died after having been the regent of Scotland for six years. The King of France died leaving Mary a widow at the age of 19. Upon her mother's death, she decided to assume her place as Queen of Scotland and returned there in 1561.

Mary's Return to Scotland

When she returned to Scotland Elizabeth declined to give her a safe conduct across the North Sea because Mary had refused to ratify the Treaty of Leith. She felt that it was worded in such a manner that she must abandon the claim to England forever. Was she to lay claim to the English throne or was she to abandon her immediate claim and gain recognition as the accepted successor of Elizabeth, if Elizabeth should die without heirs?

She decided to play a middle road for the time being. When she returned to Scotland, she refused to accept the invitation of the Earl of Huntly to land in the northeast and make herself a Catholic Queen with the aid of the Clan Gordon. In fact, she forbade her entourage and lieges to do anything against the form of religion which was "public and standing" upon her arrival. This was the first religious toleration in Great Britain.

Mary was given a grand welcome by the people when she landed in Leith port by Edinburgh. The people were charmed by her courtesy, beauty and winning mannerisms. However, by now, Scotland had been reformed by Knox into a Protestant nation and soon the people began to fear the very Catholic Mary, her friends and the Catholicism she brought from France with her. Mary soon ran afoul of Knox and his reformation.

Mary, Queen of Scots (1542 - 87) Part 1

• Mary Queen of Scots Part 1
• Mary Queen of Scots Part 2
• Mary Queen of Scots Part 3