The tragic Mary Queen of Scots is often romanticized as a beautiful figure caught in the machinations of the men around her. However, this view undersells her true character. Beyond her gentle facade was a woman of iron will, determined to exercise her divine right to govern. Below are 10 insights into the life of Mary Queen of Scots.
1. Used in Politics Early On
When she was five, people planned for Mary to marry the son of Henry VIII of England to join Scotland and England. That didn’t happen. Instead, she got engaged to Francis, the future king of France, and married him. Sadly, he died when Mary was only eighteen, making her a widow.
2. Always Stuck to Her Beliefs
Mary was a strong Catholic, which was important because Scotland was mostly Protestant. She came back from France and married another Catholic, Henry, Lord Darnley.
3. Not Lucky in Love
Mary didn’t have much luck with love. Her first husband died young, and her marriage to Darnley was full of problems. Darnley even got involved in a plot that ended with someone Mary trusted being killed.
4. Became Queen When She Was Very Young
Mary became the Queen of Scotland just six days after she was born in 1542 because her dad, King James V, passed away.
5. Prisoner for Years
In England, her cousin Queen Elizabeth kept her under lock and key for almost 20 years because Elizabeth saw Mary as a threat to her throne.
6. Made Elizabeth Jealous
Mary was charming and talented, making Elizabeth, who was older, feel jealous of all the attention Mary got.
7. The Center of Plots
While Mary was in prison, she became the focus of plots to make her queen of England. But when she got caught agreeing to one of these plots, she was put on trial and found guilty.
8. Elizabeth Reluctant to Execute Her
Elizabeth didn’t want to sign the order to execute Mary because she was also a queen. But eventually, she did, and Mary was executed in 1587.
9. A Dramatic End
Mary’s execution was shocking. She wore red underneath her black dress, a color of martyrdom. The execution was messy, and her little dog came out from under her dress, adding to the sad scene. They burned all her stuff afterward to prevent people from keeping them.
10. Early Education in France
Mary didn’t stay in Scotland as a child. Instead, she went to France when she was very young and grew up there. This was to make sure she married Francis, the future king of France. Mary learned a lot in France, including how to speak French perfectly and about French culture, which made her quite different from other Scottish royals.
11. Skilled and Talented
Mary was not just about politics and marriage. She was really good at things like poetry and needlework. Mary loved music and played the lute, a popular instrument back then. She was also known to be good at sports like hunting and hawking, which were big deals for royals of her time.
12. Escape from Loch Leven Castle
After Mary was forced to give up her throne, she didn’t just sit quietly. She was locked up in Loch Leven Castle but managed to escape. This showed how brave and determined she was. However, even after escaping, her troubles didn’t end, and she eventually had to flee to England.
13. Marriages Were Political
All of Mary’s marriages were about politics. Her marriage to Francis of France was to strengthen Scotland’s alliance with France. Her marriage to Darnley was supposed to unite powerful Scottish families and reinforce her Catholic reign. And her last marriage to Bothwell was seen by many as a desperate move for protection and power after Darnley’s death.
14. Claim to the English Throne
Mary’s grandmother was Henry VIII’s sister, making Mary a legitimate heir to the English throne in the eyes of many Catholics. This claim made her a significant threat to Queen Elizabeth I and a central figure in the power struggles between Catholic and Protestant factions in England.
15. A Poetic Soul
Even during her imprisonment, Mary’s spirit remained unbroken. She wrote letters and poetry, expressing her feelings and thoughts about her situation. These writings give us a glimpse into her state of mind during those difficult years and show her resilience and intelligence.
16. Death and Legacy
Mary’s execution was a turning point in English history. It raised questions about the legitimacy of executing a queen and the rights of monarchs. After her death, her son James VI of Scotland became James I of England, uniting the two crowns and bringing a peaceful resolution to the conflict between the two nations, something Mary had hoped to achieve in her lifetime.
17. Up Her Throne
Mary’s marriage to Darnley was unpopular, and marrying James Hepburn, Earl of Bothwell, after Darnley’s suspicious death made things worse. People didn’t like it, and Mary had to give up her crown to her son, James. Then, she ran away to England.
