Mary Queen Of Scots

ary was Queen of Scotland and reigned about 460 years ago. She was one of the most tragic queens in British history. Born in Linlithgow Palace in the year 1542, (7th or 8th of December)*, Mary wasthe third child (two young brothers had previously died) and the only daughter of James V of Scotland and his second wife Mary of Guise, a French noblewoman. Her father James V died six days after herbirth and with his death Mary became the infant queen. On 23 July 1543, she and her mother were moved to the safety of Stirling Castle where she was crowned Queen on the 9th of September. The youngqueen was then entrusted to the care and protection of Lords Erskine and Livingstone.
*Note: The 7th is the date recorded in the Register of Lothian (Chalmers, i 2)






A Promised Marriagewith Prince Edward of England
In an effort to create an alliance with Scotland, King Henry VIII proposed a marriage between his young son Edward and the infant Mary. When his efforts failed, helaunched a war on Scotland. This war was known as "The Rough Wooing." (1544-1551) After Henry VIII died in 1547, young Edward's uncle the Duke of Somerset continued on with the attempt to forcibly createan alliance between the two countries. This phase saw several invasions into Scotland. Shortly after the last invasion, the battle of Pinkie Cleugh, where the Scots suffered a bitter defeat, Mary'smother sent her for security to the priory of Inchmahome, situated on an island in the Lake of Menteith. She was eventually transferred to Dumbarton Castle the stronghold most accessible to France.First Marriage: the Dauphin
Ten years later she married Francis, son of Henry II, king of France, and his wife, Catherine de Medici. Unfortunately, this marriage did not last long as Francisdied after only 2 years of marriage. Mary was inconsolable!



Second Marriage: Henry Stuart, Lord Darnley
In 1565 Mary married her cousin Henry Stuart, Lord Darnley, an English nobleman. The...