Mary, Queen of Scots

Early Life

Mary, Queen of Scots, or Mary Stewart, was born at Linlithgow Palace, December the 8th,1542. Supposedly, Mary was born on the 7th of December to James V, King of Scotland, by his second wife, Mary of Guise. The birth of the princess coincide with the Feast of the Virgin. Six days later Mary of Guise died. Mary was crowned Queen of Scotland when she was six days old.

Middle Years

In 1548, Mary and her court sailed to France. She lived in France for the next twelve years. She was six years old when she sailed. France was a major influence on Mary and brought her some happiness and some success. Mary married the Dauphin of France, the son of Henry II, King of France. Mary was sixteen and the groom was fourteen. In a little over two years she was a widow. In 1564, Mary returned to Scotland. She was then eighteen years old. In 1565, Mary married Lord Darnley. They were married in the Chapel Royal at the Palace of Holyroodhouse, Edinburgh. Darnley also was in the line to succeed to the English throne. Darnley wanted power but was weak. Mary was the opposite, she was strong. The marriage was a failure. Early in the morning on February 10th, 1567, Darnley was murdered in a house at Kirk O' Fields, near the Edinburgh town walls.

Late Years

People thought Mary was behind the murder of Darnley. No one ever found out because Mary refused to discuss the subject. Mary married again for the third time to the Earl of Bethel on May 15, 1568. Mary was very generous and popular with her subjects. She had little private charities in which she delighted and by which she endeared herself to the common people. The nobility always suspected that Mary was involved in the death of Lord Darnley made threats on her life. In 1587, Mary fled to England for protection. Elizabeth imprisoned her instead and she was executed at Fothering Castle on February the 8th, 1587. She was executed because they found her guilty of the murder of Lord Darnley and because her cousin (Elizabeth) did not want her to take over England or out rule her cousin. Mary was at one point the Queen of Scotland and the Queen of France. Elizabeth did not want her to take over England, too.