Mary Queen of Scots

Mary Queen of Scots is a most memorable Queen of the Scottish people. She led a tragic life, and died a horrible death that she is probably most remembered for to this day.

In the 14th century Mary's father James V died, as a result Mary inherited the rights to the throne. She was only 6 days old when her father died at the age of thirty. The Treaties of Greenwich decided that Mary would marry Edward, son of King Henry VIII of England, in 1952. Mary's mother took her into hiding at Stirling Castle as she was strongly against the marriage. Mary was only 9 months old when she was crowned Queen of Scotland at Sterling Castle, in 1543. Mary's unique coronation was known all over Europe at the time of her coronation. The Earl of Hertford proposed to kidnap Mary and capture the City of Edinburgh, in the year 1544. However the move was swayed as Mary had been hidden at secret chambers in Sterling Castle. The Scots suffered a strong defeat when the Battle of Pinkie Cleugh took place in 1547. Mary's mother feared for her daughters life, and thus sent her to France. The French and Scottish had formed an alliance at this time. French ambassador Monsieur D'Oysel proceeded to help the Scottish people.

The new French King, Henri II decided that the marriage between Mary and his newly born son would unite Scotland and France. Mary's mother could see no other way of ending her bad predicament at the time. The French Marriage Treaty was signed in 1548 at a nunnery near Haddington. Mary was 5 years old at the time, as a result of the marriage treaty she spent the next 13 years in France, guarded, and looked after by Henri II. The King died in 1559, at that time Mary became Queen Consort of France, in addition to her title Mary Queen of Scots.

IN 1551 Mary returned to Leith, in Scotland following the death of her husband. She was frowned upon by many of the Scottish people. Scotland was at a religious divide when she returned, and Mary was a devout Catholic. In 1565 Mary married Lord Darnley, Henry Stuart. Not long after the marriage Mary became pregnant. It wasn't long before her husband started treating her badly, he became very demanding, and he attacked Mary to try and make her miscarry their child. Mary had a good friendship with her private secretary David Riccio. Lord Darnley was very jealous of the friendship to the point where he killed the private secretary, and made Mary watch while he carried out the murder. Their marriage fell apart after this event. Mary gave birth to their son, James in 1566.

Lord Darnley became very ill, he was possibly suffering from syphilis. He died when an explosion happened in a house where he was living in the city of Edinburgh. James Hepburn, the 4th Earl of Bothwell was said to be responsible for the explosion. Mary was abducted by Hepburn and his men, and taken to Dunbar Castle. She was allegedly raped by the Earl, she got pregnant with twins, which she later miscarried when she was imprisoned. She was also forced to abdicate the Scottish throne in favor of her son in 1567.

Mary threatened to take over Queen Elizabeth's role on the English throne. Queen Elizabeth had Mary imprisoned as she knew she posed a major threat to her. Eighteen years of confinement in various English Castles was Mary's punishment for trying to take over the English throne. Mary was finally put on trial for treason due to allegations that she was involved in a plot to assassinate Queen Elizabeth. The trial proved her guilty of treason, and she was then beheaded. Her executioners begged her for forgiveness before executing her. She said she forgave them as they were ending all of her troubles.