Famous Scots. Mary Queen of Scots.

Henry the VIII of England and Henry the second of France acknowledged the rights of the Scottish throne and tried to get Mary to marry one of their sons when she was of age at that time it was believed to be 13 upwards a girl was able to marry.

Mary sailed to France from her retreat at Dumbarton Castle, England had invaded Scotland just for a change, the King of France at the time offered Mary a safe haven and also offered troops to oppose the English. The condition was that Mary married his son Francois in France.

Francois and Mary were married in 1558 at Notre Dame Cathedral Mary was 15 her husband was 14. Part of the contract was that Mary would sign the crown over to her husband if she dies without a successor.
Mary indeed became the Queen of France, her husband passed away at an early age leaving her a widow at 18! And because of no successors, she was stripped of her crown and without choice had to return to Scotland.

Mary arrived back to a very different Scotland she had left at the age of 5, the country was in the middle of reformation, Mary was Protestant and caused a bit of a stir amongst both religions on her return.
At this time Elizabeth, the first was Queen of England, she tried in vain to have Mary married off to various suitors however Mary had other plans to perhaps marry a European to again establish rights to the throne.

In 1566 Mary gave Birth to James IV after marrying Lord Darnley.
After the murder of her friend Rizzio in front of her, Mary knew her time was short, her husband had murdered her friend and had many women even during their short marriage.

A plot was taken against Darnley a bomb was set in his residence and although he escaped the explosion he was found strangled in the grounds.
After an uprising in Scotland, Mary managed to get away and was sheltered in Dunbar castle with her then-lover the Earl of Bothwell.

The execution of Mary Queen of Scots.

At 24 Mary was taken prisoner and held in Loch Leven castle she was given the choice to either abdicate or face death so her son James IV could reign in her place, but she managed to escape and raised an army, but she was defeated by the Earl of Moray.

Against all advice she decided to seek refuge in England with her cousin Elizabeth the first, even knowing how her cousin Elizabeth feared her for her rights to the English throne, Mary was imprisoned in various Castles for over 19 years. She never saw Scotland on her son again.

A plot was made up which meant that Mary had intentions of Plotting for the death of Elizabeth, this was manufactured by Elizabeth’s advisors.
Mary was beheaded in 1587 at Fotheringhay Castle.

FACTS ABOUT MARY AND ELIZABETH.

1. Despite many movies depicting otherwise Mary and Elizabeth NEVER met in person.
2. If either Mary or Elizabeth had been a man there would have been no issue regarding the crown as they could have married and settled all differences.
3. In 1603 when Elizabeth died “the virgin queen” Marys son James IV took over the English throne, and United the Scottish and English under one rule.
4. Elizabeth was buried in Westminster Abbey, Mary in Peterborough grounds, After his succession James had his Mother exhumed and placed in Westminster Abbey not far away from Elizabeth but in much better surroundings!
5. ps the new movie is fantastic.