Mary, Queen of Scots. Her name is etched in so much of Scotland’s brutal history. She is one of the most prominent figures from 16th-century Scottish history. But her saga is actually one of great sadness. Her life was full of so much turmoil and drama that modern TV has produced multiple series about it. One we absolutely recommend is the four-year-long series ‘Reign.’
Despite the drama, she managed to reign over Scotland for 25 years. And if you’re ever hiring a motorhome in Scotland and visit Linlithgow Palace,Blackness Castle, or Stirling Castle (three castles where she spent a lot of time), you’ll get a glimpse into part of her life through tales and historic artifacts.
Her life is one of the most fascinating and definitive for modern-day Scotland. Below, we’ll walk you through her 25 years of reign.
The Premature Beginning
Born at Linlithgow Palace, West Lothian, on the 8th of December 1542, the beginning of her life was filled with as much brutality as the end. She came into the world one week before her father, King James V of Scotland, died prematurely. It’s said that her father passed away from despair and disease after his army was defeated by the English at the Battle of Solway Moss in November 154. His only surviving child was Mary.
However, his early demise happened, at only six days old, Mary became Mary, Queen of Scots.
The years that followed were, as you can imagine if you know anything about Scottish history, one of fierce battles against the English. None, however, was started in the name of love (or perhaps pride and ego) as the ‘Rough Wooing.’ The initial arrangement for Mary was to marry Prince Edward, the son of King Henry VIII. The Scots refused, and King Henry, naturally, waged a war between Scotland and England.
Her Troubles in Love
Mary left for France for safety in 1548, where she became the bride of the French prince Dauphin as Scotland attempted to secure a Catholic alliance against the Protestant dominated England. But that didn’t go as planned. Dauphin died in his teens, and Mary, although reluctantly, had to return to Scotland. At the time, Scotland was a far cry from the peaceful, romance-filled life she had built in France.
But for Scotland, a country battling the Protestant/Catholic split, a Protestant husband for Mary seemed to offer, finally, a chance for peace. And carrying on her bad luck for love, she fell head over heels in love with Henry, Lord Darnley, who turned into a lazy drunk, leaving Mary to rule Scotland alone. He later died in an explosion at a house in Edinburgh.
Her final love affair was no better.
After her late husband died, she became entangled with James Hepburn, Earl of Bothwell. At the time, he was accused of murdering Darnley. He was quickly acquitted, and Mary and Bothwell married, much to the disgust of the Lords of Congregation.
They disapproved so much that they imprisoned Queen Mary of Scots at Leven Castle, where she later gave birth to stillborn twins. She was also forced to abdicate her throne (also because of the failing Scottish Civil War) in favor of her infant son, James VI.
Her Dramatic Escape and Subsequent End
Mary stayed imprisoned in Leven Castle for just over a year before making a dramatic escape on May 2, 1568. She managed to gather a small army, but was ultimately defeated at Langside by the Protestants. After that, she was left with no choice but to flee to England to ask for aid from her cousin, Queen Elizabeth I.
It turns out that Mary could not have made a worse decision. Queen Elizabeth I was a powerful Protestant; Mary was also a powerful Catholic rival. And England was a Protestant England. The issue was that Mary had a strong claim to the English throne, something Elizabeth didn’t like, so she kept Mary imprisoned for 19 years (although in beautiful English castles).
During that time, Queen Mary of Scots made multiple plots against Queen Elizabeth, writing messages in code, attempting to gather support, until Queen Elizabeth learned of the treason (particularly for her involvement in the Babington Plot) and ordered her execution on February 8, 1587, at Fotheringhay Castle, by beheading.
And that is the dramatic life of Queen Mary of Scots. Between her love life and imprisonment, she dealt with multiple political upsets and the fierce rivalry between Protestant England and Catholic Scotland. She will forever be Scotland’s youngest queen, and her life is one you can learn about across Scotland.