Person    | Female  Born 8/12/1542  Died 8/2/1587

Mary Queen of Scots

Categories: Royalty, Seriously Famous

Countries: Scotland

Mary’s first 20 years were an amazing roller-coaster of a life. She spent the last 20 years imprisoned and was then beheaded.
Born in Linlithgow Palace (north east of Edinburgh), only surviving child of James V King of Scotland, who died 6 days after her birth. Fourth in line to the English throne she was encouraged by all involved in her upbringing to believe that she could become Queen of England. Engaged very young to the Dauphin of France she had a Catholic upbringing in France, alongside her fiancé. Briefly Queen of France but on her husband’s death she was demoted to dowager Queen so she returned to Scotland, which was now Protestant. Here she ruled, while privately continuing as a Catholic. Her taste in men was not good. She married Darnley primarily so she could have her son James, who she hoped would become King of a united Scotland and England and, for a while, Elizabeth I did seem likely to formally name James as her successor. Darnley behaved badly at not being allowed to play the king of Scotland role that he wanted. This led to his murder, possibly instigated by Mary in league with Bothwell, who became her third husband. He also was disliked, to the extent that civil war threatened. Mary gave herself up into captivity in his stead. In prison she was forced to abdicate in favour of her 13-month-old son, James. She then managed to escape and threw herself on Elizabeth’s mercy. But Elizabeth just sent her back to prison and eventually had her beheaded at Fotheringhay Castle, Northamptonshire.

"Little Miss Muffet
Sat on a tuffet
Eating her curds and whey.
Along came a spider
That sat down beside her
And frightened Miss Muffet away."
This verse first appeared in print in Scotland in 1805. One of Mary's (Miss Muffet's) chief opponents in Scotland was John Knox (the spider), the Protestant reformer and founder of the Presbyterian church in Scotland. He would say things like "how abominable before God is the empire or rule of a wicked woman, yea, of a traiteresse and bastard", thus contributing to her feelings of rejection and her eventual flight to England.

The National Portrait Gallery have an interesting take on this royal personage: "... the first woman to regularly play golf. She learned the game at an early age and played during her childhood in France. As a member of the French royal family, military cadets would have carried her golf clubs." the word evolving into 'caddie'.

Comments are provided by Facebook, please ensure you are signed in here to see them

This section lists the memorials where the subject on this page is commemorated:
Mary Queen of Scots

Commemorated ati

Imperial Hotel - statue 07 - Mary Queen of Scots

The portrait of Mary Queen of Scots used on Antonia Fraser's book could have ...

Read More

Mary Queen of Scots House

{The fanlight to the right hand door, carries gilt lettering, framed by the g...

Read More

Mary Queen of Scots statue

{On the base of the statue in gothic script:] Mary Queen of Scots

Read More

Our Lady of Hal

{Next to an image of the Virgin Mary:} Shrine of Our Lady of Hal The catholic...

Read More

Stuart House - Mary arrives in Scotland by boat

Lookup London draws attention to the signature on the side of the boat. It is...

Read More

Show all 6

Other Subjects

Diamond Jubilee of Queen Elizabeth II

Diamond Jubilee of Queen Elizabeth II

Our picture shows Queen Elizabeth II in the River Thames Diamond Jubilee Pageant which took place in the cold and pouring rain on 3 June. Diamond represents 60 years.

Event, Royalty

19 memorials
Kennington Palace

Kennington Palace

Royal Palace. Records of the time indicate that Edward the Black Prince was building at Kennington from the early 1340s until about 1350. Between 1353 and 1363 further work took place and some of t...

Building, Property, Royalty

2 memorials
Moated manor house

Moated manor house

See the memorial for all the information.

Building, Property, Royalty

1 memorial
Queen Elizabeth II

Queen Elizabeth II

Born 17 Bruton Street, to the Duke and Duchess of York. For information on where she was brought up see Byron Statue. When she was 10 her father became King George VI (on the abdication of his brot...

Person, Royalty, Seriously Famous

124 memorials
King George I

King George I

Born Hanover. When the last of Queen Anne's 17 children died without issue (no one could accuse her of not trying) there were lots of Catholic potential claimants, but Britain wanted a Protestant h...

Person, Race Issues, Royalty, Seriously Famous

6 memorials