Tragic women of History: Mary, Queen of Scots.
Mary Stuart was a woman who in spite of being at the peak of Royalty — a queen — almost never had the opportunity to make her own decisions.
Mary Queen of Scots (1542–1587) was nominated queen of Scotland shortly 6 days after she was born, due to her father’s — James V of Scotland — death. She was born Roman Catholic — and remained so until her death — in a time when Scotland was in the middle of the Protestant reformation and thus the Scottish court was concerned for her safety given that they were under threats and social pressure. They had to have Catholic alliances and soon found it in France, which was somewhat stable at the time. As usual, to seal the alliance, Mary’s hand was promised to the King of France’s son, Francis II (1544–1560). Mary soon moved to the French Court and was accompanied by the four “Marys” and her two half-siblings at the age of 5. Contemporary accounts describe Mary as being vivacious, joyful, pretty and clever, she had a promising childhood — a queen of Scotland, future queen of France with strong claims to the English throne — and Mary was extremely well educated, she could excel in Scots, French, Italian, Latin, Spanish and Greek, she could play virginals and lute as well.
At the time, there was only one person who seemed not to like Mary, and that would become a fierce ‘frenemy’, Catharine De’ Medici. Some modern Historians and depictions of the two in the media — e.g. Reign — showcase them as being two deranged ambitious plotters, which is not completely accepted and has controversies. Both of them had indeed inclinations to cause intrigue and plots but Catherine was much more ambitious and allegedly dangerous. In my view they were after all somewhat alike, two foreigners women in a sexist, dangerous and Noble environment doing their best to survive.
Although that might have troubled Mary in some ways, there was more to come, and worst. In November 1558 Elizabeth I ascended to the throne as the queen of England — as of today Elizabeth is considered the most powerful monarch in English History and one of the most influential women in History — and notwithstanding the fact that England was already a great deal Protestant there was still some strong Catholics and misogynist Protestant leaders who claimed that Elizabeth was a illegitimate product of a voyeuristic causality or even an incestual relationship and thus the lawful and rightful Monarch of England would be Mary, Queen of Scots. Mary, being direct descendant of Henry VII had indeed a strong claim to the English throne. That fueled the French King’s — Henry II — interest in trying to pursuit French dominance over England, or at least diminish the influence of England above them. Henry II did proclaimed Francis II and Mary I king and queen of England, and in France the coat of arms of England were add to those of Francis and Mary. That was a direct, triggering message to Elizabeth.
A few months later Henry II died and young Mary and Francis married, being coronated soon after as Mary, queen of Scotland and France and Francis, king of France and King consort of Scotland.
Mary didn’t do much to the French throne for she was a queen for less than two years, Francis died in December 1560 and his younger brother Charles IX ascended to the throne with Catherine De’ Medici as regent. Right after the grieving Mary decided to come back to Scotland, she realized she have lived in France for almost her entire life and thus she had little to no experience to handle the Scottish complex and dangerous political status. Besides, the fact that she lived abroad for such time made her to be seen almost as a foreigner. In addition, Mary was a devout Catholic, many of her subjects regarded her with suspicion. In Scotland Mary was a victim of intolerance, sexism, betrayal, and torment and it was there where she met her worst enemy, John Knox.
He was a strong Protestant leader and had influence, but unfortunately he was extremely sexist and preached against her, condemning her for hearing Mass, dancing, dressing “too French” and for being a woman for he thought woman had a lack of political and economic understanding. Devastated and alone, Many started looking for alliances and acceptance — and maybe another claim to the throne, therefore she soon married Lord Darnley, roughly 5 years after their marriage Mary gave birth to James — who soon would be the first one to have united the two kingdoms which culminated in modern-day United Kingdom — which did somewhat pleased the realm and brought financial stability and British influence over Europe.
Darnley was many things: dull-witted, abusive, ambitious, a true barbarian and the wanted the Crown Matrimonial — which in my opinion is sexist given that no Kings are requested to concede his absolute power whereas Queens are -, he fell ill short after his son’s baptism and soon after his marriage to Mary was already lost, time and again they had intrigues and problems but one day, soon after Mary left is place an explosion devastated Kirk o’ Field, and Lord Darnley was found dead apparently suffocated. There were no proof nor any type of visible marks of fight/violence. Before long the news spread and Mary, Bothwell and Moray — friend and half-brother of Mary whom she thought she could trust — were amongst the suspects, Elizabeth herself sent a letter to Mary in which she states:
“I should ill fulfil the office of a faithful cousin or affectionate friend if I did not … tell you what all the world is thinking. Men say that, instead of seizing the murderers, you are looking through your fingers while they escape; that you will not seek revenge on those who have done you so much pleasure, as though the deed would never have taken place had not the doers of it been assured of impunity. For myself, I beg you to believe that I would not harbour such a thought.”
Not long after, Bothwell — with Mary’s consent — was requested to attend to the Estates of Parliament to be tried but there was not much evidence apparently and was acquitted, instead, Mary herself was abducted and taken to Dunbar Castle — inside which she was possibly raped — sometime after she ended up, ironically, marrying Lord Bothwell and people thought it was suspicious to her marry someone who was the main suspect of murdering her ex-husband whom she “loved”. Bothwell and Mary were accused of plotting together but the lords decided to give free passage do Bothwell whilst Mary was taken to Edinburgh, where crowds of spectators denounced her as an adulteress and murderer, the following night, she was imprisoned. On July 24th, unwillingly abdicated in favour of her one-year-old son James and her brother Moray was made regent.
Luckily or not Mary managed to escape, gather an army of 6.000 and still fight, but she was many times defeated. She then fled to England seeking help from her cousin, Elizabeth I. Elizabeth ordered a commission to judge if Mary was or wasn’t indeed guilty os Darnley’s assassination. With Moray presenting the Casket Letters she was somewhat blamed. She was imprisoned — probably not because she was “guilty” but rather as means to prevent Mary to plot against her and regain power. Mary is actually thought to have plotted many times after all.
Mary was imprisoned for 19 long years — half of her life — and after being accused of many many plots, specially with with the Vatican they ordered her execution — without the knowledge of Queen Elizabeth I, although she did sign the death warrant. Mary seemed to have requested her son’s help, who was now of adult age and a King, but the details of their relationship is yet unknown, Mary spent her last hours in prayer and donating her belongings and was executed in the 8th February 1587, at Fotheringhay Castle. James did made her body to be exhumed in 1612. Mary was not killed with a single stroke but rather with many attempts, making her death painful. Mary is thought to have really loved Francis II and depictions of them in the media portrays them as being widely in love.
A woman.
Lord Darnley’s Murder — The Anne Boleyn Files
Mary, Queen of Scots: A Tragedy Revisited | History Cooperative
The Execution of Mary Queen of Scots — The Anne Boleyn Files
Read, Conyers (1909). The Bardon Papers: Documents relating to the imprisonment and trial of Mary, Queen of Scots. London: Camden Series.
Fraser, Antonia (1994) [1969]. Mary Queen of Scots. London: Weidenfeld and Nicolson. ISBN 978–0–297–17773–9.
Portraits of Mary, Queen of Scots at the National Portrait Gallery, London
