Mary Queen of Scots
Aptly named
the 'daughter of debate' by her cousin Elizabeth of England, the controversy remains as to
whether Mary Queen of Scots was a 'vile murderess' (as Elizabeth also described her) or a
romantic heroine of tragic circumstances.
Born in 1542, the child Queen was spirited away from her native Scotland to the
court of France. There she married the Dauphin Francis of Valois, and the young couple
succeeded to the French throne in 1559. Her happiness was short lived as Francis soon
died, and Mary returned to govern Scotland. The widowed Queen then married her cousin
Henry, Lord Darnley. A dissolute husband, he caused Mary great unhappiness, and was
subsequently murdered by jealous Scottish nobles. The Earl of Bothwell who was widely
believed to be responsible, incredulously became Mary's third husband in 1567.
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The scandal led to rebellion, and
Mary was forced to abdicate. She managed to flee to England where instead of the expected
aid from the Queen of England, Mary found herself confined for 19 years as Elizabeth's
'guest'. For years, the Scottish Queen was the focus of Catholic plots to unseat the 'usurper' Elizabeth. With the 'Babington Plot' Elizabeth's patience had worn thin, and Mary was finally put on trial. She was found guilty, and was executed at Fotheringhay Castle in 1587. Her son by Lord Darnley succeeded to the English throne as James I upon the death of Elizabeth in 1603. |
Pictured: Mary Stuart (Vanessa Redgrave) and Lord Darnley (Timothy
Dalton) from the film Mary Queen of Scots.
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