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Mary Stewart was born December 7, 1542. Her father was James V, King of Scotland and her mother was Mary of Guise of France. Mary was the third child and only daughter of James V and Mary of Guise, since both of her twin brothers had died before she was born at Linlithgow Palace, Scotland. Seven days after Mary was born, James V, died and his infant daughter succeeded to the Scottish throne. Mary Stewart became Mary, Queen of Scots. In 1547 an English invasion led to the military occupation of the country.
By 1548, the Scottish were actively seeking French aid and betrothed their young queen to the French dauphin Francis, the son of Henry II, on the condition that Henry send an army to Scotland to drive the English out. French troops arrived in Scotland and the 5 year old queen left to spend the next 13 years in France. Mary soon learned to speak in French, which became the language of her choice for the rest of her life. Her education taught her to sing, play the flute and dance gracefully. She spoke and read in six different languages.
Mary also had to change the spelling of her last name to Stuart because at the time the French did not have a w in their alphabet. In April 1558 Mary married Francis at Notre Dame Cathedral. Within months, international events changed Mary Stuart's life dramatically. On November 17, 1558, the queen of England, Mary I (Tudor), died and was succeeded by her Protestant half-sister Elizabeth I. As granddaughter of Margaret Tudor, Mary Stuart was next heir according to the English throne and the eyes of Catholic Europe on the grounds that Elizabeth was illegitimate.
In July 1559, Mary and Francis assumed the royal titles of King and Queen of France since Henry II had died. Her happiness was short, after she learned the death of her mother in June 1560. Six months later, her husband King Francis II was also dead. Mary was devastated and extremely depressed. In spite of these personal tragedies, Mary chose to return to Scotland although it was a different country from the one she had left 13 years ago. In Mary's absence the Protestant party had gained power in Scotland by abolishing the authority of the pope and forbidding the celebration of the Mass.
On July 29, 1565, Mary married her second husband. Henry Stewart, Lord Darnley her first cousin and the grandson of Margaret Tudor, was next in line after Mary to the English succession. This marriage united the two nearest claimants to the English throne. After a year or so, Mary began to realize that Darnley, who was both morally and mentally worthless, was not fit to be king. Although she had given him title of king, Darnley had now demanded that the crown be secured to him for life. His main reason was if Mary died without children, the Scottish crown should descend to his heirs.
She refused to grant him the crown and turned to David Rizzio for comfort. David Rizzio first came as a musician to the royal court and he was quickly promoted to secretary for Mary's French affairs. Rumors were spread that he was not just a secretary but also the queen's lover. Darnley plotted to kill Rizzio. On March 9, 1566, Rizzio was brutally murdered in the queen's presence; she was also six months pregnant at the time. Darnley was extremely upset with Mary but she regained his love quickly and on June 19, 1566, Prince James VI was born.
Mary met James Hepburn, Earl of Bothwell, and she wanted to be his wife but Lord Darnley was in their way. On February 10, 1567, while Darnley was recovering from a recent illness at Kirk O'Field it was blown up by gunpowder. His body was found in a garden near the house where he had been smothered or strangled. Evidence, included the controversial Casket Letters, suggested that Mary had plotted with Bothwell. Some say these letters were forged.
In a trial, Bothwell was acquitted of the murder. Then, granted a quick divorce from his wife, he married Mary on May 15, 1567. The Scottish Parliament forced Mary to step down from the crown because of her alleged alliance in the Darnley killing. Mary's son James VI at 13 months was crowned King of Scotland. Mary had arrived in England as a refugee seeking aid with her cousin Elizabeth I. Instead the English Parliament chose to hold an investigation on the Darnley killing.
Mary stayed in captivity for the next 18 years in England. In 1586, Mary's fate was sealed with the discovery of a plot with her Catholic friends to escape, assassinate the Queen Elizabeth and take the English throne. Although she defended herself well, she was found guilty of treason and sentenced to death. Elizabeth I was hesitant to condemn the princess; finally she signed the death warrant. One week later, Mary, Queen of Scots, was beheaded at the age of 44.
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Research essay sample on Mary Queen Of Scots
