Mary Stuart

Mary Stuart reigned from 1542 as Queen of Scots during the Reformation until forced in 1567 to abdicate in favor of James, her son; afterwards she fled to England in 1568, Elizabeth I imprisoned her, supporters plotted to place her on the English throne and resulted in her trial and execution for sedition.

James VI, her son, reigned from 1567 over Scotland and from 1603 succeeded as James I, the heir of Elizabeth I of England.

Her execution in 1587 marked reign of Elizabeth I as queen of England and Ireland.

Of legitimate children of James V, only she survived. Six days after her birth, her father died on 14 December 1542, and nine months later, people crowned her.

In 1558, she married Francis, dauphin, who ascended the French in 1559. Mary lived not long of France; he husband died on 5 December 1560. After death, Mary as a widow returned and arrived in Leith on 19 August 1561. Four years later, she married Henry Stuart, lord Darnley and her first cousin. After a huge explosion in the house, their unhappy union ended in February 1567, when people found dead body of lord Darnley in the garden at Kirk O'Field.

People generally thought that James Hepburn, fourth earl of Bothwell, murdered lord Darnley, but she quickly married him. Following an uprising against the couple, castle of Loch Leven imprisoned Mary on 15 June 1567, and year-old son reigned from 24 July 1567. Mary expected to inherit kingdom of her first cousin, and, after an unsuccessful attempt to regain, sought her protection. Because Mary previously claimed her own and presented the threat, and many persons, including participants in the rising of the north, considered her as the legitimate sovereign, authorities ordered her arrest. After 19 years in a number of castles and manor houses, they tried her for treason for her involvement in three assassination attempts.