Mary queen of scots timeline

1542

born as daughter of James V of scotland

father died leaving country at war with scotland

1543

treat of greenwhich

planned marriage to edward vi - later collapses

1554-57

rough wooing

1548

taken to france to be educated at court by her mother

brought up as catholic

1558

marries francis ii of france

heir to french throne

1559

francis becomes king

1560

francis dies

mother dies

french war of religion between catholics and huguenots begins (french protestants)

1561

returns to scotland, assuming role of queen

treaty of greenwhich had weakened french influence in scotland - peace with england

supportive of protestantism

mary not allowed power or influence

1565

married lord darnley (first cousin)

speculation she intended to claim english throne as he was also great-grandson of hvii, strong dynastic claim

gave birth to james

rumoured he was the child of Rizzio, who darnley ordered to be executed

1567

darnley murdered in explosion where he was found strangled outside

mary marries bothwell

miscarried twins

marriage already ended

1568

fled to england wanting help

liz in difficult position - wants to act to show female monarch can’t just be deposed

but would mean attacking protestant allies in scotland

how was mary a threat

• marriage

  • francis ii, king of france

  • lord darnley has strong dynastic claim

• her own strong dynastic claim to the throne - daughter of james v of scotland, great-granddaughter of henry vii, so credible alternative for those who opposed mary’s rule

• centre of multiple conspiracies, aiming to replace liz with mary, foreign powers supported some of the plots - real threats

how was mary not a threat

• marriages all end - death

• treaty of edinburgh weakened french influence in scotland. supported protestanism, mary not allowed power or influence

• 1568 - imprisoned, kept under strict control, limited freedom, couldn’t communicate or act freely/directly, relied on others for action → all major threats depended on foreign intervention + english catholic nobles

  • she was a symbolic threat, danger came from others / idea of her, not her own capability