Study Notes on Mary Queen of Scots and the Tudor Succession

Tudor Succession Overview

  • Henry VII and Elizabeth of York (1485-1509)

    • Foundation of the Tudor dynasty.

  • James IV of Scotland (1)

  • James V of Scotland = Margaret Tudor; married Archibald, 6th Earl of Angus.

  • Henry VIII (1509-1547) of England.

    • Married multiple times:

    • Catherine of Aragon

    • Anne Boleyn

    • Jane Seymour

  • Mary Tudor:

    • Married Louis XII of France = Mary = Charles Brandon, Duke of Suffolk.

    • Notable for the Tudor Rose symbolizing the union.

  • Children of Henry VIII:

    • Elizabeth I (b. 1533, 1558-1603)

    • Edward VI (b. 1537, 1547-1553)

    • Mary, Queen of Scots (b. 1542, d. 1587)

      • Married Henry Stuart, Lord Darnley (b. 1546, d. 1567).

      • James VI of Scotland = James I of England.

      • Connections through various marriages (e.g., Lady Jane Grey, Edward Seymour).

Governance - Mary Queen of Scots (Lesson 1)

Key Questions

  • Why did Mary refuse to renounce her claim to the English throne?

  • Why did she get involved in plots against Elizabeth?

  • Why was Mary executed in 1587?

  • Learning Objectives:

    • Explain at least 3 reasons why Mary’s behavior caused outrage in Scotland.

    • Explain at least 3 reasons why she gave up the Scottish throne in 1567.

Overview of Elizabethan Monarchy

  • Focus Areas:

    • Marriage and the succession

    • Parliament, Court, and the Privy Council

    • Elizabeth and Parliament

    • Factional politics and divisions.

Recap of the Situation in 1559

  • Restoring Protestantism sparked fears of a united Catholic Europe attacking England.

  • England's security depended on ongoing hostilities between France and Spain.

  • Potential marriage alliances to Spain or the Habsburgs were considered beneficial.

  • Auld Alliance: Historical Franco-Scottish alliance threatened England due to Mary's ties.

  • Rebellion by Scottish Protestants against Mary of Guise, resulting in troop support from England under the Treaty of Berwick.

  • Treaty of Edinburgh: England and France agreed to withdraw forces from Scotland after Mary of Guise's death.

  • Continuation of Protestant governance in Scotland, ending the Auld Alliance.

The Death of Francis II

  • 1560: Francis II died from an ear infection.

    • Implications:

    • Mary no longer commanded the authority of the French crown.

    • She was free to remarry.

Paired Activity on Marriage Options

  • Analyze potential marriage candidates using the Pickering book (pages 28).

  • Candidates:

    • Spain

    • Robert Dudley

    • Lord Darnley

  • Weigh pros and cons for each potential marriage option from Mary's perspective, assigning a score out of 10 and justifying it on a whiteboard.

  • Consider the impact of each choice on Elizabeth and the English court.

Reasons for Choosing Darnley

  • Darnley had:

    • A royal lineage which strengthened the Stuart claim to both thrones.

    • Similar religious views.

    • Attractiveness and youth.

Problems with Darnley

  • Consequences of Marrying Darnley:

    • Lack of support from the French crown; annoyed Elizabeth as she favored Robert Dudley.

    • Strengthened claims to the English throne, angering Scottish nobles (mostly Protestant).

    • Darnley's behavior led to Protestant rebellion by Earl of Moray in 1565, though it failed.

    • Darnley's characteristics: alcoholic, promiscuous, and unstable.

    • Contributed to Mary's eventual loss of the Scottish throne and her flight to England.

Progress Check Questions

  • Who governed Scotland while Mary was in France?

  • Identify Mary’s first and second husbands.

  • Provide two reasons for the unpopularity of Darnley in Scotland.

  • Describe Darnley’s murder circumstances and timeline.

Key Vocabulary

  • Courtship: Dating process for royals.

  • Abducted: Kidnapped.

  • Regicidal: The act of killing a monarch; applies to Mary.

  • Sanctity: Holiness.

Summary of Mary’s Historical Context

  • Timeline:

    • 1560: Death of Francis II and Mary of Guise. Scottish Reformation initiated.

    • 1561: Mary returns to Scotland as Queen.

    • 1565: Mary marries Darnley; Protestant rebellion led by Earl of Moray occurs (fails).

    • 1566: Murder of Rizzio and birth of son James.

    • 1567: Murder of Darnley, marriage to Bothwell; rebellion by Earl of Moray succeeds. Mary imprisoned, with infant James VI as puppet king; Mary eventually flees to England in 1568 following her miscarriage and loss at the Battle of Langside.

Activity for Privy Council Scenario

  • Imagine being part of Elizabeth I’s Privy Council in 1568.

  • Options for advising Elizabeth regarding Mary:

    • Restore Mary to the Scottish throne?

    • Surrender Mary to Scottish nobles?

    • Allow Mary freedom of movement and court attendance?

    • Allow Mary to travel abroad, possibly to France?

    • Place Mary under house arrest?

  • Debate these options among peers, providing rationale for your choice and considering counterarguments.

Source Analysis

  • Reference to Source A discusses the dual nature of Mary, both as an exile deserving protection and as a Catholic claimant posing a risk to Elizabeth's crown.

  • Mary functioned as a unifying figure for discontented religious and political factions within England, leading to conspiracies and rebellions.

Final Summary

  • Mary’s arrival in England in 1568 rendered her a threat due to her strong Catholic claims and her contentious marriages. Her imprisonment made her a focal point for Catholic uprisings, including the Northern Rebellion and Ridolfi plot.

  • Upcoming lessons will focus on further conspiracies involving Mary.

Revisit Learning Objectives

  • Confirm understanding of why Mary’s actions caused Scottish outrage and why she abdicated in 1567.

  • Engage in reflection activity on a whiteboard to articulate key points learned.