Today in History—December 14: The Tumultuous Tale of Mary, Queen of Scots
Few historical figures inspire such heated debate among historians as Mary Stuart, better known as Mary, Queen of Scots. Seen as a romantic innocent by supporters and a scheming adultress by detractors, Mary, with her flaming red hair and contentious political maneuvers, was nothing if not controversial.
On December 14, 1542, the 6-day-old Mary became queen of Scotland after the death of her father, King James V. Crowned formally at 9 months, the young queen was immediately embroiled in a conflict (aptly) called the Rough Wooing, in which King Henry VIII of England unsuccessfully attempted to force a union between her and his son. When Mary was 5, she was sent to France, while her cousin and mother ruled in her stead. Having grown tall and beautiful by age 15, she married the chronically ill Francis II, who was 14 at the time. Teenage Mary now had two countries under her belt—and that’s not to mention a family claim to the English throne as Henry VIII’s great-niece.
Sadly, Francis II died about two and a half years into their marriage, and Mary returned to her native Scotland. Surprisingly, many Scots welcomed Mary with open arms, even though she spoke French and worshiped in the Roman Catholic church in majority-Protestant Scotland. That didn’t last. She married Henry Stuart, Lord Darnley (her second cousin), whose sole saving grace was his dashing good looks. The decision, made without Scottish Parliamentary guidance, was controversial, as Darnley was Roman Catholic. Possessed with jealousy, he participated in the murder of Mary’s secretary, David Riccio, in 1566.
Elizabeth was hesitant to have Mary executed, worried that it would set a precedent for future royal executions.
This is where the details get hazy. Darnley fell sick in 1567, and, while recovering in the countryside, was murdered. Mary’s popularity after that waned rapidly. It didn’t help that she proceeded to (willingly or unwillingly) marry the primary suspect in Darnley’s murder. Scottish nobility forced Mary to surrender the crown in July 1567, and she fled to England, only to be taken prisoner by her cousin, Queen Elizabeth I. Nearly two decades later, Elizabeth had Mary executed for plotting against her, believing her reign would never be safe with her cousin alive.
- 4 “Marys”: Mary Stuart’s ladies-in-waiting, all named Mary
- 56 or 57: Number of times David Riccio was stabbed
- 18 years: Time Mary spent as Elizabeth I’s prisoner
- 1900: Max Planck puts forth the theory of quantum physics
- 1911: First explorer reaches the South Pole
