1542
Queen at six days old
Mary Stuart was born at Linlithgow Palace on December 8, 1542. Six days later her father, James V of Scotland, died, leaving her Queen of Scots as an infant.
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Mary Queen of Scots
Mary Queen of Scots, also known as Mary Stuart, was Queen of Scotland from 1542 to 1567 and queen consort of France from 1559 to 1560. A Catholic claimant to the English succession, she became the imprisoned rival of Elizabeth I, was implicated in plots against the English crown, and was executed at Fotheringhay Castle in 1587.
- Born
- 1542 CE
- Died
- 1587 CE
- Role
- Queen of Scots and queen consort of France
Queen of Scots and queen consort of France (1542-1587)
Quick facts
Profile details
Additional identity and tagging details that are not already covered in the introduction.
- Full name
- Mary Stuart, Queen of Scots
- Also known as
- Mary Stuart, Mary Stewart, Mary, Queen of Scots
Facts
Mary Queen of Scots timeline facts
Selected specifics from this profile's life story.
- 1542
- Queen at six days old
- 1559-1560
- Queen consort of France
- 1567-1568
- Abdication and flight
- 1586-1587
- Babington Plot and execution
Mary Stuart was born at Linlithgow Palace on December 8, 1542. Six days later her father, James V of Scotland, died, leaving her Queen of Scots as an infant.
When Francis II became king in 1559, Mary became queen consort of France. His death in December 1560 ended her French queenship and forced a return to Scotland.
Scottish nobles rebelled against Mary, imprisoned her at Lochleven, forced her abdication in favour of her infant son James VI, and defeated her attempted comeback at Langside.
In 1586, Walsingham's intelligence network intercepted letters linking Mary to the Babington Plot against Elizabeth. Mary was tried and executed at Fotheringhay Castle on February 8, 1587.
Life Journey
A crown inherited, lost and turned into legend
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1548-1558
Raised in France
Mary was sent to France as a child and raised at the Valois court, where she was educated as the future wife of Francis, the French dauphin.
1559-1560
Queen consort of France
When Francis II became king in 1559, Mary became queen consort of France. His death in December 1560 ended her French queenship and forced a return to Scotland.
1561-1565
Return to Scotland
Mary returned to Scotland in 1561 and tried to govern a kingdom whose nobles, reformers and factions did not easily submit to royal authority.
1565-1567
Darnley, Riccio and collapse
Mary married Lord Darnley in 1565, gave birth to James in 1566, and was drawn into factional violence after the murder of David Riccio and then Darnley himself.
1567-1568
Abdication and flight
Scottish nobles rebelled against Mary, imprisoned her at Lochleven, forced her abdication in favour of her infant son James VI, and defeated her attempted comeback at Langside.
1568-1587
Nineteen years in England
Mary spent nearly nineteen years in English captivity, moved between houses and castles while Catholic plots formed around her name.
1586-1587
Babington Plot and execution
In 1586, Walsingham's intelligence network intercepted letters linking Mary to the Babington Plot against Elizabeth. Mary was tried and executed at Fotheringhay Castle on February 8, 1587.
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Content note
This profile is written for educational use and connects to related Stories of History pages. Illustrations are original artistic interpretations.
