Mary, Queen of Scots: A Biography

Mary, Queen of Scots lends her name to quite possibly the most famous monarch in Scottish history. Born in December 1542 to James V and Mary de Guise, from whom she takes her name, six day old Mary was made a Queen upon her father's untimely death.

Mary's coronation was that of legends! With miniature regal robes and a jeweled satin gown to cover the infant who could barely sit up at the time, she was carried by Lord Livingston to the throne where he had to remain in order to keep the tiny baby from rolling off! Lord Livingston answered the Coronation Oath for her and it is said that when they removed her heavy robes for the holy anointing the chilly air made the baby cry. The entire ceremony of coronation was done over the infant, including handing her the scepter and placing the crown on her little head.

Mary was entered into an agreement for an arranged marriage to Henry VIII's son, the future Edward VI; however these plans came to a screeching halt when Henry tried to have the infant taken into the care of England rather then wait for the actual marriage to commence when the children came of age. Fearing her daughter would be kidnapped by England, Mary de Guise appealed to the French ambassador for assistance.

At the age of 5 Mary entered into a marriage agreement with Henri II of France's eldest son and was sent to France to be raised in the French court as the Dauphine of France. Henri II provided his future daughter-in-law with an education befitting a Princess of France, where she mastered several languages, excelled in the arts and learned to play two instruments.

On April 24, 1558 when Mary was 15 years old, she and Francis were married. On July 10, 1559 Henri II died, making 15 year old Francis the newly anointed King Francis II, and Mary the Queen Consort of France. Tragically Mary found herself to be a young widow when Francis died in December of 1960. Mary was eventually forced to leave the place she called home since she was a young child and return to her homeland of Scotland.