Mary of Scots Biography

Henry II declares Mary of Scots Queen over England & Ireland

Is born at Linlithgow Palace to James V and Mary of Guise.

Succeeds James V as Queen of Scots at six days old.

The agreement seeks a dynastic union between England and Scotland.

Is formally promised in marriage to Prince Edward under the Treaty of Greenwich.

The Earl of Arran concludes a Treaty betrothing Mary to Prince Edward

Is crowned Queen of Scots at Stirling Castle.

Receives the Scottish crown at about nine months old.

The Treaty of Greenwich is nullified by the Earl of Arran

Crowned in Stirling castle at the age of 9 months

Marie of Guise & the Scottish Parliament repudiate the Treaty of Greenwich

Betrothed to the heir of the French throne, the dauphin Francis

Betrothed to the heir of the French throne, the dauphin Francis

Leaves Scotland at the age of 6 to be brought up in France

Mary embarks for France in order to avoid interception by the Englsh

Marriage contract between Mary & Dauphin Francis

Mary sets sail for France

Philip II supports Elizabeth's succession to the English throne to stop Mary of Scots

In a letter dated 30 October 1557, Henry of France requested that the Scottish Parliament send commissioners to prepare for the wedding of Queen Mary to the Dauphin of France'gnine commissioners are appointed to negotiate the wedding Treaty

Mary marries Francis and later becomes Queen Consort of France

Mary Queen of Scots marries the French dauphin Francis

Mary remains in France after marrying the future Francis II

Mary of Scots becomes Queen Consort of France and links Scotland to Guise influence

Mary of Scots becomes queen consort of France after Francis II succeeds

Francis is crowned King of France

Signed by Lord James & Norfolk, England can intervene to help the "reformers"

The treaty sharply reduces French political and military influence in Scotland

Treaty requires Mary and Francis to cease bearing the arms of England

Treaty asks Mary and Francis to stop using English royal arms

Treaty terms are made in Mary's name but she later refuses ratification

Under the Treaty of Edinburgh Francis & Mary recognize Elizabeth I. English & French troops will withdraw from Scotland

The Scottish Parliament carries out the Scottish Reformation

The Scottish Parliament carries out the Scottish Reformation. Elizabeth I is made Protector

English troops besiege Leith, held by the queen regent, in aid of the "reformers"

The Scottish Parliament promulgates a Protestant confession of faith

The Scottish Parliament prohibits Mass, under pain of death for a 3rd offence

The Scottish Parliament prohibits Mass, under pain of death for a 3rd offence. The Scottish Parliament abolishes the Popes jurisdiction

Scottish Parliament approves a Protestant confession of faith in Mary's absence

Scottish Parliament prohibits the Mass under the Protestant settlement

Mary of Scots is widowed by the death of Francis II

Scottish estates invite Mary to return from France to Scotland

Elizabeth refuses safe conduct after Mary declines to ratify the Treaty of Edinburgh

Refused passage through England because she will not ratify the Treaty of Edinburgh

Mary leaves France to return to Scotland after widowhood

Mary arrives at Leith to begin personal rule in Scotland

Mary hears Catholic Mass at Holyrood and alarms Protestant reformers

Mary forms a council balancing Protestant nobles and royal authority

Mary makes her formal entry into Edinburgh after returning from France

The Papal Nuncio is asked to leave Scotland

Mary's government asks the papal envoy to leave Scotland

The Papal Nuncio is asked to leave Scotland

Lady Janet Hepburn, Bothwells sister, marries Queen Marys half-brother Lord John

Mary travels north to confront the power of the Earl of Huntly

Mary moves against Huntly's northern power base

Mary refuses to accept Dudley as a suitable husband

Queen Elizabeth proposes that Mary marry Robert Dudley but she refuses

Mary considers marriage diplomacy while Elizabeth promotes Robert Dudley

Meets Lord Darnley for the 1st time

Elizabeth I promises to make Mary her successor if she marries Earl Dudley

Marries Darnley in her private chapel. A dangerous marriage for Elizabeth I as Darnley is a grandson of Henry VII

Urges the Spanish King to send military aid. Requests 10,000 men & financial support from the Pope, he agrees

Asks Elizabeth to recognize her succession, she agrees

Raises a rebellion against Mary who pawns her jewels to fight her half brother. After Mary marries Darnley Morays rebellion is supported by Elizabeth

Puts down a revolt against her marriage due to Darnleys English descent

Receives news from Elizabeth she will only be her heir if she marries Leicester

Receives news from Elizabeth she will only be her heir if she marries Leicester

Learns France will not support her against Murray

Mary nearly dies

The Earl of Moray escapes to England after his unsuccessful rebellion

Marys son, James I, is baptized at Stirling Castle according to the Catholic rite

A Papal Nuncio is despatched with 150,000 crowns to help Mary combat heretics

After Rizzios assassination Mary persuades Darnley to escape with her from Holyrood

Offers a reward of œ2,000 for information about the assassination of Darnley

If authentic throughout, they provide proof of Marys complicity in the murder of her husband, Henry Stuart, Lord Darnley. Casket Letters is the name generally given to a group of eight letters and a sequence of irregular sonnets said to have been addressed by Mary, Queen of Scots, to the Earl of Bothwell, between January and April 1566 or 1567

Casket Letters is the name generally given to a group of eight letters and a sequence of irregular sonnets said to have been addressed by Mary, Queen of Scots, to the Earl of Bothwell, between January and April 1566 or 1567

Agrees to divorce Darnley subject to Parliamentary approval

Makes it clear that she will not divorce Darnley because it makes James illegitimate

Mary refuses the offer of marriage & joins her son, James, at Stirling Castle. 28 Lords & Prelates sign a document supporting Bothwells marriage to Mary

Mary refuses to receive the Papal Nuncio because of unrest

A Papal Nuncio is despatched with 150,000 crowns to help Mary combat heretics

Mary refuses to receive the Papal Nuncio because of unrest

Pardons Morton & increases the number of Darnleys enemies within Scotland

Writes a letter to Beaton expressing her contempt for Darnley

Sets off to Glasgow to collect a sick Darnley & take him to Edinburgh

Moves the sick Darnley from Glasgow to Kirk o Field

Victim of a plot for the "crown matrimonial" & helping Marys enemies. Darnley is assassinated at Kirk-o-Field

Rizzio is assassinated by Darnley & Ruthven in Marys presence. Darnley says it is because of an affair between Rizzio & Mary

Rizzio is assassinated by Darnley & Ruthven in Marys presence. Darnley says it is because of an affair between Rizzio & Mary

Darnley claims innocence for the murder of Riccio & smuggles Mary out of Holyrood

Returns to Edinburgh with 8,000 soldiers under Bothwell

The "casket letters" are used to involve Marys complicity with Bothwell

Given a catholic christening in the chapel royal of Stirling Castle. Elizabeth I is a godparent

Birth of James IV, the Mons Meg is fired in salute

Gives her half brother Moray a pardon after Darnleys assassination of David Rizzio

Makes a personal gift of œ10,000 to the Protestant Church

Mary escapes to Hamilton & rallies her supporters. A mob attacks Marr, the committee of public safety sends her to Loch Leven

Mary is taken to Edinburgh from Carberry Hill, a mob demands that she is burnt

Suspects include Mary & Bothwell. Darnley is found strangled, suspects include Mary & the Earl of Bothwell. Darnley is found strangled in suspicious circumstances

Mary is defeated by the Earl of Moray. Mary cannot escape to France & is forced to seek refuge in England

The majority of scholarly opinion is that the letters were forgeries concocted after the fact in order to lend some small justification for Marys imprisonment and trial, both of which were illegal under English Law

A mob attacks Marr, the committee of public safety sends her to Loch Leven

Mary is taken to Edinburgh from Carberry Hill, a mob demands that she is burnt

Seeks aid from Elizabeth I & France, Elizabeth agrees if France does not intervene

Raped by Bothwell in Dunbar Castle so she is forced to marry him

The "casket letters" are used against Mary but only their transcripts have been found

Mary & Bothwell are besieged by Protestant reformers but escape & raise an army

Moves Prince James from Glasgow to Stirling Castle

Moves James from Stirling to Holyrood amid rumours Lennox plans to make Darnley Regent

Escorted by Bothwell to Dunbar Castle believing there may be a rebellion in Edinburgh

Intercepted by Bothwell with 800 men on her return to Edinburgh

Authorizes Bothwells divorce from Lady Jean Gordon & a week later marries him

Marries the Earl of Bothwell at the Great Hall of Holyrood

Mary Queen of Scots arrives in England & spends the rest of her life under arrest

Marys supporters are defeated, she is imprisoned & forced to abdicate

The Lords of the Council try to arrest Bothwell but Mary surrenders & Bothwell escapes

Taken back to Edinburgh by the Lords of Congregation. Marys supporters are defeated, she is imprisoned & forced to abdicate. Marys half brother, James, Earl of Moray, becomes Regent for her infant son, James VI. Defeated without a fight

Mary is taken into the control of her opponents after Carberry Hill, weakening her position as queen.

Surrenders to the Earl of Moray at Carberry Hill

Mary is sent into captivity in Loch Leven Castle, while her Protestant half-brother, James Stewart, Earl of Moray is appointed Regent on behalf of his nephew

Imprisoned in Edinburgh, sent to Loch Leven then forced to abdicate in July

Marys son James VI is crowned in Holyood, Stirling

Imprisoned in Edinburgh, sent to Loch Leven then forced to abdicate in July

Abdicates in favor of her infant son James

Mary does not attend as she wishes to be heard directly by Elizabeth. Elizabeth summons 6 Earls to hear Murrays accusations against Queen Mary,

Mary arrives in England where she is imprisoned for the rest of her life. Elizabeth refuses to grant Mary an interview & so becomes the focus of Catholic plots

Mary escapes, heading west to the country of the Hamiltons, high among her remaining supporters, with the determination to restore her rights as queen. For the next 19 years Mary lives in strict confinement

Declares that her abdication, and her consent to the coronation of James, had been extorted from her under threat of death

Mary escapes, heading west to the country of the Hamiltons, high among her remaining supporters, with the determination to restore her rights as queen

With an escort of 50 horse led by Lord Claud Hamilton arrives in Lanarkshire, soon to be joined by a wide-cross section of the nobility, including the earls of Argyll, Cassillis, Rothes and Eglinton. Mary gathers together a force of 6,000 to regain her throne

Escapes from Loch Leven & joins the supporters of Hamilton & Argyll

Shortly after Marys escape she is defeated at Langside. Marys 6,000 army faces a smaller force under the Earl of Moray but is defeated. Mary flees to England where she is imprisoned by Elizabeth In the Tower of London. Mary escapes from prison, her supporters join her but are defeated by Moray

Mary flees to England where she is imprisoned by Elizabeth In the Tower of London. Crosses the border after the Battle of Langside. hoping to be protected by Elizabeth

Escapes to Dundrennan Abbey & in a written letter appeals to Elizabeth I for support

Crosses the Solway into England

Kept under close guard by Elizabeth I in Carlisle Castle

Norfolk plans to marry Mary, Elizabeth moves the trial to London

Says Bothwell was acqitted & her marriage to him was approved by the Scottish Lords. Mary refuses to acknowledge the authority of the court. Elizabeth's representitives try cases forwarded by Morays & Marys representitives

The Casket Letters indicate Mary raped by Bothwell & plotted Darnleys death

The Casket Letters indicate Mary had been raped by Bothwell & plotted to kill Darnley. The Casket Letters exposed, written from Mary to Bothwell, only copies are found

Marys trial moves to Westmnster. Mary is refused permission to present her own case

The trial of Mary Queen of Scots moves to Hampton Court. The trial is private as the Queen of Scotland cannot be tried by an English Court

Publication of "Defence of the Honour of Queen Mary", supports her English succession

Publication of "Defence of the Honour of Queen Mary", supports her English succession

Writes she would rather die than resign her crown

Moray returns to Scotland, Elizabeth says nothing has been proven

Moves to Tutbury Castle in Staffordshire

Moray is assassinated by James Hamilton of Bothwell by Mary Queen of Scots supporters

Bailly is arrested for carrying letters from Ridolfi to Leslie, Marys Ambassador

Bailly is arrested for carrying letters from Ridolfi to Leslie, Marys Ambassador

Marys envoy, Leslie, is arrested & makes damaging confessions

Marys supporter Norfolk is Arrested

Elizabeth I prevents the English Commons from passing a bill of attainder against Mary

England signs an alliance with France while Mary is in captivity. England is freed from French support of an invasion on behalf of Mary Queen of Scots

Norfolk is executed for his part in the Ridolfi plot

Shrewsbury, Delawarr & Sadler accuse Mary of involvement in the Ridolfi plot

The Huguenot massacre in France increases English suspicions of Mary

Marys stronghold of Edinburgh Castle falls to the English

Implicated in a plot by the Duke of Guise to invade England

Commences her imprisonment in Fotheringay Castle

Put on trial for correspondence with anthony Babington during the Babington plot

Sentenced to death by the court of star Chamber

Sentenced to death by the court of star Chamber

Death of Mary Queen of Scots, executed

Elizabeth I has Mary Queen of Scots executed after exposure of the Babbington plot

Moved from Peterborough to Henry VIIs chapel in a tomb built for her by James I