Mary, Queen of Scots

Reign: 1542 – 1567
Life: 1542–1587

She was known as Mary Stuart or Mary I of Scotland. The only surviving legitimate child of King James V of Scotland, Mary was six days old when her father died, and she inherited the throne. During her childhood, Scotland was governed by regents, first by the heir to the throne, James Hamilton, Earl of Arran, and then by her mother, Mary of Guise. In 1548, she was betrothed to Francis, the Dauphin of France, and was sent to be brought up in France, where she would be safe from invading English forces during the Rough Wooing.

During Mary, Queen of Scots' reign, Suleiman the Magnificent ruled Ottoman Empire, Jiajing Emperor of Ming ruled China, and Akbar ruled Mughal Empire.

Want to learn more? Further reading

Mary, Queen of Scots by Antonia Fraser

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