Mary Queen of Scots Assessment March 2024 Flashcards
Who were Mary’s parents?
James V, King of Scotland and Mary of Guise, a French noblewoman who was James’s second wife.
James died six days after his daughter’s birth, so Mary became queen aged six days.
What problems did the Stuarts face that echoed Mary’s problems?
They kept making trouble and feuding with the nobles, leading to a less powerful rule for them and the nobles also murdered James 1 and 3.
What family did Mary come from?
The Stuart royal family, preceded by 5 Jameses from 1406.
What power did the nobles have in 16th-century Scotland?
They owned land and had titles like Earl or Lord.
Ordinary people depended on them for work and land to grow crops.
They were in charge of law and order and judged and punished local criminals.
Influenced who got jobs in the church.
Why did the monarchs often feud with the nobles?
Because of money, the government and advice.
The nobles expected the top jobs in government and to be able to influence the monarch’s decisions by being members of the smaller Royal Council.
When was Mary set to France?
She was sent aged 5. Her mother, Mary of Guise was regent.
What happened to Mary’s first husband Francois?
He died of an ear infection in December 1560 aged 16.
When did Mary return to Scotland?
In 1561, after her husband’s death and a delegation from Scotland inviting her to return. She arrived at Leith on the 14th of August 1951.
What were some problems with Mary’s return to Scotland?
She wanted safe conduct from Elizabeth, however, it was denied as Elizabeth wanted to stay away from Scotland and give up her claim to the English throne.
Mary was a Catholic, and Scotland had just turned Protestant and had banned Catholicism.
Who helped Mary govern Scotland throughout her first few years?
Her half-brother, James Stewart. The Earl of Moray. She also used the nobles to conduct her government.
What did the Protestant church think Mary would do?
They thought she would try to make Scotland Catholic again after her return.
What religious laws did Mary put in place?
She allowed the Scots to remain Protestant and gave no encouragement to Catholics and banned Mass. However, she and her French servants could hear Mass in private. She also took firm action against those who insulted her religion to her face.
What did John Knox do?
He was a minister who offended Mary. He called her ungodly and wrote a book saying that a country ruled by a woman is against the Bible. He also thought Mary was waiting to make Scotland Catholic again.
Why did people think that Mary was the true Queen of England?
Henry the 8th divorced his first wife to marry Elizabeth’s mother, Anne Boleyn. However, the pope had never agreed to the divorce, so Catholics believed that Henry and Anne were not truly man and wife. Therefore they said that Elizabeth was illegitimate.
What did the king of France do?
Changed Mary’s coat of arms to include the England flag. Elizabeth got mad and demanded Mary withdraw her claim. When Mary refused, Elizabeth was worried Catholics would try to rebel against her to make Mary queen.
