Mary, Queen of Scots was the queen of both Scotland (r. 1542-1567) and briefly, France (r. 1559-1560). Obliged to flee Scotland, the queen was imprisoned for 19 years by Elizabeth I of England (r. 1558-1603) and finally executed for treason on 8 February 1587.
More about: Mary, Queen of ScotsDefinition
Timeline
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1542 - 1567Reign of Mary, Queen of Scots.
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8 Dec 1542Mary, Queen of Scots is born, daughter of James V of Scotland and Mary of Guise.
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9 Sep 1543Coronation of Mary, Queen of Scots in Stirling Castle.
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1558 - 1603Reign of Elizabeth I of England.
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24 Apr 1558Mary, Queen of Scots marries Prince Francis, the future King Francis II France.
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1559 - 1560Mary, Queen of Scots reigns as Queen Consort to Francis II of France.
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1560Mary, Queen of Scots returns to Scotland from France.
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Dec 1560Francis II of France, husband of Mary, Queen of Scots, dies.
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29 Jul 1565Mary, Queen of Scots marries her second husband, Henry Stewart, Lord Darnley.
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9 Mar 1566Mary’s private secretary, the Italian David Rizzio (aka Riccio) is murdered by a gang led by the queen's husband Lord Darnley.n
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19 Jun 1566James Stuart, son of Mary, Queen of Scots and future King James VI of Scotland and James I of England, is born in Edinburgh Castle.
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10 Feb 1567Lord Darnley, husband of Mary, Queen of Scots, is murdered in a plot led by the Earl of Bothwell and likely known to the queen.
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15 May 1567Mary, Queen of Scots marries her third husband, James Hepburn, Earl of Bothwell.
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Jul 1567Scottish rebels led by James Douglas, Earl of Morton, defeat an army of Mary, Queen of Scots.
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Jul 1567Mary, Queen of Scots is imprisoned in Loch Leven Castle.
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24 Jul 1567Mary, Queen of Scots is obliged to abdicate in favour of her son who becomes James VI of Scotland.
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24 Jul 1567James VI of Scotland becomes king following the abdication of his mother, Mary, Queen of Scots.
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May 1568Elizabeth I of England confines the exiled Mary, Queen of Scots.
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13 May 1568Mary, Queen of Scots makes one last attempt to regain her throne but is defeated by the regent, James Stewart, the Earl of Moray at the battle of Langside.
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14 May 1568Mary, Queen of Scots flees Scotland and seeks sanctuary in England.
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1569There is a rebellion in the north of England against Elizabeth I of England and stirred up by the earls of Northumberland and Westmorland.
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Feb 1570The Pope excommunicates Elizabeth I of England.
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1571The Duke of Norfolk plots with Spain to mount an invasion of England and crown Mary, Queen of Scots the queen of England (the Ridolfi plot).
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1584The Throckmorton Plot sees a Spanish ambassador work with Mary, Queen of Scots to try and replace Elizabeth I of England.
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1586The Babington Plot sees Mary, Queen of Scots embroiled in a plot with Anthony Babington to oust Elizabeth I of England.
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14 Oct 1586Mary, Queen of Scots is tried and, found guilty of plotting against Elizabeth I of England, is condemned to death.
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1 Feb 1587Elizabeth I of England signs the death warrant of Mary, Queen of Scots.
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8 Feb 1587Mary, Queen of Scots, guilty of plotting against Elizabeth I of England, is executed.
