MARY STUART QUEEN OF SCOTS 1542-1587 - part 1

We are who we are because of DNA, inclination, environment, role models and education. Sure. But how all these elements could be set in place if not by the events that took place before us?
It is commonly said that a population that doesn't know his history is condemned to repeat his mistakes. Do we actually care about it or we don't bother and keep on going out with friends, drinking aperitives, following fashion, watching movies, if not Big Brother?
Since I moved to Australia I can assure you I noticed the difference of a lack of history and became even more attached to it.
I have recently read a book, the biography of Mary Stuart Queen of Scots, after my visit to Edimburgh last November 2010. I feel it is a compelling reading and would like to share it with you in several "episodes". Mary was a highly controversial character in European history (as we will see she will affect several countries' politics) and this is the most reliable report on her written by John Guy who consulted very old documents left forgotten for over 100 years. Here is the first episode.

Daughter of James V and Mary of Guise she was born in Linlithgow Castle 17 miles west of Edimburgh in one of the coldest of winters of recent years.

Mary was born at a turning point in history. Just 2 weeks before, James V's forces had been thrashed by the English at the battle of Solway Moss. To the Scots, England was the “auld enemy”. Relations between the 2 neighbours had smouldered since Edward I had claimed the feudal overlordship of Scotland and tried to annex the country in 1290s. The Scots sought French and papal support and fostered a hardy patriotism in defence of their country's independence. A score of English invasions after 1296 ushered in a period of hostility that lasted for 5 or more generations.

Border skermish was the norm, outright war was the exception, mainly due to the inequalities of the 2 countries: the main point is that England was more populated, so it was easier to raise taxation and levy troops. The politics of England was centralized with a very powerful king, whereas in Scotland the politics were tribal and the lords had a lot of power in conjunction with the king.

The wars within the British Isles resumed when Henry VIII acceded to the throne: he was very ambitious and aimed at conquering France, but first he realized he had to deal with Scotland, his “auld ally” because it was laying at his backdoor.

James V's battle defeat hit him as a deep psychological blow and due to possible several diseases he died at 30 and Mary was Queen at 6 days “old”. His death was to set in motion a complex chain of events in which political, religious, and factional manoeuvres relentlessy combined. England and France were competing to assert a hegemony over Scotland which became a pawn in the struggle between the 2 larger countries and their dynasties. The aim of every plot from then was either to secure Mary physically or to marry her into the English or French royal family: this because diplomatic alliances were sealed by marriage pacts in the sixteenth century.

Mary's mother, Mary of Guise, was politicaly astute. The Guise were a French family who had risen at the French court through shrewd marriages and military prowess; they were also highly infuential in the hierarchy of the Catholic Church.

David Beaton was a powerful cardinal who led the pro-French faction in Scotland and actually MADE UP the testament of James V by saying he would be the regent until Mary would turn 18 (a fucking genius). His competitor, Earl of Arran, was weak and coward but defeated Beaton by gainining the support of the lords and sought Henry VIII approval for setting up a liason between England and Scotland. Ralph Sadler was Henry's ambassador to negotiate a treaty. In order to avoid to be set aside, Mary of Guise started negotiations with Sadler and pretended to play along by promising, with the treaty of Greenwich, to let Mary Queen of Scots marrying the English Prince Edward when she would turn 10. But she never intented to do so because she was French and wanted to keep strong the link with France and protect her own family interests. She moved her daughter to the Castle of Stirling, a fortress on the top of a hill, and there Mary was crowned at the age of 9 months with the crown, sceptre and sword of State, the Royal Jewels still displayed in Edimburgh Castle nowadays and used then for the first time alltogether. Henry VIII was highly disappointed and learnt the lesson of trusting the Scots ever again.

Mary of Guise had to handle 3 lords: Arran, Lennox and Bothwell who all strove to the regency of Scotland and so marrying her. She kept them hoping but offered “nothing but fair words”.

Henry was angry and decided to invade Scotland but only had 3 weeks because he had agreed with Spain to invade France and didn't want to be busy on 2 sides at the same time. Scotland was devastated by these attacks, but at least Mary was kept safe. Cardinal Beaton was then assassinated but contrary to Henry's happiness and belief, his death moved Scotland even more towards a pro-french attitude.

Suddenly Henry VIII (belonging to the Tudor and Stuart family) and Francis I (King of France) both died at the beginning of 1547 after having ruled 2 powerful countries for over 30 years. England (with Edward VI, 9 years old) pursued the willingness to restore the treaty of Greenwich, while France (new King Henry II) was manipulated by the Guise family and declared itself protector of Scotland and promoting the master-plan of a Franco-British empire. England attacked again and Scotland was thrashed again. At this stage Mary, aged 5 years old, was to be sent by ship to France to be raised there.