Homework Help: Mary Queen of Scots
Mary Queen of Scots
Mary Queen of Scots was born nearly 500 years ago, when people didn’t have electric lights or motorcars or even clean water.
Mary became Queen of Scotland when she was a baby, but grew up in France with her mother (who was French). 
Etching of Queen Elizabeth
Some thought Mary should be Queen of England, but Elizabeth I, didn’t like that idea. In the end, she believed that Mary was trying to steal the throne from her and so had Mary put to death.
Britain’s Youngest Queen
Mary Queen of Scots was born on a stormy December night in 1542. Her father, King James V of Scotland, died just six days later, so Mary inherited the throne as a baby. She became Queen of Scotland before she could even walk or talk.
At only nine months old, Mary was crowned queen. However, because Mary was so young, her relatives took care of the country until she was old enough to rule.
Mary’s Young Life
Because Mary’s father died when she was still a baby, she was taken to France by her French mother and grew up in the palaces there. Mary was known for being a clever, quick-witted child who could speak many languages. She was said to be a caring girl who liked animals. 
In France, Mary went to nursery with her future husband, Francis, who would become King of France. Mary loved Francis very much and the pair were married when Mary was just fifteen. Sadly Francis died young, leaving Mary a widow at the age of seventeen.
Royal Rule
In the 1500s, when Mary was queen, people were ruled over by the royal family. Kings and queens had the power to decide important things, like how to spend the country’s money and whether to send troops to war.
Unless you were born into the royal family, you weren’t allowed to run the country. It didn’t matter how hard you worked or what you did – unless your parents were royalty, you had no chance of ruling.
Nowadays, things have changed. Although there can still be kings and queens in England, they don’t have the power to rule on their own. Instead a government rules.
Mary’s Death
Because kings and queens had so much power in the 1500s, people in the royal family often fought over who was the rightful king or queen. When Mary was Queen of Scotland, Elizabeth I was Queen of England. Some believed Elizabeth wasn’t the rightful English Queen and that Mary should take her place.
Elizabeth knew that if she was killed, Mary could become Queen of England. She became frightened that Mary would murder her for the throne.
This vintage illustration shows Queen Elizabeth I seated on her throne, with two noblemen standing to her right and the Knight of the Royal Garter standing to her left. Illustrated and painted by Albert Kretschmer (1825 - 1891) We don’t know for sure if Mary really did try to murder Elizabeth, but we do know that Elizabeth accused Mary of attempted murder and sentenced her to death.
Mary Queen of Scots was executed (or put to death) on the 8th of February, 1587, at Fotheringhay Castle, near London.
