Hazel
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Mary Queen of ScotsI have another history question, please. Before I ask, let me assure you that I do know how much faith can be put into historical fiction - depending on the author. I only want to know whether this fact is true.
I am reading a book with the story of the marriage of Mary Queen of Scots to the Dauphin. The author says that, before the marriage, Mary signed three secret bonds, arranged with her uncles of Guise, by which Scotland was to belong to France if she died childless. Scotland's crown would become that of the French. According to the author, the uncles had good reason to be certain there would be no children born to that marriage.
Does anyone know anything about this? Thank you.
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SAOR ALBA
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Her mother was Mary of Guise.
Her first husband was Francis II of France.
She then married Henry Stuart [Lord Darnley] and they had a son James [Later known as James VI of Scotland and I of England] Darnley was found strangled.
She then married the Earl of Bothwell who was blamed for being involved in Darnley's death.
I will search for the facts but from what i know so far i reckon she would have preferred the crown go to to France. She never knew her Scottish father, her English husband was overbearing and the fame went to his head and her Scottish subjects turned against her. The only country she could trust was France. In my opinion. I wil lpost any information i find for you.
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Hazel
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Thanks. If you find anything, we would appreciate knowing it. Neither I nor my friend ever heard that story.
You are right that she probably would have preferred France. She did try to escape back there when all was lost. Yes?
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Blackadder
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My Queen has a cousin called Mary ... she lives in France ... married to a dolphin I believe. I have no faith in mixed marriages and can only see this ... rather aquatic venture ... failing miserably ... especially if it's a French dolphin. Nothing will come of it! A marriage of convenience with no real porpoise ... so to speak!
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Wolf of Badenoch
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Scothist
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Has anyone been to the National Theatre of Scotland's production of Mary Stuart? I was at the opening night at The Citizen's and thought it worked in some bits but not in others. I'd be interested in anyone's comments.
I have been struck by the lack of coverage for what can be viewed as historic event; one of the new National Theatre's first big productions and a timely one on Mary Queen of Scots at that. On the first night at The Citizens, Scottish early evening TV current affairs programmes included one review - of Guys and Dolls at Glasgow's Kings Theatre!
But it's really comments on the play itself I'd appreciate
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agentmancuso
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| Scothist wrote: | Has anyone been to the National Theatre of Scotland's production of Mary Stuart? I was at the opening night at The Citizen's and thought it worked in some bits but not in others. I'd be interested in anyone's comments.
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I've thought about going to see it. Schiller interests me. Doubt I 'll get the time though.
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RFM
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Actually Hazel you could not have picked a more complicated time in the history of Scotland for your inquiry. The whole story of Mary Queen of Scots would do great credit to any soap opera you could possibly name. Take a look at Wikepedia for a fairly comprehensive explanation of all of the characters and all of the events. It is the best explanation and justification I have ever seen for elected government.
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Jimbo
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Re: Mary Queen of Scots | Hazel wrote: | I have another history question, please. Before I ask, let me assure you that I do know how much faith can be put into historical fiction - depending on the author. I only want to know whether this fact is true.
I am reading a book with the story of the marriage of Mary Queen of Scots to the Dauphin. The author says that, before the marriage, Mary signed three secret bonds, arranged with her uncles of Guise, by which Scotland was to belong to France if she died childless. Scotland's crown would become that of the French. According to the author, the uncles had good reason to be certain there would be no children born to that marriage.
Does anyone know anything about this? Thank you. |
Hi Hazel
There was an open treaty signed prior to the wedding that the French king and the dauphin and their successors, in the event of Mary's death (if she were childless) would support the rights of her nearest kin by blood to the Scottish throne. At the time of this treaty her nearest kin was the Duke of Hamilton.
At the same time a second treaty was signed that the Scots had no knowledge of and were not told of.
Mary signed 3 secret documents;
1. In the event of her dying childless, Scotland and her rights to the English crown were to become the property of France.
2. Scotland and all its revenue were to become the property of the French crown until Scotland repaid France all the money France had spent in the defence of Scotland. (A bit rich considering that for most of the 100 years war Scotland had a standing and often unpaid army of at least 10,000 fighting in France against the English. In fact after the battle of Bauge in 1421 where a Scots army under Buchan defeated the English, Pope Martin v was moved to state "Surely the Scots are an antidote to the English.")
However, I digress.
3. Mary renounced any agreement she had made of her estates.
This meant that in the event of her dying childless Scotland would become a French dominion.
As for them being sure Mary would die childless. The dauphin's testicles had not descended. Something that should have happened naturally by the time he was four years of age.
Fortunately for us she outlived the dauphin.
May I recommend Mary Queen of Scots by Antonia Fraser. I have read this book about four times and I do not think you will find a more comprehensive biography on Mary anywhere else.
I hope this of help to you.
Best wishes
Jim
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Hazel
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Thank you. I have read that and several other of Antonia Fraser's books. A very good writer she is.
Hazel
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RFM
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Very impressive Jimbo!
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