The treaty of perpetual peace between England and Scotland was signed in 1502 by James IV of Scotland and Henry VII of England. It agreed to end warfare between the two countries, though wars continued during the next Century which ultimately lead to a union of the crown of England and Scotland a hundred years later.
At the age of thirteen, according to the treaty, Margaret Tudor, sister of Henry VIII married James IV, and in 1503 gave birth to a boy who became James V of Scotland. When James was around ten years of age his father died fighting saxons in the battle of Flodden, and Margaret became regent for their son. James’s family were interwoven with the french due to two diplomatic marriages, and a pro french party took place among the nobility urging that she should be replaced by the french born John Stewart, Duke of Albany who was next heir of the kingdom of Scotland. In 1549 she married Archibald Douglas, 6th earl of Angus and was replaced as regent by Albany.
In 1524 while visiting France, Albany was removed and his twelve year old son James became became king. Margaret was chief councillor. James’s reign from around 1514-43 began to witness the beginning of protestantism in Scotland. In 1528 the roman emperor Charles V suggested various marriages, but he married Madelaine Valois in 1536 who was in poor health. She died in 1537. A year later he married Mary of Guise. James died in 1542 following the battle of Solway Moss. His only surviving legitimate child, princess Mary succeded him.
Mary was six days old when her father died and Scotland became ruled by regents, one being her mother Mary of Guise. She governed as a catholic monarch and the prominent scot John Knox openly questioned whether her subjects had a duty to obey her. Mary married her half cousin Henry Stuart Lord Darnley in 1565, and in 1566 they had a son, James. In February 1567 Darnley’s residence was destroyed by an explosion and he was found murdered in his garden. James Hepburn 4th earl of Boswell was generally believed to have orchestrated the death. He and his men abducted Mary and took her to Dunbar castle. A month later he married her. His second and previous wife was divorced twelve days earlier. Boswell was created duke of Orkney and was acquited of the charge of nurder. Catholics considered the marriage to be unlawful as they did not recognise Boswell’s divorce. Everyone disapproved of a union with a man suspected of killing her husband. Mary who was known as Mary Stewart or queen of scots was forced to abdicate. After an unsuccesful attempt to regain the throne she fled southward to her couson once removed, Elizabeth I of England.
Mary was considered the legitimate sovereign of England by many english catholics including participants in a rebellion known as the rising of the north, an unsuccessful attempt by catholic nobles from England to replace Elizabeth with Mary. Mary was deposed in various castles and manors. In 1586, after 18.5 years in captivity she was found guilty of plotting to assassinate Elizabeth and beheaded at Fotheringhay castle, Northhamptonshire.
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