Stirling Castle. Mary spent the first six years of her life inside these carefully guarded walls as the centre of a Renaissance court while politics determined her future.
Mary, Queen of Scots aged nine years and six months. Already she is a bejewelled and tightly corseted French princess. Her Scottish childhood was becoming a distant memory. Portrait of Mary Stuart, Queen of Scotland (1542–87) at the age of nine, July 1552 (pencil & sanguine on paper), Clouet, (16th century) (studio of)/Musée Condé, Chantilly France, Giraudon/The Bridgeman Art Library
Henri II, King of France and father-in-law to Mary. He was enchanted by his little daughter-in-law and indulged her as a crowned queen. Portrait of Henri II (1519–59) (oil on panel) by Primaticcio, Francesco (1504–70) (attr. to) © Chateau d’Anet, Eure-et-Loir, France/The Bridgeman Art Library
Catherine de Medici, Queen of France and wife to Henri II. Heavily built and clad in the dark Italian fashion, she was a reluctant mother-in-law to Mary. Portrait of Catherine de Medici (1519–89) (oil on panel), Clouet, Francois (c.1510–72) (attr. to)/Musées de la Ville de Paris, Musée Carnavalet, Paris, France, Lauros/Giraudon/The Bridgeman Art Library
Diane de Poitiers, Duchesse de Valentinois and mistress of Henri II. She became a close friend and mentor to Mary. Diane de Poitiers (1499–1566) mistress of Henri II, King of France (1519–59) by French School (16th century) © State Collection, France/ The Bridgeman Art Library
Francis II, Mary’s boy king. He never achieved puberty, and Mary cared for him as for a younger brother. Portrait of Francis II (1544–60) as Dauphin of France at the age of Eight, 1552 (pencil and sanguine on paper) by Clouet (16th century) (studio of), Musée Condé, Chantilly France/The Bridgeman Art Library
The chateau of Chenonceau. Only the right-hand towers existed when this was Diane and Henri’s favourite chateau. On Henri’s death Catherine took the chateau for herself and added the long gallery over the river. © James L. Amos/CORBIS
The chateau of Amboise. The heads of the rebels were impaled on the railings outside the long windows for Mary and the court to see as they dined. Leonardo da Vinci is buried in the chapel behind the trees. © Kim Sayer/CORBIS
The death of Henri II. The doctors in the foreground have ceased treating the still-conscious king, but the priest has raised his hands in blessing. Beside the priest, Catherine is praying, while at the right of the group stands Mary with the Dauphin in front of her. A few moments later Mary became Queen of France. The Death of Henri II (1519–59) 10 July 1559 (coloured engraving), Perrissin, J. J. (c. 1536–c. 1611) & Tortorel, J. (fl.1568–92)/Private Collection, Archives Charmet/The Bridgeman Art Library
Mary in Deuil Blanc, the white mourning of France. She wore it so regularly that she became known as la Reine Blanche – the White Queen. Portrait of Mary, Queen of Scots, 1542–1587, reigned 1542–1567 (in white mourning) by an unknown artist after Francois Clouet © National Galleries of Scotland
Lord James Stewart, the illegitimate son of James V and half-brother to Mary. He was sent to France to ‘grope the young queen’s mind’ and became a leading member of her government. Mary created him first, Earl of Mar, then Earl of Moray. He led the revolt against Mary but was assassinated in 1570. James Stewart, Earl of Moray, c.1531–1570, Regent of Scotland by Hugo Monro © National Galleries of Scotland
William Maitland of Lethington, nicknamed ‘Michael Wylie – Scotland’s Machiavelli’. He was the complete Renaissance courtier, always putting expediency first. He was a loyal servant of Mary’s and paid dearly for it. Portrait of William Maitland of Lethington, c.1528–1573, Secretary to Mary, Queen of Scots by 11th Earl of Buchan © National Galleries of Scotland
John Knox, the spiritual leader of the Scottish Reformation and an implacable enemy of Mary’s way of life, both religious and social. Her wisest plan would have been to ignore him, instead of which she tried to debate with him. She lost the debates.
Henry Stuart, Lord Darnley and Mary’s second husband. He was a vicious, syphilitic bisexual who treated the Scottish nobility with arrogant disdain, and Mary with cruel neglect. He was assassinated in 1567. Portrait of Henry Stewart, Lord Darnley, 1545–1567, Consort of Mary, Queen of Scots by an unknown artist © National Galleries of Scotland
The north wing of the Palace of Holyroodhouse. Mary’s apartments were on the middle floor, and her supper-room was behind the left-hand window.
Edinburgh Castle. James VI was born in the room behind the tiny window high on the extreme left.
Elizabeth I of England, Mary’s cousin. Here she wears pearls and has a pomander at her girdle, but she was politically implacable and intellectually brilliant. Nicknamed the ‘Virgin Queen’ she was, in fact, devotedly married to England. Reproduced by permission of the National Portrait Gallery
James Hepburn, Earl of Bothwell, and Mary’s third husband. ‘A glorious rash and hazardous young man’, Bothwell was an aristocratic bandit. After Mary’s surrender at Carberry Hill he fled to Denmark, where he died insane after eleven years in grim solitary imprisonment. Portrait of James Hepburn, 4th Earl of Bothwell, c.1535–1578 by an unknown artist © National Galleries of Scotland
Craigmillar Castle, a few miles south of Edinburgh, where the Confederate Lords plotted the murder of Darnley, almost certainly with Mary’s knowledge.
Hermitage Castle, Bothwell’s implacable fortress in the Scottish borders. Legend has it that anyone not locally born will go mad if they attempt to spend the night within its walls.
The banner carried by the Confederate Lords at the battle of Carberry. It shows the murdered Darnley lying in a garden while a child holds a caption saying, ‘Judge and avenge my cause O Lord.’ Reproduced by permission of the National Archives, HM Stationery Office.
Lochleven Castle. The loch has risen since Mary’s time here. Apart from the circumstances of her imprisonment, it is an idyllic spot.
Mary’s last letter, written to her brother-in-law, Henri III of France. She set out the circumstances surrounding her fate and asked for care to be taken of her servants. Mary wrote the letter at 2 a.m., and she knew that she would be beheaded in eight hours. Her writing is firm and legible. © The Trustees of the National Library of Scotland
The replica of Mary’s Westminster tomb in the Museum of Scotland. The effigy has none of the royal pomp of other tombs but is devout and prayerful. Mary had asked to be buried in France beside her relatives, but instead of that, her son, James VI and I, had her buried in London beside Elizabeth Tudor. Reproduced by permission of the National Museums of Scotland
An Accidental Tragedy Page 54