1542 CE - 1567 CE: Reign of Mary, Queen of Scots.

1542 CE: Mary, Queen of Scots is born, daughter of James V of Scotland and Mary of Guise.

1543 CE: Coronation of Mary, Queen of Scots in Stirling Castle.

1558 CE - 1603 CE: Reign of Elizabeth I of England.

1558 CE: Mary, Queen of Scots marries Prince Francis, the future King Francis II France.

1559 CE - 1560 CE: Mary, Queen of Scots reigns as Queen Consort to Francis II of France.

1560 CE: Mary, Queen of Scots returns to Scotland from France.

1560 CE: Francis II of France, husband of Mary, Queen of Scots, dies.

1565 CE: Mary, Queen of Scots marries her second husband, Henry Stewart, Lord Darnley.

1566 CE: Mary’s private secretary, the Italian David Rizzio (aka Riccio) is murdered by a gang led by the queen's husband Lord Darnley.

1566 CE: James Stuart, son of Mary, Queen of Scots and future King James VI of Scotland and James I of England, is born in Edinburgh Castle.

1567 CE: Lord Darnley, husband of Mary, Queen of Scots, is murdered in a plot led by the Earl of Bothwell and likely known to the queen.

1567 CE: Mary, Queen of Scots marries her third husband, James Hepburn, Earl of Bothwell.

1567 CE: Scottish rebels led by James Douglas, Earl of Morton, defeat an army of Mary, Queen of Scots.

1567 CE: Mary, Queen of Scots is imprisoned in Loch Leven Castle.

1567 CE: Mary, Queen of Scots is obliged to abdicate in favour of her son who becomes James VI of Scotland.

1567 CE: James VI of Scotland becomes king following the abdication of his mother, Mary, Queen of Scots.

1568 CE: Elizabeth I of England confines the exiled Mary, Queen of Scots.

1568 CE: Mary, Queen of Scots makes one last attempt to regain her throne but is defeated by the regent, James Stewart, the Earl of Moray at the battle of Langside.

1568 CE: Mary, Queen of Scots flees Scotland and seeks sanctuary in England.

1569 CE: There is a rebellion in the north of England against Elizabeth I of England and stirred up by the earls of Northumberland and Westmorland.

1570 CE: The Pope excommunicates Elizabeth I of England.

1571 CE: The Duke of Norfolk plots with Spain to mount an invasion of England and crown Mary, Queen of Scots the queen of England (the Ridolfi plot).

1584 CE: The Throckmorton Plot sees a Spanish ambassador work with Mary, Queen of Scots to try and replace Elizabeth I of England.

1586 CE: The Babington Plot sees Mary, Queen of Scots embroiled in a plot with Anthony Babington to oust Elizabeth I of England.

1586 CE: Mary, Queen of Scots is tried and, found guilty of plotting against Elizabeth I of England, is condemned to death.

1587 CE: Elizabeth I of England signs the death warrant of Mary, Queen of Scots.

1587 CE: Mary, Queen of Scots, guilty of plotting against Elizabeth I of England, is executed.