Mary, Queen of Scots was the queen of both Scotland (r. 1542-1567) and briefly, France (r. 1559-1560). Obliged to flee Scotland, the queen was imprisoned for 19 years by Elizabeth I of England (r. 1558-1603) and finally executed for treason on 8 February 1587.
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Definition
Timeline
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1542 - 1567Reign of Mary, Queen of Scots.
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8 Dec 1542Mary, Queen of Scots is born, daughter of James V of Scotland and Mary of Guise.
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9 Sep 1543Coronation of Mary, Queen of Scots in Stirling Castle.
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1558 - 1603Reign of Elizabeth I of England.
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24 Apr 1558Mary, Queen of Scots marries Prince Francis, the future King Francis II France.
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1559 - 1560Mary, Queen of Scots reigns as Queen Consort to Francis II of France.
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1560Mary, Queen of Scots returns to Scotland from France.
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Dec 1560Francis II of France, husband of Mary, Queen of Scots, dies.
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29 Jul 1565Mary, Queen of Scots marries her second husband, Henry Stewart, Lord Darnley.
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9 Mar 1566Mary’s private secretary, the Italian David Rizzio (aka Riccio) is murdered by a gang led by the queen's husband Lord Darnley.n
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19 Jun 1566James Stuart, son of Mary, Queen of Scots and future King James VI of Scotland and James I of England, is born in Edinburgh Castle.
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10 Feb 1567Lord Darnley, husband of Mary, Queen of Scots, is murdered in a plot led by the Earl of Bothwell and likely known to the queen.
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15 May 1567Mary, Queen of Scots marries her third husband, James Hepburn, Earl of Bothwell.
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Jul 1567Scottish rebels led by James Douglas, Earl of Morton, defeat an army of Mary, Queen of Scots.
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Jul 1567Mary, Queen of Scots is imprisoned in Loch Leven Castle.
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24 Jul 1567Mary, Queen of Scots is obliged to abdicate in favour of her son who becomes James VI of Scotland.
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24 Jul 1567James VI of Scotland becomes king following the abdication of his mother, Mary, Queen of Scots.
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May 1568Elizabeth I of England confines the exiled Mary, Queen of Scots.
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2 May 1568Mary, Queen of Scots, escapes from Lochleven Castle after being held prisoner for 11 months. Her famous escape involved disguising herself during a May Day celebration to slip out of the castle and then being rowed across the lake by her supporters.
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13 May 1568Mary, 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.
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13 May 1568The Battle of Langside ends in the defeat of the forces of Mary, Queen of Scots, by the "King's Men", ending Maty's attempts to regain power and driving her to England and imprisonment for 19 years until her execution.
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14 May 1568Mary, Queen of Scots flees Scotland and seeks sanctuary in England.
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1569There is a rebellion in the north of England against Elizabeth I of England and stirred up by the earls of Northumberland and Westmorland.
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Feb 1570The Pope excommunicates Elizabeth I of England.
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1571The 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).
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1584The Throckmorton Plot sees a Spanish ambassador work with Mary, Queen of Scots to try and replace Elizabeth I of England.
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1586The Babington Plot sees Mary, Queen of Scots embroiled in a plot with Anthony Babington to oust Elizabeth I of England.
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14 Oct 1586Mary, Queen of Scots is tried and, found guilty of plotting against Elizabeth I of England, is condemned to death.
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1 Feb 1587Elizabeth I of England signs the death warrant of Mary, Queen of Scots.
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1 Feb 1587Queen Elizabeth I of England signs the death warrant for Mary, Queen of Scots at Greenwich Palace. Although Elizabeth I hesitated in sending it, her council had it sent, and Mary was executed on 8 February.
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8 Feb 1587Mary, Queen of Scots, guilty of plotting against Elizabeth I of England, is executed.
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8 Feb 1587Mary, Queen of Scots is executed by beheading at Fotheringhay Castle, Northampshire, England after being found guilty of the charge of treason in plotting to kill her cousin, Queen Elizabeth I. After the execution, her clothing was burned to prevent people taking them as relics.
