Everyone
knows the story of Mary Queen of Scots, but how many could cite details about her
mother, Marie de Guise?
Corneille de Lyon - Portrait of Marie de Guise - 2017.88 -
Indianapolis Museum of Art
James V of
Scotland followed the Royal Scots tradition of marrying French brides when he
persuaded Francis I to part with his sickly daughter Princess Madeleine. Unhappily
she did not thrive in the Scottish climate and died within weeks of her
arrival. Reluctant to part with a second daughter, Francis I offered James sound
financial inducements to accept the recently widowed Marie de Guise as his
second bride.
The de Guise
family had only recently been elevated to the dukedom, but on the plus side
Marie had proved her ability to produce sons. A cultured, intelligent woman
familiar with the French Court, she was well able to fulfil the role of Queen
of Scotland as intercessor, peacemaker, and mediator as well as ornament of the
court and a shining model of piety. How much she missed her eldest son, who
remained in France with his grandmother, is not recorded.
Her life in
Scotland began in 1538 when she was 23. By 1542 she had given James two sons
and by the middle of the year was expecting a third child. However, tragedy
struck when the Scottish princes died with days of each other. Both parents
were distraught. In November, Marie’s fifth child was born only days after the
disastrous battle at Solway Moss in which the Scots were roundly defeated by
the English. In Falkland Palace, James V reputedly turned his face to the wall in
despair. Aged 30, he died on the 14th December, leaving the nation in
sad disarray and his no doubt distraught wife alone with their new child at
Linlithgow. His only surviving legitimate child, Mary, became Queen on his
death.
Recovering
from childbirth while in mourning for her husband, Marie, as a foreigner in a
war-ravaged land, might have felt insecure enough to retreat, with her precious
child, behind the walls of the strongest castle in Scotland.
The times
were dangerous, and not everyone was helpful. The child’s closest relative, the
Earl of Arran, wanted her to marry his son. Henry Tudor wanted her to marry the
English Prince Edward and Francis I was determined that should not happen.
Marie de
Guise, as Dowager Queen of Scotland, refused to be elbowed aside; she gathered
loyal supporters of the crown around her and very soon the Great Seal had been
amended and documents were issued in Mary’s name. Mary Stewart’s coronation was
held on 9th September the following year.
Living in
Scotland for less than five years, Marie de Guise had an admirable grasp of
Scottish politics and managed to safeguard herself and her daughter. Slowly and
surely she built up French support and in 1547 she deemed it wise to send Mary
to France where she married the heir to the French throne
Standing
firm and alone, visiting her daughter only once, Marie de Guise continued to
rule as Regent in Scotland. Over time Scots feeling grew against the French;
they disliked being thought a subsidiary of France and deposed Marie in 1559; her
death in June 1560 was followed by the death of her son-in-law, Francis II of
France and by December, Mary was no longer Queen of France. Mary returned to
Scottish shores in August 1561.
