Mary of Guise

Mary of Guise was a French noblewoman who became the second wife of James V of Scotland and the mother of Mary, Queen of Scots. She was a prominent figure in the political and religious turmoil that marked mid-16th-century Scotland, ruling as queen regent on behalf of her daughter from 1554 until her death in 1560. She was born in 1515 in Lorraine, a duchy that was part of the Holy Roman Empire but had strong ties with France. She was the eldest daughter of Claude, Duke of Guise, and Antoinette de Bourbon, both members of powerful and influential families. She married Louis II d'Orléans, Duke of Longueville, in 1534 and had two sons with him. After his death in 1537, she was courted by Henry VIII of England and James V of Scotland, both widowed kings who sought a political alliance with France. She chose to marry James V in 1538, following the advice of King Francis I of France, who was her cousin and protector. She moved to Scotland and became queen consort, giving birth to three children: James and Robert, who died in infancy, and Mary, who became queen at six days old after her father's death in 1542. Mary of Guise faced many challenges as the mother and guardian of the young queen. She had to deal with the threat of English invasion, the rivalry among Scottish nobles, the rise of Protestantism, and the pressure to arrange a marriage for her daughter. She secured a betrothal between Mary and Francis, the Dauphin of France, in 1548 and sent her daughter to be raised at the French court. She then assumed the regency of Scotland in 1554, replacing James Hamilton, Earl of Arran, who had been ineffective and unpopular. She strengthened the Franco-Scottish alliance and tried to restore the authority of the crown and the Catholic Church. She faced opposition from some Protestant lords who rebelled against her rule and sought support from England. She also had to contend with John Knox, a fiery preacher who denounced her as an idolatrous Jezebel. She managed to suppress several uprisings and maintain her position until her health deteriorated in 1560. She died at Edinburgh Castle on June 11, 1560, from edema or dropsy. She was buried at Reims in France, where her daughter later joined her. Mary of Guise was a remarkable woman who showed courage, intelligence, and resilience in a turbulent time. She was devoted to her daughter and her adopted country, and tried to preserve their interests against formidable enemies. She was respected by many for her diplomatic skills and her generosity to the poor. She was also admired for her beauty and elegance, which earned her the nickname "the great Madam".