[MR] Wikipedia: First Marriage for Mary Queen of Scots

[Garth Groff via Atlantia]

Noble Friends, Especially Fellow Scots

On this day in 1558, Mary Stuart (aka Mary, Queen of Scots), married the 
Dauphin of France, Francis. Under a secret agreement, she had signed 
away to her future husband her rights to the Scottish throne, and to the 
throne of England should she inherit, if Mary died without issue. 
Francis inherited the French crown in 1559, and Mary became queen 
consort of France. Sadly for Mary, Francis II died on 5 December 1560 of 
a brain inflamation brought on by an ear infection. Mary found herself 
unwelcome in France, and returned to Scotland nine months later. You can 
learn more about Mary Queen of Scots here: 
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mary,_Queen_of_Scots .

It is interesting to speculate how history might have changed had Mary 
died without issue, or had Francis not died so young. Her child by 
Francis would have ruled both countries. The French always had a 
foothold in Scotland, thanks to the "Auld Alliance". Control of Scotland 
would have given France a strong base to conquer England. The English 
had already discovered that they could not conquer and hold Scotland, 
and would have had their backs to the wall (so to speak). In the end, it 
was Francis' earache and an uneasy common cause as fellow Protestants 
that decided the fates of both Scotland and England.

Yours Aye,


Lord Mungo Napier, That Crazy Scot