[MR] Wikipedia: Margaret Tudor, Queen Consort of the Scots

[Garth Groff and Sally Sanford]

Noble Friends, Especially Fellow Scots,

On this date in 1541, Margaret Tudor, dowager queen to James IV, King of
Scots, died of palsy at Methven Castle in Perthshire.

Margaret was the elder daughter of King Henry VII of England. She was
married to James IV of Scotland in 1503. The dynastic match-up bought a
fragile peace for many years. Cordial relations ended in 1513 when Scotland
attacked England in support of France during the War of the League of
Cambrai. James was killed in the disastrous Battle of Flodden on 9
September 1513.

Margaret was briefly regent for her son James V, but lost her position in
political squabbling and through marriage to her second husband Archibald
Douglas, 6th Earl of Angus. Despite exile in England for several years,
until her death she remained a power in Scotland for the pro-English
faction against pro-French party.

Margaret was a sister of Henry VIII, and they enjoyed a close relationship
as children. It was largely out of respect for his sister that Henry
pursued a more-or-less hands-off policy toward Scotland during her
lifetime, Flodden and some under-the-table dealings excepted. Once Margaret
died, the gloves came off. In an effort to force a marriage between his
infant son Edward VI and Mary Queen of Scots, Henry laid waste to Lowland
Scotland beginning in 1543. The raids continued after Henry's death until
1551 in what is called "the Rough Wooing".

Margaret was grandmother to Mary Queen of Scots, although she died before
Mary was born. By Archibald Douglas, Margaret was also mother of Margaret
Douglas, mother of Henry Stewart, Lord Darnley. Mary Queen of Scots was to
eventually wed Darnley, which should have been prevented by sanguinity.
Their child was James VI, King of Scots. Thus Margaret Tudor was
double-grandmother to James (later James I of England). Confused? Imaging
the fun of drawing that family tree!

You can read about Margaret Tudor at
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Margaret_Tudor .

Yours Aye,

Mungo Napier, Laird of Mallard Lodge  🦆