The Love Life of Mary Stuart Trivia Quiz

Answer: Prince Edward of England

Henry VIII saw an opportunity to create a union between England and Scotland, two warring countries. He proposed that Mary marry his son Edward at age 10, and come to live in England where he could keep an eye on her. The bill was signed, but Scottish Parliament rejected the proposal and renewed their alliance with France, infuriating Henry and leading to more English raids on the border areas.

Answer: 1548

As agreed in the Treaty of Haddington, Mary was set to become a French queen. She was sent to France to adjust to the culture of the French court and the country she would eventually be Queen of. Her party included her own court including two illegitimate half-brothers, and the "four Marys".

There are different things said about her age when she departed from Scotland. She either was 5 or 6 at the time.

Answer: 15

She harbored sisterly affection for her husband, as he viewed her as his best friend. Francis was frail and probably not developed by age 14, so their marriage was probably never consummated.

Answer: False

Mary was grief-stricken when her husband died. She became the Queen-consort of France, with no power. She wasn't very favored by Catherine, who was now the regent. She returned to Scotland when she was 19, but didn't know how bad the situation in Scotland was.

Her country was torn by religious strife, rebellions, and wars. She returned to Scotland in August in 1561, when she was 19 years old.

Answer: 1565

It seemed that she was very much in love with Henry. This marriage was definitely consummated. Many were skeptical of the match, but Mary had plausible reasons to brush them aside. She did slightly miscalculate.

Answer: Crown Matrimonial

Mary's marriage wasn't looking too good. It turned from affection to hatred. Henry wanted to be granted the Crown Matrimonial, making him the legal co-sovereign of Scotland with Queen Mary. It would also have granted Henry the right to keep the Scottish throne if he outlived her. If offered, he would be able to pass the Scottish crown to his descendants by a wife other than Mary. Poor Mary wasn't enough for him.

Answer: David Rizzio

*This is really interesting, so don't skip it. Please read it.*

A talented musician and singer, David Rizzio caught Mary's attention at court. Gaining Mary's deep trust, he became the Queen's secretary for relations with France. There were rumors circulating that Mary was having an affair with him, and he was the father of her child. Henry was jealous and organized a plot to murder him. Rizzio and Mary were dining in her apartments when rebels burst into the room. Mary refused their demands to hand Rizzio over and the 7 month pregnant Queen was threatened at gunpoint. She was forced to watch as Rizzio was stabbed 56 times. Henry soon realized his stupidity and helped Mary recover, but that was the last straw. She never forgave him.

Answer: Boy, James

James VI and I (he eventually became King of England as well, but I'll save him for another quiz), was born on June 19, 1566. He wasn't very gracious to his mother later on, but she loved him and did fear for his safety. The last time Mary saw him was when he was 10 months old.

Answer: Kirk o' Field

Henry was sick and was staying at Kirk o'Field while recovering. An explosion devastated at Kirk o'Field in the early hours of the morning. Henry was found smothered in a garden. It appeared that he had not died in the explosion, but had been murdered.

The Earl of Bothwell is suspected of the killing and Mary is suspected of having played a role in the murder, although this isn't certain. If she did help plan the murder, she had good reasons.

Answer: James Hepburn

This may have been planned by Mary as well, as an attempt to make the marriage look unwilling, but I believe that Mary truly was a victim. Bothwell had been considered a friend by Mary, but while she was traveling he took her to Dunbar Castle. There he probably forced himself upon her so that she, in shame of being claimed by him, had to consent to marry him. If she lay with him and didn't marry him as a royal and that was too much for her reputation. (Of course kings could have affairs, but it was a sexist world).

Answer: May 15, 1567

Earl of Bothwell, James Hepburn, was elevated to Duke of Orkney and had just divorced his wife Jean Gordon, so he could marry Mary. They were married as Protestants although Mary was Catholic. Mary thought that the marriage was popular, but soon the marriage became unpopular and Mary had no power. People were mad at her for marrying the accused murderer of her second husband.

Answer: Twins

Twenty-six lords raised an army against Mary and her husband and kidnapped Mary. She was imprisoned in Loch Leven Castle. She miscarried Bothwell's twins, but she received no medical support. On July 24, she was forced to abdicate in favour of her son (and his regents).

Answer: He was exiled, became insane, and died

He hoped for help from Fredrick II of Denmark, so sailed there to try to get Mary back on the throne. At first, Fredrick was respectful to him, but a complaint was raised by Bothwell's first (of three) wife, and when Fredrick realized that the English crown was searching for him, he imprisoned him in horrible conditions.

There he was driven into insanity and after 10 years in prison, he died.

Answer: Ear Infection

He had always been frail, and suffered a syncope in November of 1560. Physicians at the time thought that he died from diseases such as mastoiditis, meningitis, or otitis might have worsened to into an abscess. The royal surgeon, considered performing a trepanation to relieve pressure on his skull.

Some suspected Protestants of having poisoned Francis, but this has not been proven. He probably had an ear infection that might have led to the abscess in his brain. He died in December of 1560.

Answer: 2

She had a healthy son and miscarried twins in her lifetime. Her first child was fathered by her second husband, Henry Stuart. The second twins were probably a result of James Hepburn's force.