A Brief History
On June 16, 1586, Mary, Queen of Scots, named her heir and successor, Phillip II of Spain. Since Mary was imprisoned at the time and not on any throne to give, this move was sure to irritate her jailer, Queen Elizabeth I of England. Plus, Phillip II was Catholic as was Mary, something the Protestant Elizabeth would certainly not tolerate.
Digging Deeper
Mary had become Queen at age 6 days upon the death of her father, King James V of Scotland. Raised in France while adults ran Scotland, she was married to the heir (Dauphin) to the French throne, who became King Francis II in 1559, thus making Mary Queen of France. At least until 1560 when Francis died, which removed her from the throne in France. She went back to Scotland to reign as Queen and married her cousin (Henry Stuart) in 1565. Only 2 years later her husband’s house was blown up and he was found murdered. James Hepburn was accused of the murder, but upon his acquittal Mary promptly married him.
As if her life was not convoluted enough by this time, an uprising deposed her and Hepburn and she was jailed. Forced to abdicate in favor of her 1 year old son, Mary managed to flee to England to seek help from her cousin, Queen Elizabeth I.
Fully aware that Mary had also made claims on the throne of England (fairly legitimate claims as it was), Elizabeth also had her locked away in a variety of castles, but not in a dungeon. Though a prisoner, she still was treated with respect. Over 18 ½ years of this Mary’s health deteriorated (including bouts of rheumatism and porphyria), all while English Catholics longed to put Mary on the throne of England and Mary plotted ways to make that happen. Finally caught planning the assassination of Elizabeth, Mary was tried and convicted, sentenced to death, and beheaded in 1587.
The beheading did not go well. The first blow from the executioner’s axe landed on the back of Mary’s head, and the second blow failed to cleanly sever her head. The executioner had to saw through the stubborn sinews with his axe, and when he grabbed her hair to hold her head up for the crowd to see, her hair came off! It became immediately apparent that Mary wore a wig and that her real hair was short and grey.
As if the above was all not spectacle enough, a small dog had been hiding in her skirts and refused to leave her body. The blood drenched dog was carried away. Prior to her execution her executioner asked her for her forgiveness, which she willingly gave. Her last words were a brief Latin prayer. She was only 44 years old.
The lives of European kings and queens could be ones of pampered luxury, but often were a constant struggle to stay in charge, fighting off intrigues from close family members as well as outsiders. One never knew when the peasants would revolt or trusted advisers would become assassins. How the people could possibly believe these crowned heads were somehow anointed by God as the rightful rulers of these countries in light of the incessant murders and blatantly evil activities is inexplicable.
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Historical Evidence
For more information, please see…
Waldherr, Kris. Doomed Queens: Royal Women Who Met Bad Ends, From Cleopatra to Princess Di. Three Rivers Press, 2008.
The featured image in this article, a portrait of Mary in captivity in 1578 by Nicholas Hilliard, is a faithful photographic reproduction of a two-dimensional, public domain work of art. The work of art itself is in the public domain for the following reason: This work is in the public domain in its country of origin and other countries and areas where the copyright term is the author’s life plus 100 years or fewer.
You can also watch a video version of this article on YouTube:
<span class="dsq-postid" data-dsqidentifier="2601 http://www.crackedhistory.com/?p=2601">76 Comments
It shocks me that a 6 year old was supposedly fit to rule back in 1586. It is ridiculous that she planned to kll her cousin Queen Elizabeth whom she went to for help.
I find it very odd about the dog being in her skirts. Why was that necessary?
“Don’t be foolin’ with the crown that I’ve got, I’m still Mary Queen of Scots.” SO catchy.
I find it intersting that leaders of nations would go right to the top and off the king or queen if they didn’t like what was happening. Pigs would fly before someone would march into any well established western county today and cut off the head of their leader.
Being a leader during this time period was very risky because if you didn’t do a good job, you would be penalized greatly! But people did this mainly to fix the issue that were involved
Even though Mary was the cousin of Elizabeth she still planned to take over the throne from her. Was this solely for the power or to also bring about catholicism? I could not imagine having my own cousin executed.
Modern monarchies are so different from past ones. A monarchy like Elizabeth I’s would be a hard sell in an increasingly independent modern world. However, I do not think that monarchies are useless or nonsensical either, it simply depends on the needs of that country to decide what form of government it needs. In this way monarchies can still be effective, but they are not necessarily ideal for every country.
This article was a good one and I really enjoyed reading it. In high school, I did a long research paper on Mary, so it was interesting to go and read this article and see some facts I did not know. I think that monarchies can still be used and effective today, they just would be a lot different than the ones we read about, such as this one
I can only imagine the pain that Mary experienced without beind killed the first blow. Since she let out a great gasp in the video, I wonder if that had something to do with her prayers and if it kind of came as a warning to all watching from God.
It could not have been easy for Elizabeth to find out that her own cousin was trying to kill her, let alone have her beheaded for doing so. That probably made for an awkward family reunion.
That is unbelievably horrible to think that first blow didn’t kill her. I could imagine being in the audience and seeing that
Surely, it is not good to be anyone subjected to violent death.
In case there was any confusion there.
It would be terrifying to see a blow not kill someone and it is interesting that people found out she wore a wig that way!
that always why you would tip the axe cutter money so his blade his sharp and you wouldnt have to feel him keep cutting you. i personally would have hated this if it happened to me and im surpised people didnt know she wore a wig until they cut her head off.
She should have tried to plea for a swordsman executioner like Anne Boleyn.
Such a horrible way to die, the real mystery here is did the first blow kill her? I think the way current Great Britain monarchy works because they really do not have any power.
As far as tradition goes I think a monarchy is fine, as long as they are not an absolute monarchy. Personally I am a firm believer in popular sovereignty.
I have never felt that there was anything wrong with monarchy, but when it turns into an absolute monarchy that’s where things usually get bad. With this article, I think it’s safe to say that this execution may be one of the worst public executions, at least one that’s documented.
I believe the monarchy is okay. But the problems start occurring when you get an absolute monarchy. The execution that she did was nasty. That is not a very good ax swinger if it took him two and a half tries to kill her. The picking up of the head and all the hair coming out is kind of sickening also.
This one is really confusing I would say she set up that murder. Why would she marry the man that had killed her husband?
I have no problem with monarchy’s as long as they’re not absolute. But the way that poor Mary was killed was such cruel and inhumane way but during this time it was normal, and people not dying in the first blow was common, that’s why they invented the Guillotine because it was quick and painless.
pretty rough that she had to die in such a miserable way, the guillotine would later be a better option because there was no pain
I believe monarchy is okay. Being killed by a guillotine would have been a much preferred option to die in my opinion.
Being put to death in these days really would be your worst nightmare, it is so cruel and I would fear to ever get in trouble, which seems like one could get in trouble for just about anything back then.
Absolute power corrupts absolutely accuratly describes the nature of monarchs in my opinion
That execution sounds made up every time I read about it. That should have been pretty eye opening about just how seriously messed up those people were.
She dies such a miserable way. So sad
What a horrible way to die. Words could probably never describe how painful that must have been.
It is unfortunate that she died in such an unpleasant and unsuccessful way.
Unpleasant way to die. Execution is an awful to be taken away from this earth
It is such a stark contrast from Queen to being executed and at such a young age.
Wow, not only was she to be beheaded, but of course it couldn’t be quick and straight threw. That’s horrible. There is a show on Netflix about Mary Queen of Scotts and I cant wait to see if they make her beheading historically accurate.
The cruelty of her beheading is gut wrenching. Being put to death back in those days was terrible, most of the time.
Just thinking about a beheading not working on the first swing is cringeworthy. To still be alive having survived a freaking axe to the neck must have been excruciatingly painful.
back in the day this seemed to be the quickest way out, which may very much be so. but for this to fail, must show how shocked they were. disgusting.
I cant decribe the what this would feel like
That kind of pain, being beheaded but having to have it done multiple times would just be terrible. That poor dog covered in her blood, probably scarred that dog for life.
Not only did the poor girl have botched beheading, but the executioner exposed she wore a wig and her real hair was short and grey!
That’s crazy to think that the axe didn’t kill her on the first swing. How did she manage to stay alive? The pain she must have been in would be excruciating.
I cringe at the idea of this every time I hear about it. To be struck once is one thing, but to not have them behead her successfully the first time is so unfortunate and awful.
Not only did they kill her but they beheaded her a terrible way to die. Especially that she wasn’t killed on the first blow and took 2 and then her head fell on the ground. They just killed her and are showing so much disrespect for a human life.
Couldn’t even imagine watching this happen in public…
Death seems to just follow this woman doesn’t it. And the man accused of murdering her husband she then tries to marry? What the heck.
She was locked in castles and not dungeons. Was she a Disney princess?
Mary was a Queen, one step above a princess…
I couldn’t imagine the pain she must have endured because of the failed first blow but it must have been painful to witness it as well.
i remember that , but didn’t quit get t the first try but forsake the job got done.
There is absolutely nothing more painful that i can think of, an ax going through your neck and not killing you. Then having to go through it all over again. I don not agree with this type of death sentence at all.
What I don’t understand is how can you plan an assassination attempt on a family member who kept you safe for 18 1/2 years? It’s crazy what power can do to people.
Should have never gotten rid of family because thats something you have forever
It’s terrible that she was planning on assassinating Elizabeth. But I would have rather locked her in a dungeon for the rest of her life than to kill a family member.
The thought of me ever being beheaded! Let alone 2 times because the first time didn’t work.
Imagine killing a family member. People were ruthless back then.
The executioner must’ve forgot to practice! I can only imagine being prepared for death and having the immense amount of pain from the first two swings before finally dying.
The show Reign is one of my favorites and it is all about this.
I would have been scarred for life back then watching that execution, that would have been horrible.
I could never watch a live execution! It would be too traumatizing.
I love the series ‘Reign’ and it is about Mary Queen of Scots.
I knew that mary was catholic and her mother catherine of aragon was too. The spanish were mostly catholic so to upset the english who were trying to get away from catholicism it makes sense for her to spite them by naming a catholic and spanish heir! Elizabeth didn’t like that i bet!
Ruthless is a good way to put it Phil.
The poor execution of the beheading is a sickening thought.
This is why i love history. Yes, what happened was bad, but this is still interesting. I like to be able to read and research this stuff. All of these events are major contributors to what has made the present day what it is.
beheading is a good way to kind of “end it quick” but a lot of the time it docent go all the way through which would be terrifying.
It’s always sad when someone has to die in a discouraging way, but you can’t argue that back then that’s what they thought people deserved.
it is interesting that Mary was queen of France for a little bit
It’s crazy to think Mary was jailed in her home country, then fled to her sister, Elizabeth in England for help, and was imprisoned there too. Yet, Mary decides to try to assassinate Elizabeth, even after Elizabeth treats her with respect and allows her to stay in castles, instead of a dungeon. I agree with Olivia E, Mary’s execution was brutal, but it was sort of deserved.
Wait, she really hid her dog inside of her?! What?! Please bring this up in class today and explain.
Dear Samantha,
Unfortunately, I read these at night so I did not see your post until after class, but anyway, there are a number of authors really interested in the whole dog thing. See http://thepoodleanddogblog.typepad.com/the_poodle_and_dog_blog/2016/04/the-dogs-of-mary-stuart.html for example.
Sincerely,
Dr. Zarzeczny
To marry the man who murdered your husband is a bit cruel don’t you think?
Beheading is such a gruesome way to die, especially when the first blow doesn’t go all the way through! and that poor dog 🙁
I feel like they should have someone else do the execution because that guy completely failed it. I also feel so bad for that dog.
I think that it is crazy that there was so much drama between all of the rulers in the past, some even being family. I think that the beheadings should have been as fast and swift as possible. Things should have been prepared better so it didn’t take more than one swing to behead someone.
Since globalization has evolved to what it is today, I think the only type of monarchy that is fit for the modern era is a constitutional monarchy.
Becoming a Queen at the age of 6 has to be pretty stressful on someone. She probably missed out on quite a lot of her childhood.
Talk about someone who had the worst of luck. I mean she lost several husbands, looked for sanctuary with a cousin, and was beheaded in one of the worst ways possible. Two swings and still her head needed sawed off. Truly disgusting.
this lady was all sorts of messed up.