584. Mary, Queen of Scots: Birth of a Legend (Part 1)

July 20, 2025

Description

Where was Mary Queen of Scots - Elizabeth I’s most famous rival - born, and who were her parents? What was the nature of the turbulent politically and religiously divided world she was born into?...
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Books Referenced

The Defeat of the Spanish Armada

Author: Garrett Mattingly

Context:

The opening passage about Mary Queen of Scots' execution was read from this book, which frames her execution as the first chapter leading to Philip II's launch of the Spanish Armada in 1588.

Mary Queen of Scots

Author: Jenny Wormald

Context:

Described as a 'brilliant, groundbreaking book' by the historian who condemned Mary as 'a monarch of little wit and no judgment, a woman who absolutely brought about her own downfall.'

Mary Queen of Scots

Author: John Guy

Context:

Tom Holland held up this 'titanic definitive biography of Mary' which came out about 20 years ago, noting it had been retitled for the 2018 film with Saoirse Ronan and Margot Robbie on the cover.