Her biggest contribution during her life was the fight against oppression of Catholics, but Mary, Queen of Scots has been a popular figure in British culture for long after the debates were settled, and for more than just martyrdom for the Church. Her birth in Scotland came as the Protestant faith, augured by King Henry VIII of the much larger and powerful neighboring Britain, was making inroads into the Catholic country. She had to negotiate the treacherous politics of three countries, balance out competing faiths, and keep away contenders for the throne. All this rests on the shoulders of only child of the late King James V, who became Queen Regent just six days after her birth.

On this day, December 14, in 1542, Mary Stuart became Mary, Queen of Scots, who would go on to have a fuller life outside of her country than inside it.

Into the power vacuum caused by the the infant Mary’s accession, rival claims led to pitched battles. To assure Mary’s reign, she was promised to the dauphin of France in an alliance. A favorite at the French court, she also claimed the crown of England when her husband Francis became King of England. But Francis died soon after, and against the advice of many in her court, Mary returned to Scotland to try and broker a peace between the two sides. But it did not happen: the forces of jealousy and religious strife caught up to her.