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Elizabeth and Mary: Royal Cousins, Rival Queens
- telesilla 5y agoIncredible to learn in this article that these two rulers never met, likely for political reasons forced upon them, and yet had such a profound effect on each other's lives.
- gilleain 5y ago"Political reasons" being that one imprisoned the other! :) Or, more exactly - Mary was deposed and replaced with her one year old son (later James VI/James I) and imprisoned in Scotland. She then escaped, raised an army, lost, then fled to England. Mary then spent the rest of her life in prison in England and was finally executed on Elizabeth's (reluctant) orders because she was caught plotting to overthrow her cousin. Since Elizabeth was so cautious about handling Mary, it seems likely (this is only speculation) that meeting her would lend Mary legitimacy, perhaps. Also Elizabeth was - understandably - furious about her cousin trying to overthrow her ... All in all, Queen Mary had an interesting and unpleasant, sad life. It's interesting to think what might have been different if the two had been allies, not rivals.