An Accidental Tragedy (75 page)

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Authors: Roderick Graham

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Catherine de Medici, Queen of France and wife to Henri II. Heavily built and clad in the dark Italian fashion, she was a reluctant mother-in-law to Mary.
Portrait of Catherine de Medici (1519–89) (oil on panel)
,
Clouet
,
Francois (c.1510–72) (attr. to)/Musées de la Ville de Paris
,
Musée Carnavalet
,
Paris
,
France
,
Lauros/Giraudon/The Bridgeman Art Library

Diane de Poitiers, Duchesse de Valentinois and mistress of Henri II. She became a close friend and mentor to Mary.
Diane de Poitiers (1499–1566) mistress of Henri II
,
King of France (1519–59) by French School (16th century)
©
State Collection
,
France/ The Bridgeman Art Library

Francis II, Mary’s boy king. He never achieved puberty, and Mary cared for him as for a younger brother.
Portrait of Francis II (1544–60) as Dauphin of France at the age of Eight
,
1552 (pencil and sanguine on paper) by Clouet (16th century) (studio of)
,
Musée Condé, Chantilly France/The Bridgeman Art Library

The chateau of Chenonceau. Only the right-hand towers existed when this was Diane and Henri’s favourite chateau. On Henri’s death Catherine took the chateau for herself and added the long gallery over the river. ©
James L. Amos/CORBIS

The chateau of Amboise. The heads of the rebels were impaled on the railings outside the long windows for Mary and the court to see as they dined. Leonardo da Vinci is buried in the chapel behind the trees. ©
Kim Sayer/CORBIS

The death of Henri II. The doctors in the foreground have ceased treating the still-conscious king, but the priest has raised his hands in blessing. Beside the priest, Catherine is praying, while at the right of the group stands Mary with the Dauphin in front of her. A few moments later Mary became Queen of France.
The Death of Henri II (1519–59) 10 July 1559 (coloured engraving)
,
Perrissin
,
J
.
J
.
(c. 1536–c. 1611) & Tortorel
,
J
.
(fl.1568–92)/Private Collection, Archives Charmet/The Bridgeman Art Library

Mary in
Deuil Blanc
, the white mourning of France. She wore it so regularly that she became known as
la Reine Blanche –
the White Queen.
Portrait of Mary
,
Queen of Scots
,
1542–1587
,
reigned 1542–1567 (in white mourning) by an unknown artist after Francois Clouet
©
National Galleries of Scotland

Lord James Stewart, the illegitimate son of James V and half-brother to Mary. He was sent to France to ‘grope the young queen’s mind’ and became a leading member of her government. Mary created him first, Earl of Mar, then Earl of Moray. He led the revolt against Mary but was assassinated in 1570.
James Stewart
,
Earl of Moray
,
c.1531–1570
,
Regent of Scotland by Hugo Monro
©
National Galleries of Scotland

William Maitland of Lethington, nicknamed ‘Michael Wylie – Scotland’s Machiavelli’. He was the complete Renaissance courtier, always putting expediency first. He was a loyal servant of Mary’s and paid dearly for it.
Portrait of William Maitland of Lethington
,
c.1528–1573
,
Secretary to Mary
,
Queen of Scots by 11th Earl of Buchan
©
National Galleries of Scotland

John Knox, the spiritual leader of the Scottish Reformation and an implacable enemy of Mary’s way of life, both religious and social. Her wisest plan would have been to ignore him, instead of which she tried to debate with him. She lost the debates.

Henry Stuart, Lord Darnley and Mary’s second husband. He was a vicious, syphilitic bisexual who treated the Scottish nobility with arrogant disdain, and Mary with cruel neglect. He was assassinated in 1567.
Portrait of Henry Stewart, Lord Darnley
,
1545–1567
,
Consort of Mary, Queen of Scots by an unknown artist
©
National Galleries of Scotland

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