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The Challenge to the Crown - Volume I: The Struggle for Influence in the Reign of Mary Queen of Scots 1542-1567
Mary Queen of Scots: Catholic martyr or manipulative femme fatale?
On 10 February 1567, conspirators bent on killing Henry, Lord Darnley, King-Consort of Mary Queen of Scots successfully razed his Edinburgh residence at Kirk o' Field in a huge explosion. Soon afterwards, Darnley's partially-clothed body was discovered in a nearby orchard, strangled to death by an unknown assailant.
Rumours of Mary's involvement in his murder quickly surfaced. Placards across Edinburgh implied that she had provoked the Earl of Bothwell into killing her husband in a crime of passion. This became more plausible when she tried to avoid having to prosecute him for the murder, and subsequently married him, encouraged by her most senior Protestant nobles.
While Mary's motives for the marriage might be explained by her need for his protection, those of the Nobility who had encourage it are confusing. Why would they want a union, which would inevitably place Bothwell, a man they hated, as head of government? Was their motif to associate her in the murder plot?
Mary's involvement in Darnley's murder has remained one of the great historical mysteries. Genealogist and author Robert Stedall has spent ten years researching the inter-marriages within Scottish peerage to provide an explanation for their motives in removing Mary from the throne. In this first volume, of his two volume history of Mary and James, he explains in vivid detail the switching allegiances of the nobility, and can reveal for the first time, the gripping true story of Mary's downfall and imprisonment.
On 10 February 1567, conspirators bent on killing Henry, Lord Darnley, King-Consort of Mary Queen of Scots successfully razed his Edinburgh residence at Kirk o' Field in a huge explosion. Soon afterwards, Darnley's partially-clothed body was discovered in a nearby orchard, strangled to death by an unknown assailant.
Rumours of Mary's involvement in his murder quickly surfaced. Placards across Edinburgh implied that she had provoked the Earl of Bothwell into killing her husband in a crime of passion. This became more plausible when she tried to avoid having to prosecute him for the murder, and subsequently married him, encouraged by her most senior Protestant nobles.
While Mary's motives for the marriage might be explained by her need for his protection, those of the Nobility who had encourage it are confusing. Why would they want a union, which would inevitably place Bothwell, a man they hated, as head of government? Was their motif to associate her in the murder plot?
Mary's involvement in Darnley's murder has remained one of the great historical mysteries. Genealogist and author Robert Stedall has spent ten years researching the inter-marriages within Scottish peerage to provide an explanation for their motives in removing Mary from the throne. In this first volume, of his two volume history of Mary and James, he explains in vivid detail the switching allegiances of the nobility, and can reveal for the first time, the gripping true story of Mary's downfall and imprisonment.
500 pages, Hardcover
First published July 25, 2012
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367 people want to read
About the author
Robert Stedall
11 books10 followersRobert Stedall is the author of a groundbreaking two volume history of Mary Queen of Scots and her son James VI of Scotland. The first volume The Challenge to the Crown was published in June 2012 and the second volume The Survival of the Crown was published in February 2014.
More information can be found at MaryQueenofScots.net.
He has also carried out a detailed study of the genealogy of the Scottish peerage (1500-1650) and published his family history, Hunting From Hampstead (Book Guild, 2002).
He lives in Petworth, West Sussex.
More information can be found at MaryQueenofScots.net.
He has also carried out a detailed study of the genealogy of the Scottish peerage (1500-1650) and published his family history, Hunting From Hampstead (Book Guild, 2002).
He lives in Petworth, West Sussex.
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
August 11, 2016
Well done! I appreciate the detailed, well researched account of Mary's life and times. In various degrees, it seems we are all manipulated by individuals and groups with their own selfish agendas.
It is sad that it would take nearly 500 years for the entire truth to be known. Mary deserved more respect and empathy than she received.
I look forward, with much anticipation, to the next volume of this set!
It is sad that it would take nearly 500 years for the entire truth to be known. Mary deserved more respect and empathy than she received.
I look forward, with much anticipation, to the next volume of this set!
October 13, 2025
I both appreciated this book and at times found it frustrating to read. On the positive side, I appreciated the author's details about the nobles who surrounded Mary Queen of Scots. Most of the biographies of her that I've previously read are so centered on the queen herself that I found it difficult to get a good sense of the people around her, other than that they were scheming nobles. The details in this book goes a long way to helping flesh out the story more clearly. On the other hand, this makes for pretty dry reading at times, as some chapters felt like successive paragraphs of Scottish genealogy, then lists of feuds and familial alliances. Overall, I would recommend this book to those interested in Mary Queen of Scots, but it's definitely not the book I would start with.
December 6, 2015
Very detailed. Great for anyone interested in this time period. I received a copy from Goodreads for an honest review.
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews