Born November 20, 1515, the eldest daughter of the powerful Duke of Guise and Antoinette of Bourbon, Marie grew up in the idyllic French countryside in the family home of Joinville. Marie’s parents were a love match, unusual for noble families of that time. Her father was a military hero who made it his mission to stamp Protestantism out of France. Marie’s mother took an active interest in her husband’s affairs, which did not go unnoticed by her daughter. Marie received an excellent education at the Convent of the Poor Clares in Pont-a-Mousson, overseen by her own grandmother, who became a nun at the age of 58.
At nineteen, Marie de Guise married Louis, Duc of Longueville. Married just three years, Louis succumbed to a bout of smallpox and died in 1537. They had one son, Francis. Marie returned to her family home at Joinville to mourn, but her mourning period was cut short when King Francis announced she was to wed the widower, King James V of Scotland. In truth, word of Marie’s newly widowed state had spread about Europe, and Henry VIII offered her a proposal, having just lost his third wife, Jane Seymour. No doubt Mary was too fond of her head to take any proposal from the English king seriously. There was also speculation that the Dauphin, or prince, Henri was in love with Marie, and unhappy with his own wife, the dour faced Catherine de Medici. But the decision had been made, Marie would wed the Scottish King.
Like all noblewoman of her time, Marie put the best interests of her family before her own wishes or desires. It is almost a certainty that Marie had no wish to leave her young son, or France, with its mild climate, exciting court and sophisticated culture, to go to the damp, wet, backward country of Scotland, even if it did mean she would be a queen. However, she dutifully went, landing in Scotland in June, 1538.
Taking a cue from her mother, Marie set out to make herself invaluable to her husband. James was a handsome man, who had already sired nine illegitimate children (that we know about) before he married. He was also high strung and suspicious, and given to deep depressions. Marie learned everything she could about Scotland, and its people, while at the same time introducing French fashion and culture to the rough and tumble court in Edinburgh. Marie gave birth to a boy, James, in 1540, followed by a brother, Robert in April, 1541. Tragically a few days later both boys were dead. Though it was never proven, poison was suspected.
Marie gave birth to a baby girl, Mary, on December 8, 1542. Just six days later James died, following the disastrous battle of Solway Moss against the English. At just twenty-seven Marie had buried two husbands, and three sons. She was living in a foreign land, and now had the great task of guarding her daughter’s throne from the greedy Scottish nobles and the conniving English king.
Over the next eighteen years Marie fought to keep Protestantism at bay in Scotland, maintain the auld alliance between Scotland and France, and keep England from absorbing the Scottish throne. She also struggled with the squabbling Scots nobility, who were all determined to have their own way in matters of religion and politics. She arranged for her daughter to marry the French Dauphine, Francis, making the little girl queen of both Scotland and France. Marie succeeded in all her endeavors, but her success came at high personal sacrifice.
Marie never remarried, despite being young, vivacious and beautiful. She only returned to her beloved homeland once, in 1550. She visited with her children, Francis aged fifteen and Mary almost eight. Her return trip to Scotland must have been painful, as Francis died unexpectedly just before her departure.
Marie would never go home again. She would never see her daughter again. She died of dropsy on June 11, 1560. She was just 45 years old. Though she spent a good deal of her life in Scotland, Marie de Guise was always a loyal French subject. She gave up her own happiness for her family, especially her royal daughter. Beautiful, smart, witty, brave, and loyal, Marie de Guise was a true renaissance woman.
Sources :
Sider, Sandra. Handbook to Life in Renaissance Europe. New York: Facts on File. 2004
http://www.marie-stuart.co.uk/
