Mary Stuart (Mary Queen of Scots)

Mary Stuart, also known as Mary, Queen of Scots, was a significant 16th-century Scottish monarch and granddaughter of Henry VII of England. She became queen of Scotland as a young girl and was known for her beauty, intelligence, and complex political challenges. Her reign was marked by religious conflict, political intrigue, and family rivalries. She was forced to abdicate the throne and spent many years in captivity in England, where she was ultimately executed by her cousin, Queen Elizabeth I, due to fears of her claim to the English throne and involvement in plotting against Elizabeth. Her life reflects the turbulent politics of Renaissance Europe.