Though both powerful and mighty Queens, Elizabeth and Mary had very different journeys to their thrones. Mary was a Queen when she was six days old. Elizabeth had to endure two half siblings ruling England until she would become Queen. Their early lives shed a light on just how each monarchy was different in every way.
Mary, Queen of Scots Mary was born on December 8, 1542 at Linlithgow, Scotland, to James V, King of Scots, and his French second wife, Mary of Guise. Mary was the only legitimate child of James to survive him. When James died on December 14, she became the Queen of Scotland. Since Mary was an infant when she inherited the throne, Scotland was ruled by regents until she became an adult. King Henry VIII of England took advantage of the regency to propose marriage between Mary and his son, Prince Edward. In doing so, he hoped that Scotland and England would be allies. On July 1, 1543, the Treaty of Greenwich was signed between England and
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Mary was a devout Catholic, and she was determined to crush the Protestant faith. Elizabeth had been educated and grew up Protestant. Mary ordered that everyone attend Catholic Mass throughout England and in her household. Elizabeth was none too happy about this, but she did conform in public while still being a devout Protestant in private. In January and February 1554, Protestant rebellions broke out. Elizabeth was brought to court, and interrogated regarding her role. On March 18, she was imprisoned in the Tower of London. Elizabeth fervently protested her innocence. Mary's closest confidant, Simon Renard, argued that her throne would never be safe while Elizabeth lived. However, Elizabeth's supporters in the government convinced Mary to spare her sister. Instead, on May 22, Elizabeth was moved from the Tower to Woodstock. She would spend almost a year under house arrest in the charge of Sir Henry