James VI, Elizabeth Tudor, Mary Tudor
Mary of Guise gave birth to a healthy baby boy at Linlithgow Palace in Scotland, on 8 December 1542. She and her husband, James V, named their son, James. Five days later, James V died and baby James became James VI, King of Scots. James Hamilton, Earl of Arran, appointed himself regent for the infant king.
Henry VIII of England had hoped that a girl, not a boy, would be born to James V. She would marry his son, Prince Edward. He wanted to annex Scotland, and such a marriage would be a way of uniting the kingdoms of England and Scotland, with England as the senior partner. However there was Henry's younger daughter, Elizabeth. But she was nine years and three months older than her cousin, James VI. Would the age difference between them be acceptable? If they got married she would be 24 or 25, at the youngest, before she had any children. However she was illegitimate and barred from succession to the English throne. In June 1543, the English Parliament reinstated Elizabeth, and her older sister, Mary, to the English succession, but did not make them legitimate. It was unlikely that she would ever become Queen of England, but now it was at least a possibility.
Neither Francis I of France, nor Charles V, the Holy Roman Emperor, had a suitable daughter for James. But what would be the benefits to England and to Scotland in James marrying Elizabeth? There was the precedent of the marriage of Henry VII's older daughter, Margaret, to James IV, king of Scots. In accordance with that precedent, if Elizabeth married James she would go and live in Scotland. James had a claim to the English throne because he was the great grandson of Henry IV. He was crowned king of Scots in Edinburgh, when he was nine months old on 9 September 1543.
I have not decided yet if Elizabeth and James will be betrothed. I would welcome any comments on this timeline.
Henry VIII of England had hoped that a girl, not a boy, would be born to James V. She would marry his son, Prince Edward. He wanted to annex Scotland, and such a marriage would be a way of uniting the kingdoms of England and Scotland, with England as the senior partner. However there was Henry's younger daughter, Elizabeth. But she was nine years and three months older than her cousin, James VI. Would the age difference between them be acceptable? If they got married she would be 24 or 25, at the youngest, before she had any children. However she was illegitimate and barred from succession to the English throne. In June 1543, the English Parliament reinstated Elizabeth, and her older sister, Mary, to the English succession, but did not make them legitimate. It was unlikely that she would ever become Queen of England, but now it was at least a possibility.
Neither Francis I of France, nor Charles V, the Holy Roman Emperor, had a suitable daughter for James. But what would be the benefits to England and to Scotland in James marrying Elizabeth? There was the precedent of the marriage of Henry VII's older daughter, Margaret, to James IV, king of Scots. In accordance with that precedent, if Elizabeth married James she would go and live in Scotland. James had a claim to the English throne because he was the great grandson of Henry IV. He was crowned king of Scots in Edinburgh, when he was nine months old on 9 September 1543.
I have not decided yet if Elizabeth and James will be betrothed. I would welcome any comments on this timeline.
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