Catholic queen, Protestant patriarchy : Mary, Queen of Scots, and the politics of gender and religion

Mary Stuart is infamous for the mysteries of her reign. Mary ruled in a patriarchal society and married a subject; a Catholic queen who was the only person in her kingdom legally allowed to hear Catholic mass. These contradictions in Mary's life forced her contemporaries to search for new answers about how Scotland should be governed. Mary, Queen of Scots is infamous for the mysteries of her reign. Did she have an affair with her Italian Secretary? Did she help to blow her husband to bits with gunpowder? Yet, despite a life of drama and mystery, the significance of Mary Stuart rests not in her actions, but rather in others' reactions to her. Mary was a woman who ruled in a patriarchal society and married a subject; a Catholic queen who was the only person in her kingdom legally allowed to hear Catholic mass. These contradictions in Mary's life forced her contemporaries to search for new answers about how Scotland should be governed. Her role as an international figure meant that debates about her reached across Europe influencing the English and the Continentals. As a result, the reign of Mary Stuart was representative of the 16th century and the major issues faced by her contemporaries. Catholic Queen, Protestant Patriarchy analyzes contemporary reactions to and debates surrounding the infamous Mary Stuart and explores 16th century ideas about gender, religion, women in government and citizenship Front Matter....Pages i-xiii Introduction....Pages 1-13 Mary’s Return: the State of Scotland, 1558–1562....Pages 14-48 The English Succession Crisis and Debates about Mary Stewart: Law, National Identity, Citizenship and the Queen’s Two Bodies....Pages 49-88 From Return to Deposition: Mary, Darnley and Scotland, 1562–1567....Pages 89-139 A Queen Undone: Justifications of Deposition, Resistance and Imprisonment....Pages 140-172 Conclusion....Pages 173-177 Back Matter....Pages 178-220