During the 1500s, war and disease were common. The war alone took many men, including Mary Stuart's father, James V, who could not accept the humiliation of his defeat against England and suffered a complete nervous breakdown (Fraser, 11) . Previously, two of Mary's older brothers died in infancy only adding to James V's grief that Mary's birth had not even begun to alleviate (Fraser, 11). Five days after Mary's birth, King James V of Scotland died. Mary Stuart was crowned Queen of Scotland less than a year after her birth, and although she tried her best to be a great leader, many things got in her way. Mary, Queen of Scots was an important child, as she was the sole heir to the throne, but some people did not think she was fit for the throne because of her gender. As a result, two important questions arose: who would rule her childhood and who would she marry (Fraser, 12). It was quickly decided that James, second Earl of Arran, would rule from infancy, but he soon changed his faith and Mary Stuart was crowned at the age of nine months (Fraser, 17). At the age of five, a marriage was arranged between Mary and the Dauphin François. Once this decision was made, Mary immediately left for France where she would continue to live for thirteen years. In France, Mary lived an extremely luxurious life, where she was adored left and right. The meeting of the Dauphin Francis of France and Mary, Queen of Scots, was a great success and not only did the arrangement work out but she was greatly loved by the King of France who wrote that she was the most perfect child he has ever met (Fraser, 22 years old). Mary lived a wonderful life in France but all good things must come to an end. Over the years, Mary had become very attached to ...... middle of paper ......ine and the people who had once condemned her began to celebrate her as a martyr (Trueman ). People began to look at his life differently. She went from an ordinary queen to an unforgettable figure. People still know it today and it will stay that way for years to come. As an adult, she made many mistakes, but she remained true to herself until the end and many people would do good to learn from her. Works Cited Dunn, Jane. Elizabeth and Mary: cousins, rivals, queens. New York: Alfred A. Knopf, 2004. Print. Frasier, Antonia. Mary, Queen of Scots. New York: Delacorte, 1969. Print. Trueman, Chris. “Mary, Queen of Scots.” Mary, Queen of Scots. History Learning Site, 2000. Web. March 19, 2014. Weir, Alison. Mary, Queen of Scots and the Murder of Lord Darnley. New York: Ballantine, 2003. Print.