Mary Stewart, Countess of Arran facts for kids

Mary Stewart, Countess of Arran (born May 1453 – died May 1488), was a Scottish princess. She was the oldest daughter of King James II of Scotland and Mary of Guelders. Her older brother was King James III of Scotland.

Mary married twice. First, she married Thomas Boyd, 1st Earl of Arran. Later, she married James Hamilton, 1st Lord Hamilton. Her children from her second marriage became very important. They helped the Hamilton and Stewart families claim a right to the Scottish throne.

Early Life and Family

Mary was born at Stirling Castle in Scotland in May 1453. She was the first daughter of King James II and Mary of Guelders. She had five brothers and sisters.

Her brother, James III of Scotland, became king in 1460. This happened after their father died by accident from an exploding cannon. Mary's mother passed away in 1463, when Mary was only ten years old.

First Marriage and Challenges

Mary married her first husband, Thomas Boyd, Earl of Arran, when she was about thirteen years old, before April 1467. As a wedding gift, she received the Isle of Arran. A castle called Law Castle was built for them.

In 1467, Thomas was sent to Denmark. His job was to bring King James III's future wife, Margaret of Denmark, to Scotland. While Thomas was away, enemies of his family, the Clan Boyd, spread false stories about him and his father. These stories were very serious and made the King angry.

When Mary heard that her husband was coming back to Scotland, she rushed to the harbour. She met his ship in July to warn him about the accusations. Mary and Thomas quickly sailed to Denmark to escape.

In November 1469, Thomas lost his title, honours, and lands. Mary later returned to Scotland to try and clear her husband's name. But her brother, King James, kept her under guard at Dean Castle. Her marriage to Thomas was then declared invalid in 1473. This meant it was as if they were never married.

Mary and Thomas had two children:

• Lady Margaret Boyd (1468–1533). She married twice but had no children.
• James Boyd, 2nd Lord Boyd of Kilmarnock (1469–1484). He died young and did not marry.

Second Marriage and Children

In early 1474, Mary was forced to marry James Hamilton, 1st Lord Hamilton. He was much older than her. They received special permission from the Pope in 1476. This made their two children, who were already born, officially legitimate.

Mary and James had three children:

• Elizabeth Hamilton (died after 1531). She married Matthew Stewart, 2nd Earl of Lennox. Their son, John Stewart, 3rd Earl of Lennox, was the ancestor of Henry Stuart, Lord Darnley. Darnley later married Mary, Queen of Scots.
• James Hamilton, 1st Earl of Arran (1475–1529). He became an important figure in Scotland. His son, James Hamilton, Duke of Châtellerault, later became a Regent of Scotland.
• Robert Hamilton, Seigneur d'Aubigny (1476–1543). He was born at Brodick Castle on the Isle of Arran.

Mary's son from her first marriage, James Boyd, was killed when he was fifteen. This started a long feud between families.

Mary Stewart died in 1488 when she was about 35 years old.

Legacy and Influence

Because they were related to the royal family, Mary's children and their descendants became very powerful. The Hamiltons of Arran and the Stewarts of Lennox played big roles in Scottish politics in the 1500s. They especially influenced the life and rule of Mary, Queen of Scots. She was the great-granddaughter of Mary's brother, King James III.