Mary Stewart, Countess of Buchan facts for kids

Mary Stewart, Countess of Buchan, was a Scottish princess born around 1434 or 1435. She was the fifth daughter of James I of Scotland, who was the King of Scotland, and Queen Joan Beaufort. Mary married a nobleman from the Netherlands named Wolfert VI of Borselen. She lived in the Netherlands until she passed away on March 20, 1465. Mary had two children, but sadly, they both died when they were very young.

Mary's Royal Family

Mary Stewart grew up in a large royal family. She had five sisters and two twin brothers. Sadly, one of her twin brothers died when he was a baby. Her other brother became James II of Scotland, the next King of Scotland.

Sisters and Their Marriages

Mary's sisters also married into important royal families across Europe.

• Her sister Margaret became the dauphine of France. This meant she was married to the prince who would one day be king. Margaret passed away at age 20, likely from a fever, and did not have any children.
• Her sister Isabella became the duchess of Brittany. She lived in France and had two daughters.
• Another sister, Eleanor, married a powerful prince from the Habsburg family. She lived in Austria but did not have children.
• Her sister Joan stayed in Scotland. She was deaf and could not speak. Joan married a Scottish earl and had four children.
• Her youngest sister, Annabella, was married twice. She had children with her second husband, who was also a Scottish earl.

Mary's Marriage and Titles

In 1444, Princess Mary married Wolfert VI van Borselen. Their wedding took place in Veere, a town in Zeeland, which is part of the Netherlands. This marriage helped to improve trade and business between Scotland and the Low Countries (the Netherlands and Belgium today).

Countess of Buchan

The Scottish king gave Mary's husband, Wolfert, an important title: the earl of Buchan. Because of this, Mary became known as the Countess of Buchan. This was a special title that showed her high rank.

Later, in 1464, her husband Wolfert became a Marshal of France. This was a very important military position in France. He was also given other titles, like Lord of Veere and Count of Grandpre.

Later Life and Legacy

Mary Stewart passed away on March 20, 1465. She was likely between 30 and 31 years old. Sadly, her children did not survive her; her son Charles had died in 1451. Mary was buried in Sandenburg, near Veere, in Zeeland.

After Mary's death, her husband Wolfert married again. He married Charlotte de Bourbon. Wolfert himself passed away in 1487.

The title of Earl of Buchan, which Mary's husband held, was later given to her half-brother. This was James Stewart, who was her mother's son from a second marriage. He became known as the 1st Earl of Buchan in 1469.