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4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Queen of Scots and a thorn in the side of Henry VIII, 15 Mar 2002
In "Margaret Tudor, Queen of Scots", Professor Patricia Buchanan gives a lively, entertaining, informative and scholarly account of the complex life of perhaps one of the lesser known characters of Tudor England. Margaret Tudor, born 1489, was the older sister to one of the most well known, some might say infamous monarchs, Henry VIII. However she left rich documentary evidence of her life in the constant stream of correspondence which flowed across the border to (and from) her brother after she was married by her father Henry VII, to James IV of Scotland and became the Queen of Scots. Buchanan makes liberal use of these letters to allow her readers to enter the lavish world of the royals from Margaret's eyes, but we also see what was a dangerous place, it was, especially for a woman who assumed the position of Regent for a child-king, James V, when various factions of nobles disrupted any rule, but particularly those of a minor and those when women ruled. Her marriage would make possible the later union of England and Scotland and importantly, Margaret's key position in transferring the crown from the Tudors to the Stuart's.
All royal marriages were political and Margaret's was arranged in the hope of establishing security in the north by pacific means. Scotland remained the 'auld ally' of France, so there was particular reason for concern when England was at war with France. Once the thirteen year old Margaret was promised to James IV, there is an enlightening account of the elaborate procession to Scotland and great detail is given to the finery. The role of Queen of Scots would not be all glamour however, but would be more of a burden
The crowning of Henry VIII in 1509 brought a complete breach with the past. At this time, Margaret had succeeded in having a living child, James V. New antagonisms developed; war was waged between England and France and then James IV was killed in the Battle of Flodden in 1513. As Buchanan points out, Margaret's golden years were over. The accounts also show that Margaret's requests of her brother were not always acceptable to Henry. Perhaps her greatest mistake was in marrying the young Earl of Angus, Archibald, head of the Douglas family, which was hated by most factions in Scotland, but supported by Henry, who wanted to keep "Scotland dancing to England's tune."(117)
Now Margaret's authority was constantly diminished: the Scottish Council asserted that she had forfeited her rights over her son; Henry left her frequently without help, depending on his whim, and her husband Angus was pocketing Margaret's finances for himself. Margaret showed loyalty to her son's hereditary rights in these dangerous times, when Scotland squabbled and England actively sought to keep Scotland divided. It was with an iron resolve that Margaret worked to attain and maintain her position in Scotland and to see her son crowned king.
Professor Buchanan is able to weave the rich fabric of social and political history of the lesser known character of Margaret Tudor and she makes this book accessible to all readers. A thoroughly enjoyable book.
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