Mary, Queen of Scots
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Mary, Queen of Scots, also known as Mary Stuart or Mary I of Scotland, was Queen of Scotland from 14 December 1542 until her forced abdication in 1567.
Portrait of Mary at about 17 years old, c. 1558–1560
Both Mary and her father King James V were born at Linlithgow Palace in West Lothian, Scotland.
Gold coin of 1553: obverse, coat of arms of Scotland; reverse, royal monogram
Mary and Francis in Catherine de' Medici's book of hours, c. 1574. Bibliothèque nationale de France, Paris.
Abdication
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Abdication is the act of formally relinquishing monarchical authority. Abdications have played various roles in the succession procedures of monarchies. While some cultures have viewed abdication as an extreme abandonment of duty, in other societies, abdication was a regular event and helped maintain stability during political succession.
Napoleon's first abdication, signed at the Palace of Fontainebleau 4 April 1814
Dom Pedro I, founder and emperor of the Empire of Brazil, delivers his abdication letter on 7 April 1831
Queen Christina of Sweden shocked Europe by abdicating to move to Rome and serve the pope.