Mary, Queen of Scots, was born in 1542 and became queen when she was just six days old. She was the daughter of James V of Scotland and Mary of Guise. Mary spent much of her early life in France, where she married Francis II, the French king. After his death, she returned to Scotland in 1561 to rule. Her reign was marked by political turmoil and religious conflict, as Scotland was divided between Catholics and Protestants. In 1567, Mary was forced to abdicate in favor of her son, James VI of Scotland. She fled to England, where she was imprisoned for 19 years before her execution in 1587.