Talk:Margaret Tudor
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[edit] Reorganisation
I just did a fairly big reorganisation of the article ([1]) as it seemed to have become a bit confused chronologically, with some material duplicated. However, I haven't really got the means to verify a lot of the statements (particularly after 1513), and it would be good if someone were able to do so. Mrabbits 21:21, 3 July 2006 (UTC)
[edit] Crowns and Queens
I've carried out some emergency surgery on this page to correct serious errors of fact, which I note are now being duplicated on other web pages. The whole article shows an abysmally poor understanding of Scottish history-and of the character and political vicissitudes of Margaret Tudor. I will rewrite the whole thing as soon as I am able; but, in the meantime, here are the main corrections in fact and interpretation.
1. Scottish politics, both them and later, is not all about 'Highland clans', fractious or otherwise.
2. Margaret represented a pro-English faction in Scotland-though her politics and alliances were subject to change-but to write that "she openly believed Scotland should be part of the English Kingdom" is, quite frankly, unmitigated rubbish. Did she "openly believe" (as opposed to a closed belief?) that her young son should be deposed, and that Scotland should be annexed? If she declared this belief then her exit from the regency would have been considerably less dignified than it eventually was.
3. John Duke of Albany, in all respects but name a Frenchman, was invited to Scotland by the Council of Regency. Margaret married Douglas in 1514, which helped facilitate her removal from the regency in 1515. Albany did not manipulate himself into this position, as this article suggested.
4. Margaret returned to Scotland in 1517 while Albany was temporarily back in France, and remained, even after his return. She came not to "see her child" but first and foremost to dabble and intrigue in Scottish politics.
5. James was not held as a "virtual prisoner" by Albany or anyone else; not, at least, until his step-father got hold of him in 1525.
6. Albany was not driven out of Scotland. He left for France in May 1524 on business, intending to return in September of the same year. Before this could happen Margaret succeeded in obtaining a declaration that the royal minority was at an end. With no further function in Scotland Albany never returned.
7. When James escaped from Angus in 1528 he took full powers of state. He most assuredly did not join his mother and Methven in England. Where on earth did that come from?
8. As for Margaret's "unfailing determination to bring Scotland into a greater England" I have nothing to say about this, other than to flag it up for the ridicule and contempt it deserves. Rcpaterson 01:18, 7 August 2006 (UTC)
I've now begun a systematic rewrite of this whole page, to try to explain the true significance of Margaret in the history of Scotland. It's a complex subject which is likely to take a day or two to complete. Please excuse the lack of organisational tidiness while things are underway. Rcpaterson 02:20, 12 August 2006 (UTC)
Rewrite complete, barring minor amendments. Rcpaterson 03:36, 14 August 2006 (UTC)