Mary, Countess of Norfolk

## Mary of Scotland

Countess Consort of Norfolk

Anne of Norfolk

Catherine of Norfolk

Henry of Norfolk

Isabella of Norfolk

Richard of Norfolk

Joan of Norfolk

Mary of Norfolk

Constance of Norfolk

**Mary Stewart** (C. 1161 - 1211) was youngest child and daughter of Alexander I of Scotland and Margaret of England. Mary from her birth was betrothed to Edmund of Norfolk as a promise to the 2nd Earl of Norfolk. Mary was raised with her 2 sisters Isabella Stewart and Margaret Stewart, whom were all wed to English Earls. When Margaret was 12, she married Edmund of Norfolk in Canterbury Cathedral, 3 months later Edmund, 2nd Earl of Norfolk died after being poisoned by John I of England, Mary and her 31 year old year old husband were declared the new Earl and Countess of Norfolk, Mary and her husband had a rough marriage as Mary was very unhappy marrying a much older man, but the Earl of Norfolk wanted an English bride before the betrothal he had been promised Catherine of Bath, the eldest daughter of the Earl of Bath, but the betrothal broke off for Mary Stewart. The marriage produced 10 children which 9 survived childhood, Mary's husband died in 1210, and the widowed countess died a year later. During the English Civil war of 1178, she supported Mary of England over King John.

## Early Life

### Childhood

Mary Stewart was born in 1161 as the youngest child of Alexander I of Scotland, and Margaret of England. She was born in Edinburgh Palace during the Scottish Fury against her mother, her English mother was an unpopular Queen and many people wanted her dead. Mary was raised in Ross Castle with her sisters Isabella Stewart and Margaret Stewart, who were her long time companions, 3 days after her birth, her mother asked her long time best friend Edmund, 2nd Earl of Norfolk if he would mind betrothing Mary to his 19 year old son, Edmund of Norfolk who was already betrothed to Catherine of Bath, the daughter of the powerful Earl of Bath, but Edmund, 2nd Earl of Norfolk agreed and the 3 day old child and Edmund of Norfolk were betrothed in Orkney Cathedral, Scotland.

### Education

Margaret of England valued Mary's education a lot, and spent money on scholars which was unusual for a Scottish Princess, speaking the fact she was the only daughter of Margaret and Alexander to be educated. Mary studied art, History, reading, writing, archery, manners, conversation, horse-back-riding, dance, science, politics, music, knitting, Latin, Greek, French, Flemish, Italian, Catalan and Dutch making her one of the smartest princesses in mideval Europe. When Mary was 9, she met her future husband for the first time in 9 years, she imediatley hated him as he only spoke of his ex-fiancee Catherine of Bath who was now married to the Baron of Manny, Mary begged her parents to re-betroth her to someone else, but they refused.

### Margaret's murder

Mary knew from the age of 7 her mother was an unpopular Queen, she was often told the stories of the Scottish Fury and the revolts in 1158, but what Mary saw, is something she did not expect happened next, in 1171 after the death of her brother and the accession of her brother David I of Scotland, her mother was arrested and taken prisoner by James, 3rd Earl of Lennox in Edinburgh Palace, Mary as put under James, 3rd Earl of Lennox's wife's care along with her sisters and brothers, Margaret was later strangled to death by James, 3rd Earl of Lennox, Mary was furious but was way to scared of James of Lennox who declared Mary his own daughter, surprisingly James was very kind to Mary and the 2 often spoke about history together, James was going to get Mary out of her forced betrothal, but James greatly feared the Earl of Norfolk who was already upset after Margaret was murdered.

### Marriage

When Mary was 12, Edmund, 2nd Earl of Norfolk demanded Mary marry his son know that he was 12, the betrothal date was originally set for when Mary turned 15, but the Earl of Norfolk knew James would quickly marry Mary to another Scottish Earl to allow Mary out of the marriage, James was distraught to leave Mary and gave Mary his golden fleece which had been given to him by the Pope. Mary traveled to England with her older sister Margaret Stewart who was betrothed to the Earl of Kent. Mary stopped in London to meet the Queen Marie of Provence who did not hide the fact she disliked Mary because she was Scottish, Margaret was married in Canterberry cathedral and moved to Kent while Mary was still in Windsor Castle. Mary was married to the 31 year old Edmund of Norfolk in St Paul's Cathedral, the 2nd Earl of Norfolk was excited to meet the Scottish Princess while Edmund of Norfolk was still secretly writing to Catherine of Bath. Mary was moved to Norwich Castle, in Western Norfolk.

## Countess of Norfolk

During Mary's marriage to Edmund of Norfolk, her father-in-law was indeed an enemy of John I of England. The 2nd Earl of Norfolk sided with Mary of England who by many was agreed to be the rightful Queen of England as she was the only daughter of junior King, Henry the Young King and Mary, 3rd Countess of Gloucester, Mary Stewart only sided with Mary of England because she disliked John because of Marie of Provence. The 2nd Earl of Norfolk was a huge threat to the King and ordered him poisoned, no one realized the Earl was poisoned until he was discovered 3 days later by a group of house-keepers, Mary Stewart and Edmund of Norfolk were declared Earl and Countess of Norfolk. Mary at age 14 gave birth to her first child, also named Edmund 2 years into there marriage. Her husband the now 3rd Earl of Norfolk was an unfaithful husband, while Mary was pregnant with there 4th child, the 3rd Earl of Norfolk secretly engaged in an affair with his ex-fiancee Catherine of Bath who had just given birth to Joan de Mowbray who was fathered by Mary's husband, Mary felt threatened by Catherine of Bath, and told her brother-in-law Henry, 1st Earl of York whom Mary was close to, to murder Catherine of Bath, Henry agreed and beat Catherine to death with an iron pole, as punishment for the murder, Mary's husband named there 4th daughter Catherine in name of Catherine of Bath. Mary Stewart met Mary of England while pregnant with her 5th child Henry of Norfolk, Mary Stewart was frigid to Mary of England as Mary Stewart never liked the English Royal family, but Mary did regonize Mary's position as rightful Queen (Though Mary never actually became Queen of England nor did her children.)

## English Civil War

After the birth of Mary's 6th child twins, Isabella and Richard, and after she turned 18, she agreed to join the English Civil war with Mary of England after she attended the 11th Crusade, Mary attended the 11th Crusade with Mary of England and became less hostile with her. After the 11th Crusade Mary Stewart got pregnant to put a hold on going back into battle, she gave birth to Joan of Norfolk and then joined her new ally with an army of 1839 men. They both attacked Normandy along with her husband and other Earls and Mary gained control of Normandy and declared herself "Co-Duchess" of Normandy, thus being the first Duchess of Normandy. Mary Stewart wrote to brother now, Alexander II of Scotland asking to support Mary, 4th Countess of Gloucester against King John, Alexander agreed while sending a lot of troops to Gloucester House in Norfolk. Edmund of Norfolk lacked interest in war and bloodshed and much preferred to play chess with the Lord of the Manor, and play with puppies and dogs, and also Edmund much preferred to take care of his children whom he admired, which was very rare for a mideval Earl, Mary was not that fond of bloodshed, but she feared the Countess of Gloucester greatly and easily forced herself to side with Mary, 4th Countess of Gloucester. Mary tried to drag Edmund into the civil war, but he refused and insisted on staying home with the kids. Mary rode a horse to Normandy and raided Normandy with Mary of Gloucester. This event was called "The siege of Normandy." During the Siege, Mary gave birth to Mary of Norfolk who was named "Mary Plantagnet de Mowbray" Mary Plantagenet was going to be sent to London, but she would risk being murdered by John, so Mary Stewart rode to Gloucester and sent her most trusted bishops to send Mary Plantagenet to Edmund of Norfolk. Mary Stewart dropped out of the war early as Mary Stewart felt she was not the type of person to go into battle, Mary never wen't on battle for the rest of her life.

## Last Child

In 1200, at 39 year old Mary gave birth to her last child Lady Constance Plantagenet de Mowbray, Constance was betrothed to the Earl of Hampshire's 2 year old son. Constance Plantagenet was believed to be the smartest daughter of the 10 children of Mary and Edmund, Constance Plantagenet's betrothed was in-love with her, but Constance Plantagenet had no interest in marriage, and more interest in the life of a nun. At the age of 15 became a nun. Mary lived the rest of her live in Hever Castle.

## Death

Mary, 4th Countess of Gloucester, wen't to Mary Stewart to live the rest of her life, the Countess of Gloucester died there while William of Lancaster raided Brittany. Mary Stewart outlived her husband who died after being murdered by John's son Henry III of England. Mary made peace with Henry III and possibly became a mistress to the young and handsome king, Mary died of an unknown illness related to malaria, her body was moved from Norfolk to Westminister Abbey and promply buried next to Edmund of Norfolk, In 1996, the Queen of the United Kingdom on tour in Westminister abbey briefly talked of Mary Stewart as "A quite powerful woman, as one might say!"