Who ordered the beheading of Mary Queen of Scots?

Answer 1

A crown executioner at Fotheringhay Castle (no longer extant) in 1587. History does not record the identity of this man. The execution instrument was an axe. He wore a mask or hood. The protocols allowed for three swings of the axe. The first strike may or may not have killed the Queen as it landed on her neck. The second blow neatly(?) severed her head from her neck and as it was held up her wig fell off. A third strike was not necessary.

This was a horrible historical event and shows how serious capital punishment was taken (and applied) in the olden times. (A modern lethal injection is almost cosmetically smooth!). One author suggests, as all of her clothing that was on her at the time of the execution was burned or otherwise destroyed to avoid any relics problems, the tragic Queen may have suffered the further indignity of having been buried in the nude. This was very strongly implied by one of Mary's best biographers.

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Answer 2

The name of the actual executioner is unknown. Mary Stuart's Warrant of Execution was signed by Queen Elizabeth I, with regret. Mary did plot against Elizabeth's life. However, Elizabeth consistently rejected petitions to execute Mary over the 19-year course of her imprisonment. Eventually, however, the Catholic threat was deemed too great and Elizabeth reluctantly signed the warrant for execution.

Answer 3

Queen Elizabeth I, or Elizabeth Tudor. This was the end of the Stuart dynasty in Scotland, anyhow. Elizabeth was, however succeeded by James I- who was the son of Mary, Queen of Scots.
Mary Queen of Scots was executed by her cousin Queen Elizabeth I of England.

Answer 4

== == Queen Elizabeth I (Tudor) signed the death warrant. see other questions on the Exectuion to get at the sordid details.

Answer 5

The death warrant was signed by Elixabeth I , Queen of England.