Elizabeth I ordered the beheading of Mary, Queen of Scots, a Catholic claimant to the English throne, on this day in 1587 ...

Conscious of the benefits of an alliance with France, the Scots betrothed ... but eventually did and Mary was executed at Fotheringhay Castle, on 8 February 1587 at the age of 44.

When Mary fled to England after her army was routed in 1568 she was confined by Elizabeth and was finally executed at Fotheringhay Castle on 8th February 1587. She was betrothed to the Dauphin of ...