MARIA of Lorraine, queen of Scotland. — B. at Bar on 22 Nov. 1515, d. at Edinburgh on 10 June 1560. Daughter of Claude of Guise, she married in 1538 James V king of Scotland, who died in 1542 leaving her regent for their daughter Mary. During her regency M. found herself at the centre of the struggle between Catholics and Protestants, and between the English and the French.
Following the advice of Cardinal Beaton, she thwarted the plan of Henry VIII to have his son Edward marry the princess Mary. The assassination of the cardinal and the French policy of the Regent strengthened the position of J. Knox. The victory of the Protestants, soon followed by the death of M., forced the French party to leave Scotland; shortly afterwards, with the decision of the Parliament of Edinburgh, the Kingdom severed its ties with the Catholic Church.