The Crown Matrimonial is a legal concept used to describe a person's right to co-reign equally with his or her spouse.
The Crown Matrimonial was offered to King Francis II of France, husband of Mary, Queen of Scots, by the Parliament of Scotland and Mary's mother, Mary of Guise, who was regent of Scotland. It would make Francis legal co-sovereign of Scotland with Queen Mary, and would also grant Francis the right to keep the Scottish throne if he outlived her. By the terms of the offer, he would be able to pass the Scottish crown to his descendants by a wife other than Mary. The Crown of Scotland was to be sent to France, where it was supposed to be kept at the Abbey of Saint Denis. However, the offer was never realised, as the Hamilton family who were close to the throne, joined the Protestants and opposed it.
Mary's second husband, Henry Stuart, Lord Darnley, demanded the Crown Matrimonial. The Protestant peers promised to make him sovereign by the consent of Parliament. They agreed that Henry, as the new sovereign, would pardon all the exiled Protestants and allow them to return to Scotland. However, the plan was never realised.
Famous quotes containing the words crown and/or matrimonial:
“I’ll make thee glorious by my pen
And famous by my sword;
I’ll serve thee in such noble ways
Was never heard before;
I’ll crown and deck thee all with bays,
And love thee more and more.”
—James Graham Marquess of Montrose (1612–1650)
“Always remember, Peggy, it’s matrimonial suicide to be jealous when you have a really good reason.”
—Clare Boothe Luce (1903–1987)