Lord Bothwell (the man suspected of killing Husband #2).

In 1587, Mary was implicated in a plot to assassinate Elizabeth. Her execution was legendary for its drama: she wore a bright red dress (the liturgical color of Catholic martyrdom) under her black gown. It reportedly took three swings of the axe to finish the job, and when the executioner tried to lift her head by the hair, her wig fell off, revealing that the once-famous beauty had turned grey from stress.

This third marriage caused a full-scale Scottish rebellion, forcing her to flee to her cousin, Elizabeth I of England. 3. The 19-Year Captivity

Mary became the Queen of Scotland when she was just six days old. Before she could even walk, she was the most important political pawn in Europe. By the time she was a teenager, she was the Queen Consort of France. She was tall (nearly six feet!), strikingly beautiful, and highly educated—the "it girl" of the Renaissance. 2. The "Marry" Problem