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British History/mary q o scots and elizabeth1

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Expert: - 7/3/2007


Question
i am passionate about british kings and queens and my knowledge is impressive,but i cant figure out how mary qos and elizabeth 1 could possibly be cousins,henryv111 sister married marys father,how can that make them cousins

Answer
Hello Carol. They were not first cousins, the term cousin was often used in times gone by to refer to any relation however distant.
Henry VIII's sister Margaret married James IV, King of Scots; their son was James V, who was Mary's father. Therefore they were first cousins once removed, Elizabeth I being two generations descended from Henry VII while Mary, Queen of Scots was three generations descended from him.  
Mark

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Mark Smith

Expertise

I have a good basic knowledge of British political history, but my speciality is the Kings and Queens of England and Scotland from 927 AD. Please no social history questions, it's not my strong point and I'm unlikely to answer them.

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No professional experience, but a lifelong interest and access to a variety of sources of information.

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"A" level in History.

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