This thesis will initially explore the confessionalization of Scotland through two parts: the Lords of Congregations' illegal religious upheaval in conjunction with Mary Stuart's accommodation strategy. Finally, the confessionalization paradigm will be applied to the country's reformation, expanding applicability of the theory.
Chapter Two Abstract: Between 1561 and 1567, Mary Stuart governed Protestant Scotland while maintaining her Catholic faith, an unprecedented situation in Reformation Europe. Historians have characterized her “inaction” during this period as evidence of weakness or indecision, but this interpretation misjudges her aim and character. Rather than pass\ively accepting Protestant dominance, Mary’s decisions reflect deliberate strategies of accommodation aimed at peace and stability in a confessionally transformed kingdom. She ultimately achieved this goal: Scotland did not experience internal religious warfare during her personal rule, contrasting with contemporary conflicts in England and France. By recentering her agency and challenging gendered interpretations, this study argues that Mary’s reign offers an alternative model of early modern religious governance – prioritizing stability over uniformity – and demonstrates that inaction can constitute action.