Following a turbulent reign, Mary Stuart, Queen of Scots, was compelled to abdicate the throne on July 24, 1567, due to mounting political pressure and her unpopularity stemming from her tumultuous marriage to Henry Stuart, Lord Darnley. The tensions escalated when Darnley was murdered under suspicious circumstances, leading to public outcry and political conspiracies surrounding Mary's rule. In the aftermath, the Scottish nobles, particularly those aligned with the Protestant Reformation, united against her and sought to depose her in favor of her one-year-old son, James VI. This significant political maneuver not only highlighted the fragile nature of Mary's position as a Catholic monarch in predominantly Protestant Scotland but also set the stage for James's ascendancy, dramatically shifting the balance of power in the Scottish court.

The formal abdication took place at the castle of Loch Leven, where Mary had been imprisoned. Under duress and threats of violence, she signed the document transferring authority to her son, who was raised by the Protestant nobles. This transition was marked by conflict and division as factions fought for control. As a result, Scotland experienced a period of instability, with Mary's supporters clashing against those loyal to James. This period of upheaval eventually contributed to the greater unification of the crowns of England and Scotland. The very act of Mary's abdication initiated significant political changes that would echo throughout the British Isles in the ensuing years.