Talk:Mary, Queen of Scots

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Name

"Mary" signed letters and documents as "Marie", later: "Marie R (R = Regina). Should this be noted somewhere? I can't find an example now, but I believe she also spelled it "Mari". E.g.: [1], [2] Presumably not not "reliable", but here is an example of "Mari R" signature: [3] 136.54.99.98 (talk) 20:53, 23 June 2023 (UTC)

Marie is in a footnote. Mari is shown in the infobox. It doesn't deserve additional coverage. DrKay (talk) 21:13, 23 June 2023 (UTC)

Scot(s|land), pt. 1 million

@Zacwill, sorry about that, hit the button without typing the summary. While I agree it should have a link/a proper summary of the consensus somewhere, it appears that the last part of the first archive of this talk page, as well as throughout the second archive contain the consensus referenced in the infobox comment. Cheers! Remsense留 12:28, 11 December 2023 (UTC)

@Remsense: can you be more specific? I did in fact look in the archives before I made my edit, and I found nothing that addressed the infobox question specifically (with the exception of this, which does not seem like much of a consensus). I note that articles on Queen Mary's predecessors use the phrase "King of Scots" in the same section of the infobox (though there is some inconsistency: see e.g. the article on James V). Zacwill (talk) 05:50, 15 December 2023 (UTC)

I think it's more useful to use that parameter for the office and de facto position held. If it's for title only, then it will cause trouble and inconsistency across other articles, such as using titles for pretenders instead of their actual roles or overly long infoboxes for monarchs who held multiple titles but whose domains can be summarised in a simple unofficial phrase like 'Commonwealth realms'. Celia Homeford (talk) 10:34, 15 December 2023 (UTC)

While I understand it is helpful to put that there's consensus there, perhaps it would be helpful to state that consensus somewhere distinct, like in the "FAQ" section sometimes seen at the top of talk pages. Remsense留 21:15, 15 December 2023 (UTC)

Once again, can you tell me where this consensus is to be found? It seems to me like it doesn't exist outside the mind of whoever put that note there. Zacwill (talk) 04:44, 16 December 2023 (UTC)

I cannot tell you for certain since I am not a major contributor to this article—I will defer to those that might be. Remsense留 06:10, 16 December 2023 (UTC)

It's the editor who wishes to make a change who needs to show consensus not the other way about. DrKay (talk) 09:09, 16 December 2023 (UTC)

Was that the case when the infobox was first changed back in 2017, by a single-purpose IP? Points in favour of "Queen of Scots" are that it was the title Mary herself used in both English and Latin. See her letters, seals, and coins. This is in common with other Scottish rulers. "Queen of Scotland" is not a great deviation from this, and is still intelligible to the reader, but I don't see a reason not to use the official title. Zacwill (talk) 11:31, 16 December 2023 (UTC)

In answer to the first question, yes. That's how consensus works: if someone changes it and no-one complains then that becomes the consensus position. The longer the time since the edit, the stronger the consensus becomes. Over six years since the change would count as strong longstanding consensus. DrKay (talk) 13:42, 16 December 2023 (UTC)

The title king/queen of Scots resembles the idea of popular monarchy, where the monarch is thought to reign over a people/nation rather than a specific territory. Dimadick (talk) 12:27, 16 December 2023 (UTC)

FWIW, "Queen of Scotland" should be used in the intro & infobox. GoodDay (talk) 22:01, 16 December 2023 (UTC)

Arms: is the escutcheon right?

The blazon of the escutcheon is given as

Sable a lion rampant argent on a canton of the last a cross gules.

or, roughly, a white lion on a black background with a red cross on a white background in the top left.

But the image of the arms shows a red lion on a yellow background with a border.

Is the problem in the blazon, the arms, or my understanding? Molinari (talk) 15:38, 8 February 2024 (UTC)

Thank you. I'd already corrected one mistake but had missed that one. Celia Homeford (talk) 15:52, 8 February 2024 (UTC)

“of Scots” vs. “of Scotland”

Is there a reason in particular that requires “King/Queen of Scotland” to be used in the infobox succession section instead of the preferred style “King/Queen of Scots?” Louis Philippe I had King of the French instead of King of France and all Belgian monarchs use King of the Belgians instead of King of Belgium. Has this been discussed before? If not, is it possible to reconsider the title used in Scottish monarchical infoboxes? AKTC3 (talk) 14:21, 30 March 2024 (UTC)

See above [4]. DrKay (talk) 16:40, 30 March 2024 (UTC)

The English language

I didn't fly to the United States by an aeroplane. I flew to the United States by air. I didn't come to New York by an automobile. I came to New York by car. I didn't cross the Hudson by a ferry. I crossed the Hudson by ferry. Similarly, Mary didn't cross the firth by a boat. She crossed the firth by boat. This is standard idiom that any native English speaker is familiar with. DrKay (talk) 15:10, 29 April 2024 (UTC)

And she didn't drive down the freeway in a Tesla. She probably took a coach? Martinevans123 (talk) 15:16, 29 April 2024 (UTC)