Reign Series: Historically Accurate?

Does anyone else finish watching a series and search about the characters of the show and its facts? because SAME! I recently finished watching the TV Series called 'Reign'. I got quite fascinated with it and had to research about what was true and what wasn't. Here are some facts about the show that I found that weren't historically accurate and some which are quite interesting:

The show Reign is a historical romantic drama loosely based on the life on Mary, Queen of Scots. The series premiered on October 17, 2013, on The CW and concluded after four seasons on June 16, 2017. It starred Adelaide Kane as Queen Mary of Scotland, Toby Regbo as Francis II of France, Torrance Coombs as Sebastian "Bash" de Poiters, Megan Follows as Catherine de' Medici, Caitlin Stasey as Lady Kenna, Celina Sinden as Lady Greer, Jenessa Grant as Lady Aylee, Anna Popplewell as Lady Lola, Alan van Sprang as Henry II of France, Rachel Skarsten as Elizabeth I of England, Will Kemp as Lord Darnley, Dan Jeannotte as James Stewart & Rossif Sutherland as Nostradamus. These are main and few recurring cast members.

• The character of Sebastian "Bash" de Poiters, portrayed by Torrance Coombs is fictional. Historically, King Henry II had three illegitimate children. By Philippa Duci: Diane, Duchess d'Angoulême (1538–1619). By Lady Janet Stewart: Henri d'Angoulême (1551 – June 1586). By Nicole de Savigny: Henri de Saint-Rémy (1557–1621).

• Likewise, historically there is no evidence of Clarissa, Catherine's illegitimate daughter (as shown in the show)

• In the show Francis and Lola, have a son together, Jean-Philippe. Historically, Francis did not have any children with any of Mary's ladies-in-waiting.

• Mary and Francis II met for the first time at the age of five, 10 years before the start of the show.

• Mary was never sent to live in a convent in France. She was five-years-old when she was sent to France to spend the next thirteen years at the French court.

• Mary was accompanied by her own court including two illegitimate half-brothers, and the "four Marys" (four girls her own age, all named Mary), who were the daughters of some of the noblest families in Scotland: Beaton, Seton, Fleming, and Livingston. Janet, Lady Fleming, who was Mary Fleming's mother and James V's half-sister, was appointed governess. When Lady Fleming left France in 1551, she was succeeded by a French governess, Françoise de Paroy.

• The "four Marys" Mary Beaton, Mary Livingston, Mary Fleming and Mary Seton in the show weren't named Mary, they were named Lady Aylee, Lady Greer, Lady Lola and Lady Kenna.

• Mary, Queen of Scots and Francis II were married when they were 16 years old and 14 years old, respectively.

• They were married at the Notre Dame Cathedral.

• Francis II died just after two years and 8 months after his wedding with Mary, Queen of Scots. He died in 1560.

• After the death of Francis, Mary wed two more times. She married Henry Stuart, Lord Darnley and James Hepburn, 4th Earl of Bothwell.

• Mary had only one child with her second husband, Henry Stuart, Lord Darnley, who became King James VI of Scotland and James I of England.

• Both Mary and Darnley were great-grandchildren of Henry VII of England through Margaret Tudor, the older sister of Henry VIII. Mary's rule over Scotland was insecure, and she and her husband, being Roman Catholics, faced a rebellion by Protestant noblemen.

• In the show, Mary Stuart, was beheaded for her involvement in the murder of (Henry Stuart) for fear he would selfishly take all custody of James VI of Scotland and England. Historically, Mary was sentenced to death not for her part in her husbands murder but for a plot against queen Elizabeth of England. Mary was sentenced to death in 1587 in Fotheringhay Castle.

• James was a child when his mother was imprisoned and 26 when Queen Mary of Scotland was executed. It is said in the show the reasoning for James not wanting to attend his mothers execution was because he never met her. according to the conversation with Elizabeth, but the real reasoning was according to James his mother didn't want him there. 

Also, fun fact, Queen Elizabeth II of England is the 11th Great Grand Daughter of Mary, Queen of Scots.

The lineage is:

• Mary, Queen of Scots

• James VI of Scotland/James I of England [son]

• Elizabeth Stuart [daughter]

• Sophia Electress of Hanover [daughter]

• George I, King of Great Britain [son]

• George II, King of Great Britain [son]

• Frederick, Prince of Wales [son]

• George III, King of the United Kingdom [son]

• Edward, Duke of Kent [son]

• Victoria, Queen of the UK [granddaughter of George III]

• Edward VII, King of the UK [son]

• George V, King of the UK [son]

• George VI, King of the UK [younger son of George V]

• Elizabeth II

(source: https://reign-cw.fandom.com/wiki/Historical_Differences )(https://www.wikipedia.org/ ) )

Coming to what I thought of it, definitely recommend watching the show if you love historical shows. The outfits and the locations are so pretty, the actors are the perfect fit for their characters. After watching the show you can't imagine anyone else playing the characters they did. My favourite character would definitely be Bash and Mary.

Did you watch the show yet? If yes, comment down below your thoughts on it!