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The rivalry between Queen Elizabeth I and Mary Stuart, Queen of Scots has fascinated historians and the public alike for centuries. From plays and movies to historical fiction novels and academic history books, their relationship has been covered in every possible medium. Yet, it is one that deserves thorough attention, as it is a complex one. In many ways, one could describe Elizabeth and Mary’s relationship as pure rivalry, but it was more complicated than that. It is true that the men in their lives – Elizabeth’s privy councillors and Mary’s uncles, the Guises – played a large part in their conflict with one another. In order to teach this topic from a new perspective and with a fresh approach, recent scholarship in the public and academic domain needs to be at the forefront of the debates and discussions set up in class by teachers.