Henry Stuart, Lord Darnley

Henry Stuart, Lord Darnley (born December 7, 1545 in Temple Newsam House , Yorkshire ; † February 10, 1567 in Kirk o'Field Abbey , Edinburgh ) was the second husband of Queen Mary Queen of Scots (his cousin) and therefore since 1565 Duke of Albany , Earl of Ross and Lord Ardmannoch and formally King of Scotland , even if he was not involved in the government.

Life

Henry Stuart was the second son of Matthew Stewart, 4th Earl of Lennox and Margaret Douglas , daughter of Archibald Douglas, 6th Earl of Angus , and Margaret Tudor , sister of King Henry VIII of England , at Temple Newsam House in Yorkshire , the " Hampton Court of the North", was born. His date of birth is traditionally given as December 7th, 1545. However, this would mean that his conception would have taken place only a few weeks after the birth of his older brother of the same name, Henry Stuart, Lord Darnley (* February 6, 1545 - November 29, 1545), which is doubted by some historians. In addition, a messenger from Mary Queen of Scots, Darnley's wife, stated in March 1566 that the queen's consort was just 19 years old. According to this, Darnley would have been born on December 7, 1546. As the Marriage Apparent of the Earls of Lennox, he carried the courtesy title of Lord Darnley - a sub-title of his father. Through his mother, a niece of King Henry VIII of England , he was a great-grandson of King Henry VII of England . Henry, who belonged to the Scottish royal family Stuart , was - after his father - the next contender for the Scottish throne should Mary die childless, and he also had good claims to the English throne.

Lord Darnley grew up in England. He received the usual lessons of his circles influenced by the humanism of the Renaissance , had a beautiful handwriting and was distinguished by skill in military exercises. His ambitious mother sent him to France for the first time in 1559 to congratulate Francis II and his wife Maria Stuart on their accession to the throne. After the death of Franz II in December 1560, his mother sent him again to France, where he officially asked for Mary's hand. Lady Lennox would have liked to see her son succeeding Elizabeth on the throne of England, and marrying his cousin Maria Stuart seemed to her the right means to an end. As a result, mother and son, who were both English subjects, were imprisoned by Elisabeth in 1561, but were released again after a short time.

Marriage to Maria Stuart

Lord Darnley and his little brother, Lord Charles Stuart , by Hans Eworth

Darnley spent some time at the English court before heading to Scotland in 1565. The marriage with Maria Stuart was a love marriage, but at the same time also a political calculation. Already in 1564 he was shortlisted by Maria, but only as a second choice, as Maria still showed interest in Elisabeth's proposal to marry Robert Dudley, the Earl of Leicester - for which Elisabeth wanted to assure her of the English throne in this case. Since the English side, apart from the groom's unwillingness, was temporarily lacking interest, Maria decided to marry Darnley after nursing her new suitor while suffering from measles .

In Scottish politics, Darnley's return had sparked unrest and fears, as his parents had great territorial influence there and were “feared more than loved”. Darnley was also a Catholic and feared a turnaround in Scotland's Protestant alignment, as Mary Scotland recommended Philip II and promised that after her marriage to Darnley, Scotland would be "as much under his control as any part of his kingdom." Many Scottish nobles were appalled by the impending marriage, and Mary's half-brother James Stewart, 1st Earl of Moray , went to England with some Protestant nobles, others were exiled by Mary.

Elizabeth I's attitude towards this marriage is ambiguous and difficult to understand. On the one hand, she had offered Darnley Maria as a "second choice" husband and allowed him to travel to Scotland, and she also knew that Maria was interested in marrying Darnley. On the other hand, she and the Privy Council have declared their unequivocal displeasure, and the offer to Maria to marry Robert Dudley, Earl of Leicester ("or any other English nobleman" than Darnley) was renewed as quickly as possible. It was too late, however: the wedding of Darnley and Queen Mary took place on July 29, 1565 in the chapel of Holyrood Palace in Edinburgh.

Assassination of Rizzio

Maria, who soon became pregnant, was initially very much in love with her handsome bridegroom, but this enthusiasm quickly cooled and the couple quickly became estranged. Lord Darnley was haughty, with a tendency to violence. He caused a stir in Edinburgh with his antics in pubs and brothels. In his opinion, his title of king was not sufficiently appreciated because Maria did not grant him any political influence. He felt hurt in his pride when parliament refused to make him king in its own right. He took part in a conspiracy by Scottish lords that turned against the Queen's private secretary and confidante, David Rizzio . In Darnley's opinion, Rizzio was also Maria's lover. Jealously he and his accomplices murdered the Italian on March 9, 1566 in front of his pregnant wife in Holyrood Palace . Maria was placed under house arrest but was able to escape to Dunbar with the help of her fickle husband, who had changed fronts and back on her side .

After the birth of their son James on June 19, 1566, the succession was assured and Mary turned her favor to her future third husband James Hepburn, 4th Earl of Bothwell . Darnley, whose co-conspirators had turned away from him to switch sides, was now isolated. When rumors of murder surfaced, he feared for his life and set out to leave Scotland, but various circumstances prevented him from pursuing his plan. He fled to Glasgow , where an illness (possibly syphilis, but probably smallpox) knocked him down. Maria persuaded Darnley to return to Edinburgh.

Darnley's death

In consideration of his health, he traveled in short stages and stopped in Kirk o'Field, within the city walls of Edinburgh. He was still in bed, and his wife demonstratively cared for him and promised him that marital relations would soon be resumed. On the evening of February 9, 1567, Mary said goodbye to him and went to the wedding of her maid at Holyrood Palace nearby. Shortly afterwards, there was a huge explosion in his accommodation that completely destroyed the house. Darnley himself and his servant were found dead near the house in an orchard outside the city walls. Since he was bare and showed no injuries, it is believed that he was strangled while trying to escape.

His son, Crown Prince Jakob , as well as his parents and brother kneel in front of the laid body of Henry . (Epitaph by Lieven de Vogeleer)

The perpetrators were initially not identified for obvious political reasons. The Earl of Bothwell was the obvious employer to all of them when it was discovered that he had had the gunpowder used in Darnley's basement. In addition, several Scottish lords (including Bothwell) had already sworn an oath ( bond of manrent ) in the presence of Mary at Craigmillar Castle in November 1566 to eliminate Darnley for the good of the state. An accomplishment of Maria Stuart has often been denied, but it can hardly be doubted.

Darnley's remains were interred in the chapel of Holyrood Palace. Darnley's father commissioned the painter Lieven de Vogeleer - probably in the same year - for an epitaph that shows Darnley's family (without the widow Maria) kneeling in front of his body (and praying for retribution), before a scene of a campaign. It hangs today in Holyrood Palace in the same room in which Darnley stabbed Rizzio, of whose pool of blood alleged traces can still be seen.

Maria married the Earl of Bothwell just weeks after Darnley's death. The marriage to the alleged murderer Darnley caused a major scandal, which subsequently led to the rebellion against the Queen, her deposition and her flight to England.

progeny

The marriage with Maria Stuart produced a child:

James Stuart (1566–1625), from 1567 as James VI. King of Scotland, from 1603 as James I also King of England; ⚭ Anna of Denmark

Web links

Commons : Henry Stuart, Lord Darnley - Collection of Pictures, Videos and Audio Files

Henry Stewart, Lord Darnley at Encyclopædia Britannica Online

Notes and evidence

↑ Alison Weir: Mary, Queen of Scots, and the Murder of Lord Darnley. Trade Paperback Edition. Ballantine Books, New York NY 2009, ISBN 978-0-8129-7151-4 , p. 61.
↑ Caroline Bingham: Darnley. A life of Henry Stuart, Lord Darnley, consort of Mary Queen of Scots. Constable, London 1995, pp. 67-68.
↑ Caroline Bingham: Darnley. A life of Henry Stuart, Lord Darnley, consort of Mary Queen of Scots. Constable, London 1995, p. 72.
^ Frederick Chamberlin: Elizabeth and Leycester. Dodd, Mead & Co., New York NY 1939, pp. 146, 147.
^ Frederick Chamberlin: Elizabeth and Leycester. Dodd, Mead & Co., New York NY 1939, p. 145.
^ Frederick Chamberlin: Elizabeth and Leycester. Dodd, Mead & Co., New York NY 1939, pp. 143-144, 158.
^ Frederick Chamberlin: Elizabeth and Leycester. Dodd, Mead & Co., New York NY 1939, pp. 154-157.
^ Frederick Chamberlin: Elizabeth and Leycester. Dodd, Mead & Co., New York NY 1939, p. 147.
^ Frederick Chamberlin: Elizabeth and Leycester. Dodd, Mead & Co., New York NY 1939, p. 160.
^ Frederick Chamberlin: Elizabeth and Leycester. Dodd, Mead & Co., New York NY 1939, p. 446.
^ Frederick Chamberlin: Elizabeth and Leycester. Dodd, Mead & Co., New York NY 1939, p. 153.
^ Frederick Chamberlin: Elizabeth and Leycester. Dodd, Mead & Co., New York NY 1939, pp. 159-161.
^ Frederick Chamberlin: Elizabeth and Leycester. Dodd, Mead & Co., New York NY 1939, pp. 445, 446.
↑ "It was thought expedient and most profitable for the common wealth, ..., that such a young fool and proud tyrant should not reign or bear rule over them; ... that he should be put off by one way or another;" and whoever should take the deed in hand or do it, they should defend "( Book of Articles ): Antonia Fraser : Mary Queen of Scots. Panther, London 1970, ISBN 0-586-03379-3 , pp. 335-336.

literature

Caroline Bingham: Darnley. A life of Henry Stuart, Lord Darnley, consort of Mary Queen of Scots. Constable, London 1995, ISBN 0-09-472530-6 .
Alison Weir: Mary, Queen of Scots and the Murder of Lord Darnley. Ballantine Books, New York NY 2003, ISBN 0-345-43658-X .
George Edward Cokayne , Vicary Gibbs (Eds.): The Complete Peerage . Volume 1, Alan Sutton Publishing, Gloucester 2000, p. 82.

predecessor	Office	successor
Francis II of France	Royal Consort of Scotland 1565–1567	James Hepburn, 4th Earl of Bothwell
New title created	Earl of Ross Duke of Albany 1565-1567	James Stuart

personal data
SURNAME	Stuart, Henry, Lord Darnley
BRIEF DESCRIPTION	Husband of Mary Queen of Scots, Titular King of Scotland
DATE OF BIRTH	December 7, 1545
PLACE OF BIRTH	Temple Newsam, Yorkshire
DATE OF DEATH	February 10, 1567
Place of death	Kirk o'Field Abbey, Edinburgh , Scotland

[1] Alison Weir: Mary, Queen of Scots, and the Murder of Lord Darnley. Trade Paperback Edition. Ballantine Books, New York NY 2009, ISBN 978-0-8129-7151-4 , p. 61.

[2] Caroline Bingham: Darnley. A life of Henry Stuart, Lord Darnley, consort of Mary Queen of Scots. Constable, London 1995, pp. 67-68.

[3] Caroline Bingham: Darnley. A life of Henry Stuart, Lord Darnley, consort of Mary Queen of Scots. Constable, London 1995, p. 72.

[4] Frederick Chamberlin: Elizabeth and Leycester. Dodd, Mead & Co., New York NY 1939, pp. 146, 147.

[5] Frederick Chamberlin: Elizabeth and Leycester. Dodd, Mead & Co., New York NY 1939, p. 145.

[6] Frederick Chamberlin: Elizabeth and Leycester. Dodd, Mead & Co., New York NY 1939, pp. 143-144, 158.

[7] Frederick Chamberlin: Elizabeth and Leycester. Dodd, Mead & Co., New York NY 1939, pp. 154-157.

[8] Frederick Chamberlin: Elizabeth and Leycester. Dodd, Mead & Co., New York NY 1939, p. 147.

[9] Frederick Chamberlin: Elizabeth and Leycester. Dodd, Mead & Co., New York NY 1939, p. 160.

[10] Frederick Chamberlin: Elizabeth and Leycester. Dodd, Mead & Co., New York NY 1939, p. 446.

[11] Frederick Chamberlin: Elizabeth and Leycester. Dodd, Mead & Co., New York NY 1939, p. 153.

[12] Frederick Chamberlin: Elizabeth and Leycester. Dodd, Mead & Co., New York NY 1939, pp. 159-161.

[13] Frederick Chamberlin: Elizabeth and Leycester. Dodd, Mead & Co., New York NY 1939, pp. 445, 446.

[14] "It was thought expedient and most profitable for the common wealth, ..., that such a young fool and proud tyrant should not reign or bear rule over them; ... that he should be put off by one way or another;" and whoever should take the deed in hand or do it, they should defend "( Book of Articles ): Antonia Fraser : Mary Queen of Scots. Panther, London 1970, ISBN 0-586-03379-3 , pp. 335-336.