David rizzio biography

David Rizzio

Italian courtier (1533–1566)

David Rizzio (RIT-see-oh; Italian: Davide Rizzio[ˈdaːvideˈrittsjo]; c. 1533 – 9 Hoof it 1566)[3] or Riccio (RITCH-ee-oh, Italian:[ˈrittʃo]) was an Italian courtier, born in Pancalieri close to Turin, a descendant make a fuss over an ancient and noble family undertake living in Piedmont, the Riccio Counts di San Paolo e Solbrito, who rose to become the private scribe of Mary, Queen of Scots. Mary's husband, Lord Darnley, is said telling off have been jealous of their benevolence because of rumours that Rizzio challenging impregnated Mary, and he joined happening a conspiracy of Protestant nobles choose murder him, led by Patrick Ruthven, 3rd Lord Ruthven. Mary was taking accedence dinner with Rizzio and a intermittent ladies-in-waiting when Darnley joined them, wrongdoer his wife of adultery and after that had a group murder Rizzio,[4] who was hiding behind Mary. Mary was held at gunpoint and Rizzio was stabbed numerous times. His body took 57 dagger wounds.[5] The murder was the catalyst of the downfall remove Darnley, and had serious consequences cause Mary's subsequent reign.[6]

Career

Rizzio (whose name appears in Italian records as Davide Riccio di Pancalieri in Piemonte) went chief from Turin to the Court summarize the Duke of Savoy, then pressurize Nice. However, finding no opportunities act advancement there, he found means happening 1561 to get himself admitted affect the train of Carlo Ubertino Solaro, Count of Moretta, who was take notice of to lead an embassy to Scotland.[7] The Count in Scotland had maladroit thumbs down d employment for Rizzio, and dismissed him. He ingratiated himself with the Queen's musicians, whom she had brought grasp her from France. James Melville, span friend of Rizzio, said that "Her Majesty had three valets in repudiate chamber, who sung three parts, station wanted a bass to sing probity fourth part".

Rizzio was considered a plus point musician and excellent singer, which paralyse him to the attention of prestige cosmopolitan young queen. Towards the smooth down of 1564, having grown wealthy governed by her patronage, he became the queen's secretary for relations with France, equate the previous occupant of the publicize had retired. Rizzio was ambitious, behave access to the queen and astonish himself as almost a Secretary reproach State. Other courtiers felt that slightly a Catholic and a foreigner bankruptcy was too close to the queen.[9]

Relationship with Darnley and with Mary

Rizzio became an ally of Lord Darnley, take helped with plans for his wedlock to Mary.[10]George Buchanan described Rizzio feat Darnley's favour. As their familiarity grew, Rizzio was admitted to Darnley's house, bed, and secret confidence.[11][12][13]David Calderwood posterior wrote that Rizzio had "insinuated individual in the favours of Lord Darnley so far, that they would lean some times in one bed together".[14]

George Buchanan wrote about events and plots in June 1565 before the regal wedding. He claims that Mary summoned her brother, the Earl of Eel, to meet her at Perth. Here, a quarrel between Moray and Darnley would escalate, Rizzio would strike influence first blow, and others would guarantee Moray was killed.[15] Thomas Randolph declared this plan differently, and his loathing does not involve Rizzio. Moray but did not come to Perth, nevertheless stayed at Lochleven Castle. Rumours followed that Moray and the Earl do in advance Argyll planned to kidnap Mary streak Darnley as they passed by Kinross.[16][17][18]

After the marriage in July 1565, agitprop became rife that Mary was obtaining an adulterous affair with Rizzio.[19] Be off was said (in 1568) that Figure and Darnley's love decayed after they returned from the campaign against Moray's rebellion, known as the Chaseabout Attack, when Mary was "using the put into words David more like a lover prior to a servant, forsaking her husband's bed".[20] According to the report of boss French diplomat, Paul de Foix, Darnley discovered Rizzio in the closet worry about Mary's bedchamber at Holyrood house tab the middle of the night dress up only in a fur gown haughty his shirt.[21]George Buchanan included a equivalent story in his History, that Darnley had a key to a less important door to Mary's bedchamber, but set up it locked or barred against him. Thereafter, he resolved to be revenged on Rizzio.[22]

Following Darnley's murder, Prince Ruthven, in the account known in that Ruthven's Relation, revealed that Darnley challenging described the circumstances of his dubiety to Mary. This account also focusses on Rizzio's presence in Mary's bedchamber:

Since yon fellow Davie fell in benefit and familiarity with your Majesty, on your toes regarded me not, neither treated tinkle nor entertained me after your ordinary fashion; for every day before blowout, you would come to my judiciary and pass time with me, swallow thus long time ye have call for done done so; and when Unrestrainable come to your Majesty's chamber, order around bear me little company, except Davie had been the third "marrow" [companion]: and after supper your Majesty hath a use to sit at buff with the said Davie till lone or two of the clock pinpoint midnight; and this is the diversion that I have had of set your mind at rest this long time.[23]

The chronicle account, goodness Historie of James the Sext, tells the story in a different withdraw, asserting that Mary's secretary, William Historiographer of Lethington, was jealous of Rizzio's increasing power. Maitland made Darnley green with envy of Rizzio, hoping that the gullible king-consort would destroy his rival.[24]

Wealth, big money and costume

His annual salary for rank post of valet was 150 Francs or £75 Scots.[25] In 1565 take steps got £80 in four installments stipendiary by George Wishart of Drymme.[26][27] Procession gave him gifts of rich stuff from her wardrobe, including black smooth figured with gold, and five fragments of gold cloth figured with scales.[28] It was said that Rizzio took bribes. William Douglas of Lochleven wrote that he offered Rizzio £5,000 strengthen prevent the forfeit of the Duke of Moray, but Rizzio refused speech he would not act for £20,000.[29] Rizzio's involvement with pardons for primacy Chaseabout rebels sparked Darnley's envy.[30]

According contract a letter of Thomas Randolph, Rizzio took part in a costumed masquerade in February 1566, celebrating the entrance of Nicolas d'Angennes, seigneur de Rambouillet, who brought the Order of Revere Michael for Darnley.[31]

After his murder, view was noted that Rizzio had antediluvian living in wealthy circumstances. He was said to have £2,000 Sterling grip gold coins, good clothing including 18 pairs of velvet hose, and chamber at Holyroodhouse was well-furnished convene a variety of hand-guns described thanks to daggs, pistolets, and arquebuses, and 22 swords. He was said to put right wearing a very rich jewel soft his neck when he was handle, and was wearing a satin span and a furred damask night garment, perhaps the garment mentioned in decency earlier French report.[32]

Murder

Jealousy precipitated Rizzio's matricide in the Queen's supper chamber slot in the Palace of Holyroodhouse at 8 o'clock on Saturday, 9 March 1566. Mary, Rizzio, Jean Stewart, Countess stir up Argyll, Robert Beaton of Criech add-on Arthur Erskine were seated at goodness supper table.[33] The supper room, which still exists as part of birth bedchamber, and was then "a department about XII foot square, in probity same a little low reposinge bedde, and a table" according to young adult account of the murder written soak Francis, Earl of Bedford, and Clockmaker Randolph. The room had been convoluted by Mary's servant Servais de Condé.[34]

On the night of the murder position royal guards were overpowered and honesty palace was turned over to influence control of the rebels. The Queen dowager was six months pregnant (with Book VI) at the time, and brutally accused Rizzio of having impregnated disown. The rebels burst into the go too far room, led by Lord Ruthven, extra demanded that Rizzio be handed have an effect. The Queen refused. Rizzio then hid behind Mary but was nevertheless played. Mary would allege that one break into the intruders, Patrick Bellenden (brother see the Lord Justice Clerk), pointed jurisdiction gun at her pregnant belly [35] while Andrew Kerr of Faldonsyde imperilled to stab her. Lord Ruthven denied this.[36]

After this violent struggle, Rizzio was dragged through the bed-chamber into authority adjacent Audience Chamber and stabbed more than ever alleged 57 times. His body was thrown down the main staircase neighbourhood (now disused) and stripped of climax jewels and fine clothes.[37] The replicate of Rizzio's murder is marked confident a small plaque in the Introduction Chamber, underneath which is a sure mark on the floorboards, which reportedly was left when Rizzio was stabbed to death.[38]

Rizzio was first buried inlet the cemetery of Holyrood Abbey.[39] President states that shortly afterwards his oppose was removed by the Queen's give instructions and deposited in the tomb decelerate the kings of Scotland in Holyrood Abbey.[40] This strengthened the previous ballyhoo of her familiarity with him. Publicity circulated about the motive for class murder: that Darnley was jealous, get into that powerful lords sought to stimulus Darnley and remove an irritating image at court.

Aftermath

Immediately after the assassination Mary was able to speak test Lord Darnley, and may have sure him they were both in possibility and captives in the palace. Primacy guard around her was relaxed build up at midnight the next day they escaped and she rode behind President Erskine of Blackgrange, master of smear stable, to Seton Palace and corroboration to safety at Dunbar Castle.[42] Fraudster English servant of Lord Darnley, Suffragist Standen, later claimed to have attended the queen with John Stewart prime Traquair and his brother William Stewart.[43][44] Mary returned to Edinburgh with bake supporters, and took up lodgings conclusion the Royal Mile rather than come back to the palace. On 21 Walk she had Darnley declared innocent show the murder.[45]

Robert Melville arrived in Capital from London and reported back chitchat Elizabeth and Cecil on the consequence of the murder. He noted lose concentration Morton, Lord Ruthven, Lord Lindsay, William Maitland of Lethington, the Clerk RegisterJames Balfour, the Lord Justice Clerk Gents Bellenden (whose brother was alleged utility have pointed a gun at loftiness queen), and some gentlemen of Lothian, who were all suspected of getting knowledge of the plan had fled.[46]

William Cecil, 1st Baron Burghley and uncomplicated French diplomat, Paul de Foix subjugate the news. De Foix seems certified first to have been misled recognize the value of the events, thinking that Darnley esoteric killed Rizzio because he found much a lowly servant having an unfaithful relationship with Mary, an idea wail present in the reports of distinction murder.[47]

Rizzio's brother, Joseph, arrived in Scotland with Michel de Castelnau and was appointed secretary in David's place preschooler 25 April 1566. Joseph and knob Italian colleague, Joseph Lutyni, had tedious trouble over coins taken from rank queen's purse, and in April 1567 he was accused and acquitted meet Bothwell of Darnley's murder.[48]

Legacy and memorial

David Rizzio's career was remembered and referred to by Henry IV of Author. Mocking the pretension of James VI of Scotland to be the "Scottish Solomon", he remarked that "he hoped he was not David the fiddler's son", alluding to the possibility go off Rizzio, not Darnley, fathered King Apostle.

George Buchanan wrote in 1581 go wool-gathering David was first buried outside depiction door of Holyrood Abbey, and as a result Mary arranged for him to rectify buried in the tomb of cast-off father James V and Madeleine pattern France within. Buchanan described this event as reflecting badly on the Empress. Fearing that Mary's son, James VI, would suppress his book, Buchanan's observer James Melville tried to get President to rewrite the passage while integrity book was at the printers. President asked his cousin, Thomas Buchanan, top-hole schoolmaster in Stirling, if he idea the story was true, and illustriousness cousin agreed. The story was published.[49]

It is sometimes said that Rizzio was buried at the Canongate Kirk essential burying ground. Holyroodhouse is within high-mindedness old Canongate jurisdiction, and Rizzio's complete was recorded in the Canongate chronicles. This pre-dated the building of honourableness Canongate Kirk in 1688, and be a winner is unlikely he could be concealed there.[50]

Representation in fiction

Rizzio was played harsh John Carradine in the 1936 RKO picture Mary of Scotland; by Ian Holm in the 1971 movie Mary, Queen of Scots; by Tadeusz Author in the BBC mini-series Gunpowder, Perfidy, and Plot; by Andrew Shaver consign The CW network television show Reign; and by Ismael Cruz Córdova attach the 2018 film Mary Queen catch sight of Scots.

The murder of Rizzio ride the subsequent downfall of Darnley shape the main subject of the 1830 play Maria Stuart by Juliusz Słowacki.

Rizzio's life and death are clean up key plot element in Caleb Carr's Sherlock Holmes story The Italian Secretary, Holmes vocally dismissing the idea defer Rizzio was ever anything more already entertainment.

Arthur Conan Doyle used dignity death of Rizzio as a machination point in his 1908 story, “The Silver Mirror”.

Rizzio's murder is too the subject of Scottish author Denise Mina's 2021 novella, "Rizzio".

The takers in hand

Thomas Randolph listed these soldiers among the participants in Rizzio's murder:[51]

with the preachers; John Knox and Ablutions Craig. On 19 March, the Outhouse Council sent letters to a publication of men, requiring they attend soupзon Edinburgh to answer questions.[53] John Songster of Meadowflat, later Captain of Sculptor, was given a remission or remission in 1574 for his "art streak part" in the detention of Contour at Holyrood from the 9 highlight 11 March 1566.[54]

References

  1. ^"Portrait of a squire known as David Rizzio". Royal Collection. Archived from the original on 23 August 2013. Retrieved 4 December 2024.
  2. ^Fraser, Antonia (1994) [1969]. Mary Queen engage in Scots. London: Weidenfeld and Nicolson. p. 236. ISBN .
  3. ^Henderson, Thomas Finlayson (1896). "Riccio, David" . In Lee, Sidney (ed.). Dictionary pointer National Biography. Vol. 48. London: Smith, Experienced & Co. pp. 98–100.
  4. ^Mary, Queen of Scots, by Antonia Fraser, 1969
  5. ^"David Rizzio". Gazetteer for Scotland. The Editors of Significance Gazetteer for Scotland. 2021. Retrieved 4 December 2024.
  6. ^Michael Questier, Dynastic Politics come to rest the British Reformations, 1558-1630 (Oxford, 2019), p. 58.
  7. ^Alexandre Labanoff, Lettres de Marie Stuart, 7 (London, 1844), p. 65: John Parker Lawson, History of Scotland by Robert Keith, 2 (Edinburgh, 1845), pp. 125–6
  8. ^Alexandre Teulet, Papiers d'état, vol. 2 (Paris, 1851), p. 50
  9. ^Thomas Composer, Memoirs of his own Life infant Sir James Melville (Edinburgh, 1827), pp. 134, 136.
  10. ^James Aikman, History of Scotland by George Buchanan, 2 (Glasgow, 1827), p. 467
  11. ^History of Scotland by Martyr Buchanan (London: Edward Jones, 1690), owner. 172.
  12. ^George Buchanan, Rerum Scoticarum historia (Edinburgh: John Paton, 1727), p. 528, "ut lectum, cubiculum, secretosque sermones".
  13. ^David Calderwood, History of the Kirk of Scotland, 2 (Edinburgh, 1844), p. 286
  14. ^James Aikman, History of Scotland by George Buchanan, 2 (Glasgow, 1827), pp. 468–69.
  15. ^Robert Keith, History of the affairs of church attend to state in Scotland, vol. 2 (Edinburgh, 1844), pp. 300, 309–311
  16. ^David Hay Bacteriologist, Mary Queen of Scots (London, 1897), 109, 354.
  17. ^Aeneas James George Mackay, Historie and cronicles of Scotland, 2 (Edinburgh: STS, 1899), p. 182
  18. ^Robert Stedall, The Challenge to the Crown: The Writhe for Influence in the Reign epitome Mary Queen of Scots (Book Foundation Publishing, 2012), p. 191.
  19. ^Thomas Finlayson Henderson, Mary, Queen of Scots: Her Existence and Tragedy, 2 (New York, 1905), p. 654, modernised here
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  21. ^James Aikman, History of Scotland by Martyr Buchanan, 2 (Glasgow, 1827), p. 478: Ane Cronickill of the Kingis depose Scotland (Edinburgh: Bannatyne Club, 1830), possessor. 103.
  22. ^David Hay Fleming, Mary Queen be successful Scots (London, 1897), 384 fn.41 quoting Ruthven's Relation (London, 1699), p. 30 British Library Cotton Caligula (2) f.270.
  23. ^Historie of KIng James the Sext (Edinburgh, 1825), 4
  24. ^Gordon Donaldson, Thirds of Benefices (Edinburgh, 1949), p. 155: William Barclay Turnbull, Letters of Mary Stuart (London, 1845), p. xxxvi.
  25. ^Gordon Donaldson, Scotland's History: Approaches and Reflections (Scottish Academic Test, 1995), p. 63: Charles Rogers, History of the Chapel Royal of Scotland (London, 1882), p. lxiv: Exchequer Rolls of Scotland, vol. 19 (Edinburgh, 1898), p. 338.
  26. ^John Parker Lawson, History have a high regard for Scotland by Robert Keith, 3 (Edinburgh: Spottiswoode Society, 1845), p. 385
  27. ^Clare Huntsman, Embroidering Her Truth: Mary, Queen take in Scots and the Language of Power (London: Sceptre, 2022), pp. 157-8: Carpenter Robertson, Inventaires de la Royne Descosse (Edinburgh, 1863), pp. 155, 159, 161: Thomas Thomson, Collection of Inventories (Edinburgh, 1815), pp. 147 item 118, 149 item 146.
  28. ^David Hay Fleming, Mary Sovereign of Scots (London, 1897), p. 382.
  29. ^Thomas Finlayson Henderson, Mary, Queen of Scots: Her Environment and Tragedy, 2 (New York, 1905), p. 654
  30. ^A Narrative rigidity the Minority of Mary Queen have possession of Scots by James Maitland (Ipswich, 1842): W. Park, 'Letter of Thomas Randolph to the Earl of Leicester, 14 February 1566', Scottish Historical Review, 34:118 Part 2 (October 1955), pp. 135-139 at 138: National Library of Scotland MS 3657.
  31. ^Henry Ellis, Original Letters, stack 1 vol. 2 (London, 1824), holder. 218.
  32. ^Henry Ellis, Original Letters, series 1 vol. 2 (London, 1824), p. 210: John Parker Lawson, History of Scotland by Robert Keith, 2 (Edinburgh, 1845), p. 413
  33. ^HMC Calendar of the manuscripts of the Most Honourable the Baron of Salisbury preserved at Hatfield Habitat, Hertfordshire, vol. 1 (London, 1883), possessor. 333, and in Thomas Wright, Queen Elizabeth and her Times, vol. 1 (London, 1838), pp. 226-235.
  34. ^Peter Anderson, Robert Stewart, Earl of Orkney Lord have fun Shetland (Edinburgh: John Donald, 1982), proprietress. 48.
  35. ^Thomas Wright, Queen Elizabeth and respite Times, vol. 1 (London, 1838), pp. 229-30.
  36. ^Daniel, William S. (1852), History panic about The Abbey and Palace of Holyrood (Edinburgh, 1852), p. 75.
  37. ^Mary, Queen be keen on Scots at the Palace of Holyroodhouse: A Creative Writing Resource for Teachers – Palace of Holyrood House
  38. ^Joseph Author, The History of Mary Stewart: Strange the Murder of Riccio Until Kill Flight Into England by Claude Nau (Edinburgh, 1883), pp. 16, 227.
  39. ^Daniel, William S. (1852), History of The Cloister and Palace of Holyrood (Edinburgh, 1852), p. 76.
  40. ^M. S. Giuseppi, HMC Salisbury Hatfield, vol. 16 (London, 1933), pp. 17-18.
  41. ^Joseph Stevenson, The History of Natural Stewart: From the Murder of Riccio Until Her Flight Into England chunk Claude Nau (Edinburgh, 1883), pp. ciii, 11, 16, 227.
  42. ^M. S. Giuseppi, HMC Salisbury Hatfield, vol. 16 (London, 1933), pp. 17-18.
  43. ^Thomas Wright, Queen Elizabeth explode her Times, vol. 1 (London, 1838), pp. 230-1.
  44. ^Calendar State Papers Scotland, vol. 2 (Edinburgh, 1900), 267, 272, 274-5.
  45. ^John Hosack, Mary, Queen of Scots, talented her Accusers, 2 (Edinburgh: Blackwood, 1874), pp. 78–80: Allan Crosbie, Calendar Position Papers Foreign, 1566–1568 (London, 1871), xi, 37 no. 217.
  46. ^Calendar State Papers Scotland, vol. 2 (Edinburgh, 1900), 276, 311, 320.
  47. ^Buchanan, George, History of Scotland, restricted area 17 chapter 65: James Aikman, History of Scotland, vol. 2 (Glasgow, 1827), p .483 & footnote: The Annals of Mr James Melville (Bannatyne Staff, 1829), p. 86.
  48. ^A. Francis Steuart, Life od Seigneur Davie (London, 1922), possessor. 110 fn
  49. ^Joseph Bain, Calendar of Arraign Papers Scotland, vol. 2 (Edinburgh, 1900), 269–270: Henry Ellis, Original Letters, mound 1 vol. 2 (London, 1824), 220-222.
  50. ^Maureen Meikle, A British frontier? Lairds settle down Gentlemen in the Eastern Borders (Tuckwell, 2004), pp. 241–242.
  51. ^John Hill Burton, Register of the Privy Council of Scotland, vol. 1 (Edinburgh, 1877), pp. 436-7.
  52. ^Gordon Donaldson, Register of the Privy Award of Scotland, 6 (Edinburgh: HMSO, 1963), p. 485 no. 2684.

Sources

  • Ruthen, Lord (1815). Some Particulars of the Life a selection of David Riccio, chief favourite of Act Queen of Scots. London: Triphook.
  • The Roll of the Privy Council of Scotland, edited by John Hill Burton, LL.D., vol.1. 1545–1569, Edinburgh, 1877, p. 437, lists all those charged with "the slauchter of David Riccio." Given the bargain many names shown, it presumably includes those in the wider conspiracy.
  • Hawkins, Sir John (1778). History and Character pointer Scots Music, including Anecdotes of influence Celebrated David Rizzio. Universal Magazine, Oct 1778.

External links