Henry Stuart, Lord Darnley (1545-1567)

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King Consort of Scotland

Henry Stuart, Lord Darnley was born 7 December 1545 to Matthew Stewart, 4th Earl of Lennox (1516-1571) and Margaret Douglas (1515-1578) and died 10 February 1567 of unspecified causes. He married Mary of Scotland (1542-1586) 29 July 1565 ^JL .

Biography

Henry Stuart, also known as Lord Darnley, was a member of the Scottish royal family who played a significant role in the history of both Scotland and England. Born on December 7, 1545, he was the eldest son of Matthew Stewart, 4th Earl of Lennox, and Lady Margaret Douglas, daughter of Margaret Tudor (1489-1541), sister of King Henry VIII of England (1491-1547).

As a member of the Scottish royal family, Darnley was considered a potential claimant to the throne of Scotland, and his marriage to Mary, Queen of Scots in 1565 was intended to strengthen his claim. The marriage was initially met with approval by both Catholics and Protestants in Scotland, but it quickly soured due to Darnley's erratic behavior and his lack of political skills.

Darnley's relationship with Mary was further strained by his involvement in a plot to overthrow her chief advisor, David Rizzio, in 1566. Rizzio was murdered in Mary's presence, and Darnley was widely suspected of having played a role in the assassination.

Despite these difficulties, Mary gave birth to a son, James, in 1566, and Darnley appeared to have reconciled with her. However, their relationship deteriorated again in 1567, when Darnley was murdered in mysterious circumstances. Although the identity of his killers remains a subject of debate, many historians believe that Mary was involved in the plot.

Darnley's death had far-reaching consequences for both Scotland and England. It set off a chain of events that ultimately led to Mary's forced abdication and imprisonment in England, and it contributed to the rise of Protestantism in Scotland. It also paved the way for the accession of James VI of Scotland (James I of England) to the English throne in 1603, following the death of Elizabeth I.

Overall, Darnley is remembered as a tragic figure who was unable to fulfill his potential due to his own flaws and the complex political circumstances of his time.

Marriage to Mary, Queen of Scots

On 3 February 1565, Darnley left London and by 12 February, he was in Edinburgh. On 17 February, he presented himself to Mary at Wemyss Castle in Fife.^[2] James Melville of Halhill reported that "Her Majesty took well with him, and said that he was the lustiest and best proportioned long man that she had seen."^[3] After a brief visit to his father at Dunkeld, Darnley returned with Mary and the court to Holyrood on 24 February. The next day, he heard John Knox preach, and he danced a galliard with Mary at night.^[4] From then on, he was constantly in Mary's company.^[5]

Darnley was his wife's half-first cousin through two different marriages of their grandmother, Margaret Tudor, putting both Mary and Darnley high in the line of succession for the English throne. Darnley was also a descendant of a daughter of James II of Scotland, and so also in line for the throne of Scotland.

As a preliminary to the marriage, Darnley was made a knight, Lord of Ardmanoch and Earl of Ross at Stirling Castle on 15 May 1565.^[6] An entourage of 15 men were made knights, including one of Mary's half brothers, Robert Stewart of Strathdon, Robert Drummond of Carnock, James Stewart of Doune Castle, and William Murray of Tullibardine.^[7] In England, a concerned Privy council debated the perils of the intended marriage on 4 June. One of their resolutions was to relax the displeasure shown to Lady Catherine Grey, another rival to Mary Stuart for the English throne.^[8] Mary sent John Hay, Commendator of Balmerino, to speak to Elizabeth; Elizabeth demanded Darnley's return, and gave John Hay plainly to understand her small satisfaction.^[9]

On 22 July, Darnley was made Duke of Albany in Holyrood Abbey, and the banns of marriage were called in the parish of Canongate. A proclamation was made at the Cross of Edinburgh on 28 July 1565 that government would be in the joint names of the king and queen of Scots, thus making Darnley king and giving him equality with, and precedence over, Mary. This was confirmed in the circulation of a silver ryal in the names of Henry and Mary.^[10]^[11]

On 29 July 1565, the marriage took place by Roman Catholic rites in Mary's private chapel at Holyrood, but Darnley (whose religious beliefs were unfixed – he was raised as a Catholic, but was later influenced by Protestantism)^[12] refused to accompany Mary to the nuptial Mass after the wedding itself.^[5]

Children

Offspring of Henry Stuart and Mary of Scotland (1542-1586)
Name	Birth	Death	Joined with
James I of England (1566-1625)	19 June 1566 Edinburgh Castle, Midlothian, Scotland, United Kingdom	1625 Cheshunt, Hertfordshire, England, United Kingdom	Anne of Denmark (1574-1618)

James I of England (1566-1625) was King of Scotland as James VI from 24 July 1567 and King of England and Ireland as James I from the union of the Scottish and English crowns on 24 March 1603 until his death in 1625. Although he wanted to bring about a closer union, the kingdoms of Scotland and England remained individual sovereign states, with their own parliaments, judiciaries, and laws, both ruled by James in personal union.

Siblings

Offspring of Matthew Stewart, 4th Earl of Lennox (1516-1571) and Margaret Douglas (1515-1578)
Name	Birth	Death	Joined with
Henry Stuart (1545-1545)
Henry Stuart, Lord Darnley (1545-1567)	7 December 1545	10 February 1567	Mary of Scotland (1542-1586)
Charles Stewart, 5th Earl of Lennox (1555-c1576)	1555	1576	Elizabeth Cavendish (1555-1582)

Darnley: A Life of Henry Stuart, Lord Darnley, Consort of Mary Queen of Scots by Caroline Bingham
Macauley, Sarah, 'Lennox Crisis', in Northern History vol.41.2 (2004) subscription or ATHENS login required.
Greig, Elaine Finnie (2004). "Stewart, Henry, duke of Albany [Lord Darnley] (1545/6–1567)". Oxford Dictionary of National Biography. 1. Oxford University Press. doi:10.1093/ref:odnb/26473. http://www.oxforddnb.com/index/26/101026473/. Retrieved 3 March 2012. (subscription or UK public library membership required)
Weir, Alison (2008). Mary, Queen of Scots and the Murder of Lord Darnley. London: Random House. ISBN 978-0-09-952707-7.
Wormald, Jenny (1988). Mary, Queen of Scots. London: George Philip. ISBN 978-0-540-01131-5.

External Links

wikipedia:en:Henry Stuart, Lord Darnley
Henry Stuart, Lord Darnley at thePeerage
Henry Stuart, Lord Darnley, Geni.com, https://www.geni.com/people/Henry-Stewart-Lord-Darnley/6000000003876051113, retrieved 01 May 2023
Henry Stuart, Lord Darnley at Find A Grave
Lucy Dean, 'Rituals to Celebrate Perpetual Peace: The Marriage of Margaret Tudor and James IV in 1503'
Margaret Douglas: The forgotten Tudor princess, BBC History Magazine, 18 November 2015 at 5:00 pm
Henry Stuart, Lord Darnley at Genealogics
Stewart 20

Ancestry Trees

Contemporary References

Some of the best contemporary references for Lord Darnley, include:

The Book of Articles, 1566 - This document was produced by the Scottish nobility as a response to the murder of David Rizzio, which many believed Lord Darnley had a hand in. It includes a section accusing Darnley of being "an unworthy person, of nature impatient, fickle, and of small judgment."
John Knox's History of the Reformation in Scotland, 1584 - This work by the Scottish Protestant reformer John Knox is a primary source on the political and religious landscape of Scotland during Lord Darnley's time. It includes information on Darnley's marriage to Mary, Queen of Scots, as well as his involvement in the murder of David Rizzio.
George Buchanan's History of Scotland, 1582 - This work by the Scottish historian and scholar George Buchanan provides a detailed account of Scottish history up to the time of James VI's accession to the English throne. It includes information on Lord Darnley's life, marriage to Mary, and death.
The Lennox Papers, 19th century - This collection of letters and documents from the Lennox family, including Lord Darnley's father, provides insight into the family's activities and relationships during Lord Darnley's lifetime.
The Letters and Life of Mary Queen of Scots, 1839 - This collection of letters and documents related to Mary, Queen of Scots includes information on Lord Darnley's life and marriage to Mary.

Royal Succession Charts

Scottish royalty
Vacant Title last held by Francis II of France	King consort of Scots 1565–1567	Vacant Title next held by James Hepburn, Duke of Orkney
Peerage of Scotland
New creation	Duke of Albany 4th creation Earl of Ross 3rd creation 1565–1567	Succeeded by James Stuart

References

^ "Henry Stuart, Lord Darnley, (1545–1567) and Mary, Queen of Scots (1542–1587), National Trust Inventory Number 1129218". National Trust collections. http://www.nationaltrustcollections.org.uk/object/1129218.
^ Charles Wemyss, Noble House of Scotland (Prestel Verlag, 2014), p. 80: Joseph Bain, Calendar State Papers Scotland, vol. 2 (Edinburgh, 1900), pp. 125-6.
^ Melville, James (1973). Gordon Donaldson. ed. Memoirs of his own life. New York: AMS Press. ISBN 0404527183. https://archive.org/details/MemoirsOfHisOwnLife.
^ Joseph Bain, Calendar State Papers Scotland, vol. 2 (Edinburgh, 1900), p. 128.
^ ^a ^b Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named Greig
^ The Scots Peerage, vol. I, p. 155.
^ Goodare, Julian, 'Queen Mary's Catholic Interlude', in Mary Stewart Queen in Three Kingdoms: Innes Review, vol.37 (1987), p. 158: Calendar of State Papers Scotland, vol. 2 (Edinburgh, 1900), p. 161 no. 181.
^ Calendar State Papers Scotland, vol. 2 (Edinburgh, 1900), pp. 175, 194.
^ Calendar of State Papers Scotland, vol. 2 (Edinburgh, 1900), pp. 175–177, 178.
^ Calendar State Papers Scotland, vol. 2 (Edinburgh, 1900), p. 184.
^ Daniel, William S. (Edinburgh, 1852), History of The Abbey and Palace of Holyrood, p. 67.
^ Davison, Meredith Henry Armstrong, The Casket Letters 1965.

Footnotes (including sources)

Thurstan, Phlox, Rtol, MainTour

[1] "Henry Stuart, Lord Darnley, (1545–1567) and Mary, Queen of Scots (1542–1587), National Trust Inventory Number 1129218". National Trust collections. http://www.nationaltrustcollections.org.uk/object/1129218.

[2] Charles Wemyss, Noble House of Scotland (Prestel Verlag, 2014), p. 80: Joseph Bain, Calendar State Papers Scotland, vol. 2 (Edinburgh, 1900), pp. 125-6.

[3] Melville, James (1973). Gordon Donaldson. ed. Memoirs of his own life. New York: AMS Press. ISBN 0404527183. https://archive.org/details/MemoirsOfHisOwnLife.

[4] Joseph Bain, Calendar State Papers Scotland, vol. 2 (Edinburgh, 1900), p. 128.

[Greig-5] Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named Greig

[6] The Scots Peerage, vol. I, p. 155.

[7] Goodare, Julian, 'Queen Mary's Catholic Interlude', in Mary Stewart Queen in Three Kingdoms: Innes Review, vol.37 (1987), p. 158: Calendar of State Papers Scotland, vol. 2 (Edinburgh, 1900), p. 161 no. 181.

[8] Calendar State Papers Scotland, vol. 2 (Edinburgh, 1900), pp. 175, 194.

[9] Calendar of State Papers Scotland, vol. 2 (Edinburgh, 1900), pp. 175–177, 178.

[10] Calendar State Papers Scotland, vol. 2 (Edinburgh, 1900), p. 184.

[Daniel2-11] Daniel, William S. (Edinburgh, 1852), History of The Abbey and Palace of Holyrood, p. 67.

[Davison,_Meredith_Henry_Armstrong_1965-12] Davison, Meredith Henry Armstrong, The Casket Letters 1965.

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