British Culture - User contributions [en]

David Riccio/Rizzio

2022-07-10T20:59:05Z

David.Hesbacher: Wording in "Life"

[[File:Portrait of a Man known as David Rizzio (ca.1620).jpg|thumb|Portrait of a Man Known as David Rizzio (ca.1620)]]

C 1533–1566. Sometimes also called David Riccio or original Italian Davide Rizzio. Musician, secretary and confidant of [[Mary, Queen of Scots]] and famous murder victim.

==== Life ====

David Rizzio was born in Piedmont, close to Turin, the son of a musician, from whom he got his musical education. He began his career in the service of the archbishop of Turin, which is why he moved to Niece to work at the court of the Duke of Savoy.
In the autumn of 1561, he accompanied his employer's ambassador to Scotland and became employed as a musician in the service of Mary Stuart, who looked for a bass singer to complete the quartet in her private chapel. In December 1564, she chose Rizzio to be the successor of her secretary, Raulet, preponderant for his trustability instead his linguistic skills in the French language. In his new position, he was responsible for the Queen's correspondence with France and the Pope. Furthermore, he helped Mary Stuart to set her marital union with [[Henry Stuart, Lord Darnley]] in July 1565 and remained a close adviser for the Queen after the wedding. His influence on the Queen grew, and practically, he took over the position and power of William Maitland of Lethington as Secretary of State.

==== Death ====

Darnley was known to be jealous, and perhaps, he assumed that not he but Rizzio was the father of Mary Stuart’s yet [[James I|unborn child]]. So, he instigated his murder. Darnley persuaded a group of Scottish nobles that Mary was having a love affair. It is unclear if Rizzio really was her lover or rather a good friend and trusted confidant.
On 9 March 1566, Rizzio had spent the evening with the pregnant Queen and some of her friends in her dining room. Darnley entered the room and hauled Mary into her bedroom, while Lord Ruthven, the 4th Earl of Morton, and other Scottish nobles entered the room and dragged Rizzio into the supper-room, stabbed him 56 times, and then threw him into a corner. After their failed attempt to get his body down the narrow stair, they pushed him through a window to the ground.

==== Works Cited ====

* "David Riccio." ''Britannica Academic, Encyclopædia Britannica'', 20 Jul. 1998. academic.eb.com/levels/collegiate/article/David-Riccio/63530.
* “Riccio, David.” ''Dictionary of National Biography'', 1885-1900, vol. 48, 1896.
* “Mary, Queen of Scots at the Palace of Holyroodhouse. A Creative writing Resource for Teachers”, ''Palace of Holyroodhouse, Royal Collection Trust''. https://www.rct.uk/sites/default/files/Mary,%20Queen%20of%20Scots%20at%20the%20Palace%20of%20Holyroodhouse%20-%20Creative%20Writing%20Resource.pdf. Accessed 7 July 2022.

James I

2022-07-10T20:25:50Z

David.Hesbacher: added: link to Henry Stuart, Lord Darnley Page

19 June 1566 - 27 March 1622. James VI King of Scots 1567-1625. James I King of England 1603-1625.

As the son of [[Mary, Queen of Scots]] and her second husband [[Henry Stuart, Lord Darnley]], James became King of Scots on 19 July 1567 at the age of 13 months, when his mother was forced to abdicate and fled to England. James never saw his mother again but was in touch via letters with her, however, they did not have a good relationship and he did not do much to help Mary in captivity, nor to prevent her execution.

Being a boy King, he had counsellors ruling in his name. He was raised as a Protestant and received a good education. When [[Elizabeth I]] died childless in 1603, James succeeded her on the English throne as James I of England. He was crowned at Westminster Abbey on 25 July 1603 becoming the first Stuart King to unite the English and the Scottish Crowns. His attempt to unite the governments, however, was not successful, but the transition was rather peaceful.

Shortly after his succession to the English throne, in 1605, there was a failed attempt to blow up Parliament and to have him killed, which is today known as [[Gunpowder Plot]] and still celebrated at Guy Fawkes Night on 5 November. Guy Fawkes and other Roman Catholic conspirators brought gunpowder to one of the chambers, but the attempt was discovered and prevented before it was too late.

James married [[Anne of Denmark]] in 1589 and had eight children with her, of whom only three (Henry, Elizabeth and Charles) survived infancy. His son Henry died at age 18, and thus his younger son [[Charles I|Charles]] succeeded him. James wanted Charles to marry the Spanish Princess and sent him to Spain, but the trip failed. Mixed reception in historiography: on the one hand intellectual and interested in philosophy and the arts, on the other hand promoter of the divine right of kings, favoritism, persecution of witches and smokers. Via his daughter Elizabeth, he is the ninth great-grandfather of ruling Queen [[Elizabeth II]].

King James loved the arts and was the patron of William Shakespeare’s company, the King’s Men. Drama flourished at his court. He further had the (King James’) Bible translated into English. James wrote ''Daemonologie'' in 1597, which is said to have inspired Shakespeare’s play ''Macbeth'' [source?]. ''Daemonologie'' is about magic, witchcraft and spirits and James firmly believed in the persecution of witches.

The first town in North America was called Jamestown in his honor in 1607 and in 1624, Virginia became the King’s Royal Colony.

When he died in 1625, James had been King for 58 years.

== Sources ==
* "King James I (1603 - 1625)." ''Britroyals'', http://www.britroyals.com/kings.asp?id=james1. Accessed 8 June 2022.
* "James I (r. 1603-1625)." ''royal.uk'', https://www.royal.uk/james-i. Accessed 8 June 2022.
* “James VI and I.” ''National Museum Scotland'', https://www.nms.ac.uk/explore-our-collections/stories/scottish-history-and-archaeology/james-vi-and-i/. Accessed 8 June 2022.
* Cole, Mary Hill. "James VI and I (1566–1625)." ''Encyclopedia Virginia. Virginia Humanities'', (22 Dec. 2021). Web. 7 Jun. 2022. https://encyclopediavirginia.org/entries/james-vi-and-i-1566-1625/. Accessed 8 June 2022.
* “King James VI and I’s ''Demonology'', 1597.” ''British Library'', https://www.bl.uk/collection-items/king-james-vi-and-is-demonology-1597. Accessed 8 June 2022.
* “James I of England.” ''World History Encyclopedia'', https://www.worldhistory.org/James_I_of_England/. Accessed 8 June 2022.

Henry Stuart, Lord Darnley

2022-07-10T20:23:47Z

David.Hesbacher: added: link to David Riccio/Rizzio Page

[[File:henrystuart.jpg|200px|thumb|left|A Portrait of Henry Stuart - Lord Darnley]] 1545-1567. Second husband of [[Mary Stuart|Mary Queen of Scots]]. Henry Stuart was member of the Scottish Parliament as the 1st Duke of Albany and even in line for the Scottish and English crown due to his family relations. However he is more famous for his role as husband and the circumstances of his death.

He was born December 1545 in Yorkshire and was killed only at age 21 on 10 February in 1567 in Edinburgh.

In 1565 he married Mary Stuart, his cousin (among other intricate family connections), who had either fallen in love with him or married for political reasons, depending on the source.1 The marriage soon bore their only child in 1566, [[James I|James]], who later would unite the English and Scottish thrones and herald the start of the Stuart reign in Britain (Maurer).

[[File:kirkofield.jpg|200px|thumb|This painting shows the scene of Kirk o'Field after the explosion.]] The couple separated not long after their marriage, when Henry believed that Mary Stuart had a relationship with her Italian private secretary [[David Riccio/Rizzio|David Riccio]] and that she even was pregnant by him. Driven by envy, Henry Stuart and some accomplices violently entered a banquet at the Palace of [[Holyroodhouse]] where Riccio and Mary were present, and Riccio was stabbed to death under the eyes of Mary.

Only a year later, Darnley got word of an imminent conspiracy against him and fled to safety in Glasgow. There, however, he fell seriously ill and when Mary came to visit him, husband and wife became reconciled. After a mutual trip to Edinburgh, Darnley was staying at Kirk o’Field, just inside the city walls of Edinburgh. On the evening of 9 February 1567, Mary said goodbye to her husband and left him for some festivities in town. On the next morning, the apartment building blew up by a gunpowder explosion in its basement and Henry Stuart was found dead. Surprisingly, however, his body was located at a distance to the destroyed building and showed signs of strangulation. It is speculated that he tried to flee from his murderers but was caught and strangled (Weir).

A group of Scottish conspirators led by [[James Hepburn, Earl of Bothwell]] where held responsible. Since Mary was well acquainted with Bothwell and later married him, it is believed that she at least knew, if not ordered the murder of her husband. The fact that the murderer subsequently kidnapped her to Dunbar where they got married supports this assumption (Maurer).

== Sources ==
* Maurer, Michael. ''Kleine Geschichte Englands''. Stuttgart: Reclam, 2007.
* Weir, Alison. ''Mary, Queen of Scots and the Murder of Lord Darnley''. New York: Random House, 2004.
* http://www.learningcurve.gov.uk/snapshots/snapshot02/kirk-o-field-popup1.htm [accessed on 31/05/2010]

Mary, Queen of Scots

2022-07-10T20:22:10Z

David.Hesbacher: added: link to David Riccio/Rizzio Page

1542-1587. French, Scottish and - to some - legitimate English queen.

The daughter of the Scottish king James V and Marie de Guise inherited the throne from her father December 14 1542, when she was only six days old. In 1548 she was sent to France to live at the court of Henry II of France and was betrothed to the Dauphin, Francis, whom she married in 1558. When Henry II died, Mary and Francis reigned over France and Scotland and Mary also claimed the thrones of England and Ireland.

Francis died on December 5 1560, the couple was childless. Due to a contract made with Henry before her marriage, Mary could stay in France or go back to Scotland. She decided to go back to her home country Scotland in August, 1561. She married again, [[Henry Stuart, Lord Darnley]], who was a Catholic but later allied with the Protestants. Mary and Henry are the parents of James VI of Scotland, who later became [[James I]] of England.

Mary led a close friendship with her secretary, [[David Riccio/Rizzio|David Riccio]], and there were rumours about a love affair. In 1566, a group of rebels forced their entry into the Palace of Holyroodhouse, threatened the Queen and stabbed Riccio to death.

On February 10 1567, Darnley was murdered, and only a few months later Mary married James Hepburn, Earl of Bothwell, one of the conspirators against Darnley. That is one of the reasons why Mary was accused to be involved in the murder and was forced to abdicate on behalf of her son. The tension between Mary’s supporters and enemies rose. On May 2 1568, after Mary had been captured for about one year at Lochleven Castle, she could escape and joined forces with the Hamilton family in the West. She decided to appeal to [[Elizabeth I]], her cousin, and to flee to England.

Since Elizabeth was childless, she considered Mary, being the closest Catholic claimant to the English throne, as danger to her own power. Elizabeth kept Mary as a prisoner although at this time the claim that Mary was one of the murderers of Darnley met some counter evidence. There could also be some evidence in the so-called Casket Letters, letters supposedly written by Mary and Bothwell, but it is unclear whether they really existed and if so, what was written in them because the originals are not existant and only some translated copies exist today.

After many Catholic plots, in which she was implicated, Mary was finally accused of conspiring against Elizabeth and found guilty after the abortive [[Babington Plot]] of 1586. She was last kept at Fotheringhay Castle, where she was also executed in 1587. A grisly affair, if the sources and anecdotes are to be believed: the executioner was not able to cut her head off at the first blow, so he had to try it with a second, and a third one. When he wanted to show the head to the audience he was only carrying Mary’s wig, her head with grey hair still lying on the ground.

== Sources ==
* Cannon, John Ashton. ''The Oxford Companion to British History''. Oxford: Oxford UP, 1997.
* MacKay, James. ''In My End is My Beginning - A Life of Mary Queen of Scots''. Edinburgh: Mainstream Publ., 2000.
* http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/historic_figures/scots_mary_queen_of.shtml
* Wormald, Jenny. ''Mary, Queen of Scots. Politics, Passion and a Kingdom Lost''. London and New York: Tauris Parke Paperbacks, 2001.

David Riccio/Rizzio

2022-07-08T16:27:18Z

David.Hesbacher: /* Death */

[[File:Portrait of a Man known as David Rizzio (ca.1620).jpg|thumb|Portrait of a Man Known as David Rizzio (ca.1620)]]
David Rizzio (ca. 1533 – 1566), sometimes also called David Riccio or original Italian Davide Rizzio, was born in Piedmont, close to Turin. He was an Italian musician who became a secretary of [[Mary, Queen of Scots|Mary Stuart, the Queen of Scots]], in 1564. On March 9, 1566, he was stabbed to death by Scottish nobles in the Palace of [[Holyroodhouse]], the residence of English monarchs in Scotland. His murder was instigated by Mary Stuart’s husband [[Henry Stuart, Lord Darnley]], for reasons of jealousy.

==== Life ====

David Rizzio was the son of a musician, from whom he got his musical education. He began his career in the service of the archbishop of Turin, which is why he moved to Niece to work in the court of the Duke of Savoy.
In the autumn of 1561, he accompanied the Duke of Savoy’s ambassador to Scotland and became employed as a musician in the service of the Queen of Scots, who looked for a bass singer to complete the quartette in her private chapel. In December 1564, Mary Stuart chose Rizzio to succeed her French secretary, Raulet, for his trustworthiness rather than for his linguistic skills. In his new position, he was responsible for the Queen's correspondence with France and the Pope. Furthermore, he helped Mary Stuart to arrange her marriage to Henry Stuart, Lord Darnley, on July 1565 and remained a close adviser for the Queen after the wedding. His influence on the Queen grew, and practically, he overtook the position and power of William Maitland of Lethington as secretary of the state.

==== Death ====

Mary Stuart’s husband Lord Darnley was known to be jealous, and perhaps, he assumed that not he but Rizzio was the father of Mary Stuart’s unborn child. So, he instigated his murder. Darnley persuaded a group of Scottish nobles that Mary was having a love affair. It is not clear if Rizzio really was her lover or rather a good friend and trusted confidant.
On March 9, 1566, Rizzio had spent the evening with the pregnant Queen and some of her friends in her dining room. Darnley entered the room and hauled Mary into her bedroom, while Lord Ruthven, the 4th Earl of Morton, and other Scottish nobles entered the room and dragged Rizzio into the supper-room, stabbed him 56 times, and then threw him into a corner. After their failed attempt to get his body down the narrow stair, they pushed him through a window to the ground.

==== Works Cited ====

* "David Riccio." Britannica Academic, Encyclopædia Britannica, 20 Jul. 1998. academic.eb.com/levels/collegiate/article/David-Riccio/63530.
* “Riccio, David.” Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900, vol. 48, 1896.
* “Mary, Queen of Scots at the Palace of Holyroodhouse. A Creative writing Resource for Teachers.”, Palace of Holyroodhouse, Royal Collection Trust. https://www.rct.uk/sites/default/files/Mary,%20Queen%20of%20Scots%20at%20the%20Palace%20of%20Holyroodhouse%20-%20Creative%20Writing%20Resource.pdf. Accessed 7 July 2022.

David Riccio/Rizzio

2022-07-08T16:25:18Z

David.Hesbacher: /* Death */

[[File:Portrait of a Man known as David Rizzio (ca.1620).jpg|thumb|Portrait of a Man Known as David Rizzio (ca.1620)]]
David Rizzio (ca. 1533 – 1566), sometimes also called David Riccio or original Italian Davide Rizzio, was born in Piedmont, close to Turin. He was an Italian musician who became a secretary of [[Mary, Queen of Scots|Mary Stuart, the Queen of Scots]], in 1564. On March 9, 1566, he was stabbed to death by Scottish nobles in the Palace of [[Holyroodhouse]], the residence of English monarchs in Scotland. His murder was instigated by Mary Stuart’s husband [[Henry Stuart, Lord Darnley]], for reasons of jealousy.

==== Life ====

David Rizzio was the son of a musician, from whom he got his musical education. He began his career in the service of the archbishop of Turin, which is why he moved to Niece to work in the court of the Duke of Savoy.
In the autumn of 1561, he accompanied the Duke of Savoy’s ambassador to Scotland and became employed as a musician in the service of the Queen of Scots, who looked for a bass singer to complete the quartette in her private chapel. In December 1564, Mary Stuart chose Rizzio to succeed her French secretary, Raulet, for his trustworthiness rather than for his linguistic skills. In his new position, he was responsible for the Queen's correspondence with France and the Pope. Furthermore, he helped Mary Stuart to arrange her marriage to Henry Stuart, Lord Darnley, on July 1565 and remained a close adviser for the Queen after the wedding. His influence on the Queen grew, and practically, he overtook the position and power of William Maitland of Lethington as secretary of the state.

==== Death ====

Mary Stuart’s husband Lord Darnley was known to be jealous, and perhaps, he assumed that not he, but Rizzio was the father of Mary Stuart’s unborn child. So, he instigated his murder. Darnley persuaded a group of Scottish nobles that Mary was having a love affair. It is not clear if Rizzio really was her lover or rather a good friend and trusted confidant.
On March 9, 1566, Rizzio had spent the evening with the pregnant Queen and some of her friends in her dining room. Darnley entered the room and hauled Mary into her bedroom, while Lord Ruthven, the 4th Earl of Morton, and other Scottish nobles entered the room and dragged Rizzio into the supper-room, stabbed him 56 times, and then threw him into a corner. After their failed attempt to get his body down the narrow stair, they pushed his body through a window to the ground.

==== Works Cited ====

* "David Riccio." Britannica Academic, Encyclopædia Britannica, 20 Jul. 1998. academic.eb.com/levels/collegiate/article/David-Riccio/63530.
* “Riccio, David.” Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900, vol. 48, 1896.
* “Mary, Queen of Scots at the Palace of Holyroodhouse. A Creative writing Resource for Teachers.”, Palace of Holyroodhouse, Royal Collection Trust. https://www.rct.uk/sites/default/files/Mary,%20Queen%20of%20Scots%20at%20the%20Palace%20of%20Holyroodhouse%20-%20Creative%20Writing%20Resource.pdf. Accessed 7 July 2022.

David Riccio/Rizzio

2022-07-08T16:24:45Z

David.Hesbacher: /* Life */

[[File:Portrait of a Man known as David Rizzio (ca.1620).jpg|thumb|Portrait of a Man Known as David Rizzio (ca.1620)]]
David Rizzio (ca. 1533 – 1566), sometimes also called David Riccio or original Italian Davide Rizzio, was born in Piedmont, close to Turin. He was an Italian musician who became a secretary of [[Mary, Queen of Scots|Mary Stuart, the Queen of Scots]], in 1564. On March 9, 1566, he was stabbed to death by Scottish nobles in the Palace of [[Holyroodhouse]], the residence of English monarchs in Scotland. His murder was instigated by Mary Stuart’s husband [[Henry Stuart, Lord Darnley]], for reasons of jealousy.

==== Life ====

David Rizzio was the son of a musician, from whom he got his musical education. He began his career in the service of the archbishop of Turin, which is why he moved to Niece to work in the court of the Duke of Savoy.
In the autumn of 1561, he accompanied the Duke of Savoy’s ambassador to Scotland and became employed as a musician in the service of the Queen of Scots, who looked for a bass singer to complete the quartette in her private chapel. In December 1564, Mary Stuart chose Rizzio to succeed her French secretary, Raulet, for his trustworthiness rather than for his linguistic skills. In his new position, he was responsible for the Queen's correspondence with France and the Pope. Furthermore, he helped Mary Stuart to arrange her marriage to Henry Stuart, Lord Darnley, on July 1565 and remained a close adviser for the Queen after the wedding. His influence on the Queen grew, and practically, he overtook the position and power of William Maitland of Lethington as secretary of the state.

==== Death ====

Mary Stuart’s husband Lord Darnley was known to be jealous, and perhaps, he assumed that no he, but Rizzio was the father of Mary Stuart’s unborn child. So, he instigated his murder. Darnley persuaded a group of Scottish nobles that Mary was having a love affair. It is not clear if Rizzio really was her lover or rather a good friend and trusted confidant.
On March 9, 1566, Rizzio had spent the evening with the pregnant Queen and some of her friends in her dining room. Darnley entered the room and hauled Mary into her bedroom, while Lord Ruthven, the 4th Earl of Morton, and other Scottish nobles entered the room and dragged Rizzio into the supper-room, stabbed him 56 times, and then threw him into a corner. After their failed attempt to get his body down the narrow stair, they pushed his body through a window to the ground.

==== Works Cited ====

* "David Riccio." Britannica Academic, Encyclopædia Britannica, 20 Jul. 1998. academic.eb.com/levels/collegiate/article/David-Riccio/63530.
* “Riccio, David.” Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900, vol. 48, 1896.
* “Mary, Queen of Scots at the Palace of Holyroodhouse. A Creative writing Resource for Teachers.”, Palace of Holyroodhouse, Royal Collection Trust. https://www.rct.uk/sites/default/files/Mary,%20Queen%20of%20Scots%20at%20the%20Palace%20of%20Holyroodhouse%20-%20Creative%20Writing%20Resource.pdf. Accessed 7 July 2022.

David Riccio/Rizzio

2022-07-08T14:28:54Z

David.Hesbacher: /* Works Cited */

[[File:Portrait of a Man known as David Rizzio (ca.1620).jpg|thumb|Portrait of a Man Known as David Rizzio (ca.1620)]]
David Rizzio (ca. 1533 – 1566), sometimes also called David Riccio or original Italian Davide Rizzio, was born in Piedmont, close to Turin. He was an Italian musician who became a secretary of [[Mary, Queen of Scots|Mary Stuart, the Queen of Scots]], in 1564. On March 9, 1566, he was stabbed to death by Scottish nobles in the Palace of [[Holyroodhouse]], the residence of English monarchs in Scotland. His murder was instigated by Mary Stuart’s husband [[Henry Stuart, Lord Darnley]], for reasons of jealousy.

==== Life ====

David Rizzio was the son of a musician, from whom he got his musical education. He began his career in the service of the archbishop of Turin, which is why he moved to Niece to work in the court of the Duke of Savoy.
In the autumn of 1561, he accompanied the Duke of Savoy’s ambassador to Scotland and became employed as a musician in the service of the Queen of Scots, who looked for a bass singer to complete the quartette in her private chapel. In December 1564, Mary Stuart chose Rizzio to succeed Mary Stuart’s French secretary, Raulet, for his trustworthiness rather than for his linguistic skills. In his new position, he was responsible for the Queen's correspondence with France and the Pope. Furthermore, he helped Mary Stuart to arrange her marriage to Henry Stuart, Lord Darnley, on July 1565 and remained a close adviser for the Queen after the wedding. His influence on the Queen grew, and practically, he overtook the position and power of William Maitland of Lethington as secretary of the state.

==== Death ====

Mary Stuart’s husband Lord Darnley was known to be jealous, and perhaps, he assumed that no he, but Rizzio was the father of Mary Stuart’s unborn child. So, he instigated his murder. Darnley persuaded a group of Scottish nobles that Mary was having a love affair. It is not clear if Rizzio really was her lover or rather a good friend and trusted confidant.
On March 9, 1566, Rizzio had spent the evening with the pregnant Queen and some of her friends in her dining room. Darnley entered the room and hauled Mary into her bedroom, while Lord Ruthven, the 4th Earl of Morton, and other Scottish nobles entered the room and dragged Rizzio into the supper-room, stabbed him 56 times, and then threw him into a corner. After their failed attempt to get his body down the narrow stair, they pushed his body through a window to the ground.

==== Works Cited ====

* "David Riccio." Britannica Academic, Encyclopædia Britannica, 20 Jul. 1998. academic.eb.com/levels/collegiate/article/David-Riccio/63530.
* “Riccio, David.” Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900, vol. 48, 1896.
* “Mary, Queen of Scots at the Palace of Holyroodhouse. A Creative writing Resource for Teachers.”, Palace of Holyroodhouse, Royal Collection Trust. https://www.rct.uk/sites/default/files/Mary,%20Queen%20of%20Scots%20at%20the%20Palace%20of%20Holyroodhouse%20-%20Creative%20Writing%20Resource.pdf. Accessed 7 July 2022.

David Riccio/Rizzio

2022-07-08T14:24:52Z

David.Hesbacher: Adding the image properly

[[File:Portrait of a Man known as David Rizzio (ca.1620).jpg|thumb|Portrait of a Man Known as David Rizzio (ca.1620)]]
David Rizzio (ca. 1533 – 1566), sometimes also called David Riccio or original Italian Davide Rizzio, was born in Piedmont, close to Turin. He was an Italian musician who became a secretary of [[Mary, Queen of Scots|Mary Stuart, the Queen of Scots]], in 1564. On March 9, 1566, he was stabbed to death by Scottish nobles in the Palace of [[Holyroodhouse]], the residence of English monarchs in Scotland. His murder was instigated by Mary Stuart’s husband [[Henry Stuart, Lord Darnley]], for reasons of jealousy.

==== Life ====

David Rizzio was the son of a musician, from whom he got his musical education. He began his career in the service of the archbishop of Turin, which is why he moved to Niece to work in the court of the Duke of Savoy.
In the autumn of 1561, he accompanied the Duke of Savoy’s ambassador to Scotland and became employed as a musician in the service of the Queen of Scots, who looked for a bass singer to complete the quartette in her private chapel. In December 1564, Mary Stuart chose Rizzio to succeed Mary Stuart’s French secretary, Raulet, for his trustworthiness rather than for his linguistic skills. In his new position, he was responsible for the Queen's correspondence with France and the Pope. Furthermore, he helped Mary Stuart to arrange her marriage to Henry Stuart, Lord Darnley, on July 1565 and remained a close adviser for the Queen after the wedding. His influence on the Queen grew, and practically, he overtook the position and power of William Maitland of Lethington as secretary of the state.

==== Death ====

Mary Stuart’s husband Lord Darnley was known to be jealous, and perhaps, he assumed that no he, but Rizzio was the father of Mary Stuart’s unborn child. So, he instigated his murder. Darnley persuaded a group of Scottish nobles that Mary was having a love affair. It is not clear if Rizzio really was her lover or rather a good friend and trusted confidant.
On March 9, 1566, Rizzio had spent the evening with the pregnant Queen and some of her friends in her dining room. Darnley entered the room and hauled Mary into her bedroom, while Lord Ruthven, the 4th Earl of Morton, and other Scottish nobles entered the room and dragged Rizzio into the supper-room, stabbed him 56 times, and then threw him into a corner. After their failed attempt to get his body down the narrow stair, they pushed his body through a window to the ground.

==== Works Cited ====

* "David Riccio." Britannica Academic, Encyclopædia Britannica, 20 Jul. 1998. academic.eb.com/levels/collegiate/article/David-Riccio/63530.
* “Riccio, David”. Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900, vol. 48, 1896.
* “Mary, Queen of Scots at the Palace of Holyroodhouse. A Creative writing Resource for Teachers.”, Palace of Holyroodhouse, Royal Collection Trust. https://www.rct.uk/sites/default/files/Mary,%20Queen%20of%20Scots%20at%20the%20Palace%20of%20Holyroodhouse%20-%20Creative%20Writing%20Resource.pdf. Accessed 7 July 2022.

David Riccio/Rizzio

2022-07-08T14:10:35Z

David.Hesbacher: Link, interpunction, adding his correspondence with France and the Pope.

[[File:Portrait of a Man known as David Rizzio (ca.1620)|frame|right|Portrait of a Man known as David Rizzio (ca.1620)]]
David Rizzio (ca. 1533 – 1566), sometimes also called David Riccio or original Italian Davide Rizzio, was born in Piedmont, close to Turin. He was an Italian musician who became a secretary of [[Mary, Queen of Scots|Mary Stuart, the Queen of Scots]], in 1564. On March 9, 1566, he was stabbed to death by Scottish nobles in the Palace of [[Holyroodhouse]], the residence of English monarchs in Scotland. His murder was instigated by Mary Stuart’s husband [[Henry Stuart, Lord Darnley]], for reasons of jealousy.

==== Life ====

David Rizzio was the son of a musician, from whom he got his musical education. He began his career in the service of the archbishop of Turin, which is why he moved to Niece to work in the court of the Duke of Savoy.
In the autumn of 1561, he accompanied the Duke of Savoy’s ambassador to Scotland and became employed as a musician in the service of the Queen of Scots, who looked for a bass singer to complete the quartette in her private chapel. In December 1564, Mary Stuart chose Rizzio to succeed Mary Stuart’s French secretary, Raulet, for his trustworthiness rather than for his linguistic skills. In his new position, he was responsible for the Queen's correspondence with France and the Pope. Furthermore, he helped Mary Stuart to arrange her marriage to Henry Stuart, Lord Darnley, on July 1565 and remained a close adviser for the Queen after the wedding. His influence on the Queen grew, and practically, he overtook the position and power of William Maitland of Lethington as secretary of the state.

==== Death ====

Mary Stuart’s husband Lord Darnley was known to be jealous, and perhaps, he assumed that no he, but Rizzio was the father of Mary Stuart’s unborn child. So, he instigated his murder. Darnley persuaded a group of Scottish nobles that Mary was having a love affair. It is not clear if Rizzio really was her lover or rather a good friend and trusted confidant.
On March 9, 1566, Rizzio had spent the evening with the pregnant Queen and some of her friends in her dining room. Darnley entered the room and hauled Mary into her bedroom, while Lord Ruthven, the 4th Earl of Morton, and other Scottish nobles entered the room and dragged Rizzio into the supper-room, stabbed him 56 times, and then threw him into a corner. After their failed attempt to get his body down the narrow stair, they pushed his body through a window to the ground.

==== Works Cited ====

* "David Riccio." Britannica Academic, Encyclopædia Britannica, 20 Jul. 1998. academic.eb.com/levels/collegiate/article/David-Riccio/63530.
* “Riccio, David”. Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900, vol. 48, 1896.
* “Mary, Queen of Scots at the Palace of Holyroodhouse. A Creative writing Resource for Teachers.”, Palace of Holyroodhouse, Royal Collection Trust. https://www.rct.uk/sites/default/files/Mary,%20Queen%20of%20Scots%20at%20the%20Palace%20of%20Holyroodhouse%20-%20Creative%20Writing%20Resource.pdf. Accessed 7 July 2022.

David Riccio/Rizzio

2022-07-08T13:52:29Z

David.Hesbacher: David Riccio/Rizzio (ca. 1533 - 1566) was a secretary to Mary Stuart, Queen of Scots. His murder on March 9, 1566, was instigated by Mary Stuart’s husband Henry Stuart, Lord Darnley, for reasons of jealousy.

[[File:Portrait of a Man known as David Rizzio (ca.1620)|frame|right|Portrait of a Man known as David Rizzio (ca.1620)]]
David Rizzio (ca. 1533 – 1566), sometimes also called David Riccio or original Italian Davide Rizzio, was born in Piedmont, close to Turin. He was an Italian musician who became a secretary of [[Mary, Queen of Scots|Mary Stuart, the Queen of Scots]], in 1564. On March 9, 1566, he was stabbed to death by Scottish nobles in the Palace of Holyroodhouse, the residence of English monarchs in Scotland. His murder was instigated by Mary Stuart’s husband [[Henry Stuart, Lord Darnley]], for reasons of jealousy.

==== Life ====

David Rizzio was the son of a musician, from whom he got his musical education. He began his career in the service of the archbishop of Turin, which is why he moved to Niece to work in the court of the Duke of Savoy.
In the autumn of 1561, he accompanied the Duke of Savoy’s ambassador to Scotland and became employed as a musician in the service of the Queen of Scots, who looked for a bass singer to complete the quartette in her private chapel. In December 1564, Mary Stuart chose Rizzio to succeed Mary Stuart’s French secretary, Raulet, for his trustworthiness rather than for his linguistic skills. In his new position he helped Mary Stuart to arrange her marriage to Henry Stuart, Lord Darnley, on July 1565, and remained a close adviser for the Queen after the wedding. His influence on the Queen grew, and practically, he overtook the position and power of William Maitland of Lethington as secretary of the state.

==== Death ====

Mary Stuart’s husband Lord Darnley was known to be jealous, and perhaps, he assumed that no he, but Rizzio was the father of Mary Stuart’s unborn child. So, he instigated his murder. Darnley persuaded a group of Scottish nobles that Mary was having a love affair. It is not clear if Rizzio really was her lover or rather a good friend and trusted confidant.
On March 9, 1566, Rizzio had spent the evening with the pregnant Queen and some of her friends in her dining room. Darnley entered the room and hauled Mary into her bedroom, while Lord Ruthven, the 4th Earl of Morton, and other Scottish nobles entered the room and dragged Rizzio into the supper room, stabbed him 56 times, and then threw him into a corner. After their failed attempt to get his body down the narrow stair, they pushed his body through a window to the ground.

==== Works Cited ====

* "David Riccio." Britannica Academic, Encyclopædia Britannica, 20 Jul. 1998. academic.eb.com/levels/collegiate/article/David-Riccio/63530.
* “Riccio, David”. Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900, vol. 48, 1896.
* “Mary, Queen of Scots at the Palace of Holyroodhouse. A Creative writing Resource for Teachers.”, Palace of Holyroodhouse, Royal Collection Trust. https://www.rct.uk/sites/default/files/Mary,%20Queen%20of%20Scots%20at%20the%20Palace%20of%20Holyroodhouse%20-%20Creative%20Writing%20Resource.pdf. Accessed 7 July 2022.

File:Portrait of a Man known as David Rizzio (ca.1620).jpg

2022-07-08T13:36:53Z

David.Hesbacher:

Portrait of a Man known as David Rizzio (ca.1620)