David Riccio/Rizzio

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 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.