Biography of Henry "Lord Darnley" Stewart 1545-1567

Paternal Family Tree: Stewart

Maternal Family Tree: Jeanne Sabran

1526 Battle of Linlithgow Bridge

1542 Death of King James V of Scotland

1558 Marriage of Mary Queen of Scots and the Francis Dauphin of France

1566 Murder of David Rizzio

1567 Murder of Lord Darnley

1567 Marriage of Mary "Queen of Scots" and Lord Bothwell

1587 Execution of Mary Queen of Scots

Battle of Linlithgow Bridge

On 04 Sep 1526 the Battle of Linlithgow Bridge was fought between supporters of [his grandmother] Margaret Tudor Queen Scotland (age 36), the king's mother, commanded by [his grandfather] John Stewart 3rd Earl Lennox (age 36) and supporters of [his grandfather] Archibald Douglas 6th Earl Angus (age 37) commanded by James Hamilton 1st Earl Arran (age 51), over who would have control over [his uncle] King James V of Scotland (age 14) in his minority.

John Stewart 3rd Earl Lennox (age 36) was killed possibly after surrendering. His son [his father] Matthew Stewart 4th Earl Lennox (age 9) succeeded 4th Earl Lennox.

William Cunningham 4th Earl Glencairn (age 33) was captured.

In 1535 Thomas Howard (age 24) and [his mother] Margaret Douglas Countess Lennox (age 19) were married in secret. She the daughter of Archibald Douglas 6th Earl Angus (age 46) and Margaret Tudor Queen Scotland (age 45). He the son of Thomas Howard 2nd Duke of Norfolk and Agnes Tilney Duchess Norfolk (age 58). She a granddaughter of King Henry VII of England and Ireland.

Wriothesley's Chronicle 1537. 31 Oct 1537. This yeare, on All Hallowe Even, the Lord Thomas Howarde (age 26), brother to the Duke of Northfolke (age 64), died in prison in the Tower of London, and his bodie was caried to Thetforde, and there buried.

Allso the Ladie [his mother] Margarett Duglas (age 22), that had lyen in prison in the Tower of London for love betwene him and her, was pardoned by the King and sett agayne at her libertie; howbeit, she tooke his death very heavilie.1

Note 1. In 1644 she married [his father] Matthew fourth Earl of Lennox (age 21), and became Conntess of Lennox, and mother of Darnley.

Death of King James V of Scotland

On 14 Dec 1542 [his uncle] King James V of Scotland (age 30) died at Falkland Palace [Map]. His daughter [his future wife] Mary Queen of Scots succeeded I Queen Scotland. She was six days old.

On 06 Jul 1544 [his father] Matthew Stewart 4th Earl Lennox (age 27) and [his mother] Margaret Douglas Countess Lennox (age 28) were married. She by marriage Countess Lennox. She the daughter of Archibald Douglas 6th Earl Angus (age 55) and Margaret Tudor Queen Scotland. He the son of John Stewart 3rd Earl Lennox and Isabel or Elizabeth Stewart Countess Lennox (age 49). They were third cousin once removed. He a great x 4 grandson of King Edward III of England. She a granddaughter of King Henry VII of England and Ireland.

On 07 Dec 1545 Henry "Lord Darnley" Stewart was born to Matthew Stewart 4th Earl Lennox (age 29) and Margaret Douglas Countess Lennox (age 30). He a great grandson of King Henry VII of England and Ireland.

Marriage of Mary Queen of Scots and the Francis Dauphin of France

On 24 Apr 1558 Dauphin of France (age 14) and [his future wife] Mary Queen of Scots (age 15) were married at Notre Dame de Paris Cathedral [Map]. He by marriage King Consort Scotland. She the daughter of King James V of Scotland and Mary of Guise Queen Consort Scotland (age 42). He the son of King Henry II of France (age 39) and Catherine Medici Queen Consort France (age 39). They were fourth cousins. She a great granddaughter of King Henry VII of England and Ireland.

On 22 Jul 1565 Henry "Lord Darnley" Stewart (age 19) was created 1st Duke Albany.

On 29 Jul 1565 Henry "Lord Darnley" Stewart (age 19) and Mary Queen of Scots (age 22) were married at Holyrood Palace, Holyrood. She the daughter of King James V of Scotland and Mary of Guise Queen Consort Scotland. He the son of Matthew Stewart 4th Earl Lennox (age 48) and Margaret Douglas Countess Lennox (age 49). They were half first cousins. He a great grandson of King Henry VII of England and Ireland. She a great granddaughter of King Henry VII of England and Ireland.

Murder of David Rizzio

On 09 Mar 1566 at eight o'clock in the evening David Rizzio (age 33) was murdered in the presence of the six months pregnant [his wife] Mary Queen of Scots (age 23) and her half-sister [his illegitimate sister-in-law] Jean Stewart Countess Argyll (age 33) at Holyrood Palace [Map] by rebels led by Patrick Ruthven 3rd Lord Ruthven. Rizzio was dragged through the bed chamber into the adjacent Audience Chamber and stabbed an alleged 57 times. Mary's husband Henry "Lord Darnley" Stewart (age 20) was suspected of being one of the murderers.

On 15 Mar 1566 Mary Queen of Scots (age 23) writes to Queen Elizabeth I of England and Ireland (age 32):

As first hes takin our houss slane our maist [most] speciall servand (age 33) in our awin [own] presence & thaireftir haldin our propper personis captive tressonneblie, quhairby [whereby] we war constrainit to escaipe straitlie about midnyght out of our palice of halliruidhouss [Map] to the place quhair [where] we ar for the present, in the grittest danger feir of our lywis & ewill [ill] estate that evir princes on earth stuid [stood] in.

We thotht to have writtin to you this letter with oure awin [own] hand, that therby ye myght have better onestand all our meaning & takin mair [more] familliarlie therewit. Bot of trewt [truth] we ar so tyrit [tired] & ewill [ill] at eass [ease], quhat [what] throw rydding of twenty millis [miles] in v [5] horis [hours] of the nyght as wit the frequent seikness & weill dispositioun be th'occasioun of our child/that we could not at this tyme as we was willing to have done…

Your richt [right] gud sister and cusignes [cousin] Marie R.

Jean Stewart Countess Argyll: Around 1533 she was born illegitimately to King James V of Scotland and Elizabeth Bethune. She a great granddaughter of King Henry VII of England and Ireland. In 1553 Archibald Campbell 5th Earl Argyll and she were married. She by marriage Countess Argyll. She the daughter of King James V of Scotland and Elizabeth Bethune. He the son of Archibald Campbell 4th Earl Argyll and Helen Hamilton Countess Argyll. They were third cousins. She a great granddaughter of King Henry VII of England and Ireland. On 07 Jan 1588 Jean Stewart Countess Argyll died.

Patrick Ruthven 3rd Lord Ruthven: he was born to William Ruthven 2nd Lord Ruthven and Janet Halyburton Lady Dirletoun. Before 1551 Patrick Ruthven 3rd Lord Ruthven and Janet Douglas were married. She the daughter of Archibald Douglas 6th Earl Angus. After 1551 Patrick Ruthven 3rd Lord Ruthven and Janet Stewart were married. His second marriage, her fourth. She the daughter of John Stewart 2nd Earl Atholl and Janet Campbell Countess Atholl. She a great x 4 granddaughter of King Edward III of England. On 13 May 1566 Patrick Ruthven 3rd Lord Ruthven died.

On 19 Jun 1566 [his son] King James I of England and Ireland and VI of Scotland was born to Henry "Lord Darnley" Stewart (age 20) and [his wife] Mary Queen of Scots (age 23) at Edinburgh Castle [Map]. He a great x 2 grandson of King Henry VII of England and Ireland. Coefficient of inbreeding 3.67%.

Murder of Lord Darnley

On 10 Feb 1567 Henry "Lord Darnley" Stewart (age 21) was murdered at Kirk O Field. Around two in the morning two barrels of gunpowder exploded beneath his room. His body and that of his valet William Taylor were found outside, surrounded by a cloak, a dagger, a chair, and a coat. Darnley was dressed only in his nightshirt. There were no visible marks on the body. He was buried at Holyrood Abbey, Holyrood.

On 24 Feb 1567 Queen Elizabeth I of England and Ireland (age 33) wrote to her cousin [his former wife] Mary Queen of Scots (age 24) regarding the murder of Mary's husband Henry "Lord Darnley" Stewart (deceased) as follows:

Madam (age 24),

My ears have been so astounded and my heart so frightened to hear of the horrible and abominable murder of your husband (deceased) and my own cousin that I have scarcely spirit to write: yet I cannot conceal that I grieve more for you than him. I should not do the office of a faithful cousin and friend, if I did not urge you to preserve your honour, rather than look through your fingers at revenge on those who have done you that pleasure as most people say. I counsel you so to take this matter to heart, that you may show the world what a noble Princess and loyal woman you are. I write thus vehemently not that I doubt, but for affection. [Translated from the French; extract - lines 1-12]

Marriage of Mary "Queen of Scots" and Lord Bothwell

On 15 May 1567 James "Lord Bothwell" Hepburn 1st Duke Orkney (age 33) and [his former wife] Mary Queen of Scots (age 24) were married in the Great Hall Holyrood House. She the daughter of King James V of Scotland and Mary of Guise Queen Consort Scotland. He the son of Patrick Hepburn 3rd Earl Bothwell and Agnes Sinclair Countess Bothwell. They were half third cousin once removed. He a great x 5 grandson of King Edward III of England. She a great granddaughter of King Henry VII of England and Ireland.

Execution of Mary Queen of Scots

On 08 Feb 1587 [his former wife] Mary Queen of Scots (age 44) was beheaded in the Great Hall at Fotheringay Castle, Northamptonshire [Map].

George Talbot 6th Earl of Shrewsbury (age 59), Henry Grey 6th Earl Kent (age 46), Richard Knightley (age 54) and Henry Wriothesley 3rd Earl of Southampton (age 13) witnessed her execution.

There are few extant original sources describing Mary's execution. Those that do exist are somewhat contradictory. They include The letter-books of Sir Amias Poulet, Keeper of Mary Queen of Scots, the Calendar of State Papers, Spain (known as the Simancas), Volume 4, 1587-1603 and Beale's sketch of the execution. The most reliable primary source appears to be Jebb's De vita et rebus gestis serenissimæ principis Mariæ Scotorum Reginæ published in French.

Henry "Lord Darnley" Stewart 1545-1567 appears on the following Descendants Family Trees:

King Edward IV of England 1442-1483

Cecily "Rose of Raby" Neville Duchess York 1415-1495

Richard Plantagenet 3rd Duke York 1411-1460

Jacquetta of Luxemburg Duchess Bedford 1415-1472

King Henry VII of England and Ireland 1457-1509

Margaret Tudor Queen Scotland 1489-1541

Royal Ancestors of Henry "Lord Darnley" Stewart 1545-1567

Kings Wessex: Great x 14 Grand Son of King Edmund "Ironside" I of England

Kings Gwynedd: Great x 11 Grand Son of Owain "Great" King Gwynedd

Kings Seisyllwg: Great x 17 Grand Son of Hywel "Dda aka Good" King Seisyllwg King Deheubarth

Kings Powys: Great x 12 Grand Son of Maredudd ap Bleddyn King Powys

Kings England: Great Grand Son of King Henry VII of England and Ireland

Kings Scotland: Great x 7 Grand Son of Robert "The Bruce" I King Scotland

Kings Franks: Great x 11 Grand Son of Louis VII King Franks

Kings France: Great x 4 Grand Son of Charles "Beloved Mad" VI King France

Royal Descendants of Henry "Lord Darnley" Stewart 1545-1567

King James I of England and Ireland and VI of Scotland x 1

Ancestors of Henry "Lord Darnley" Stewart 1545-1567

Great x 3 Grandfather: Alan Stewart of Darnley

Great x 4 Grandmother: Elizabeth Lennox Countess Évreux

Great x 2 Grandfather: John Stewart 1st Earl Lennox 13 x Great Grand Son of King Henry I "Beauclerc" England

Great x 4 Grandfather: William Seton Master of Seton 12 x Great Grand Son of King Henry I "Beauclerc" England

Great x 3 Grandmother: Catherine Seton 12 x Great Grand Daughter of King Henry I "Beauclerc" England

Great x 4 Grandmother: Janet Dunbar 11 x Great Grand Daughter of King Henry I "Beauclerc" England

Great x 1 Grandfather: Matthew Stewart 2nd Earl Lennox 14 x Great Grand Son of King Henry I "Beauclerc" England

Great x 2 Grandmother: Margaret Montgomerie Countess Lennox

Great x 4 Grandfather: Thomas Boyd 5th of Kilmarnock

Great x 3 Grandmother: Margaret Boyd

GrandFather: John Stewart 3rd Earl Lennox 5 x Great Grand Son of King Edward III of England

Great x 3 Grandfather: James Hamilton

Great x 2 Grandfather: James Hamilton 1st Lord Hamilton

Great x 1 Grandmother: Elizabeth Hamilton Countess Lennox 4 x Great Grand Daughter of King Edward III of England

Great x 4 Grandfather: King James I of Scotland 5 x Great Grand Son of King John "Lackland" of England

Great x 3 Grandfather: King James II of Scotland 2 x Great Grand Son of King Edward III of England

Great x 4 Grandmother: Joan Beaufort Queen Consort Scotland Great Grand Daughter of King Edward III of England

Great x 2 Grandmother: Mary Stewart Countess Arran 3 x Great Grand Daughter of King Edward III of England

Great x 4 Grandfather: Arnold Egmont 1st Duke Guelders

Great x 3 Grandmother: Mary of Guelders Queen Consort Scotland 6 x Great Grand Daughter of King Edward "Longshanks" I of England

Great x 4 Grandmother: Catherine La Marck 5 x Great Grand Daughter of King Edward "Longshanks" I of England

Father: Matthew Stewart 4th Earl Lennox 4 x Great Grand Son of King Edward III of England

Great x 4 Grandfather: Robert Stewart of Innermeath

Great x 3 Grandfather: John Stewart of Innermeath 3rd of Lorn

Great x 4 Grandmother: Margaret Holkettle

Great x 2 Grandfather: James "Black Knight of Lorn" Stewart

Great x 3 Grandmother: Isabel Macdougall

Great x 1 Grandfather: John Stewart 1st Earl Atholl 2 x Great Grand Son of King Edward III of England

Great x 4 Grandfather: John of Gaunt 1st Duke Lancaster Son of King Edward III of England

Great x 3 Grandfather: John Beaufort 1st Marquess Somerset and Dorset Grand Son of King Edward III of England

Great x 4 Grandmother: Katherine Roet Duchess Lancaster

Great x 2 Grandmother: Joan Beaufort Queen Consort Scotland Great Grand Daughter of King Edward III of England

Great x 4 Grandfather: Thomas Holland 2nd Earl Kent Great Grand Son of King Edward "Longshanks" I of England

Great x 3 Grandmother: Margaret Holland Duchess Clarence 2 x Great Grand Daughter of King Edward "Longshanks" I of England

Great x 4 Grandmother: Alice Fitzalan Countess Kent 2 x Great Grand Daughter of King Henry III of England

GrandMother: Isabel or Elizabeth Stewart Countess Lennox 3 x Great Grand Daughter of King Edward III of England

Great x 3 Grandfather: Henry Sinclair 2nd Earl Orkney

Great x 2 Grandfather: William Sinclair 3rd Earl Orkney 1st Earl Caithness 6 x Great Grand Son of King John "Lackland" of England

Great x 4 Grandfather: William "Nithsdale" Douglas

Great x 3 Grandmother: Egidia "Fair Maid of Nithsdale" Douglas Countess Orkney 5 x Great Grand Daughter of King John "Lackland" of England

Great x 4 Grandmother: Princess Egidia Stewart 4 x Great Grand Daughter of King John "Lackland" of England

Great x 1 Grandmother: Eleanor Sinclair Countess Atholl 7 x Great Grand Daughter of King John "Lackland" of England

Great x 2 Grandmother: Marjory Sutherland Countess Orkney and Caithness

Henry "Lord Darnley" Stewart Great Grand Son of King Henry VII of England and Ireland

Great x 4 Grandfather: William Douglas 2nd Earl Angus 6 x Great Grand Son of King John "Lackland" of England

Great x 3 Grandfather: George Douglas 4th Earl Angus 7 x Great Grand Son of King John "Lackland" of England

Great x 4 Grandmother: Margaret Hay Countess Angus

Great x 2 Grandfather: Archibald "Bell the Cat" Douglas 5th Earl Angus 8 x Great Grand Son of King John "Lackland" of England

Great x 3 Grandmother: Isabella Sibbald Countess Angus

Great x 1 Grandfather: George Douglas 9 x Great Grand Son of King John "Lackland" of England

Great x 4 Grandfather: Thomas Boyd 5th of Kilmarnock

Great x 3 Grandfather: Robert Boyd 1st Lord Boyd

Great x 2 Grandmother: Elizabeth Boyd Countess Angus

GrandFather: Archibald Douglas 6th Earl Angus 10 x Great Grand Son of King John "Lackland" of England

Great x 2 Grandfather: John Drummond 1st Lord Drummond

Great x 1 Grandmother: Elizabeth Drummond m Douglas

Mother: Margaret Douglas Countess Lennox Grand Daughter of King Henry VII of England and Ireland

Great x 4 Grandfather: Maredudd Tudor 3 x Great Grand Son of King Edward "Longshanks" I of England

Great x 3 Grandfather: Owen Tudor 4 x Great Grand Son of King Edward "Longshanks" I of England

Great x 2 Grandfather: Edmund Tudor 1st Earl Richmond 5 x Great Grand Son of King Edward "Longshanks" I of England

Great x 4 Grandfather: Charles "Beloved Mad" VI King France 4 x Great Grand Son of King Henry III of England

Great x 3 Grandmother: Catherine of Valois Queen Consort England 5 x Great Grand Daughter of King Henry III of England

Great x 4 Grandmother: Isabeau Wittelsbach Queen Consort France 6 x Great Grand Daughter of King Henry "Curtmantle" II of England

Great x 1 Grandfather: King Henry VII of England and Ireland 3 x Great Grand Son of King Edward III of England

Great x 4 Grandfather: John Beaufort 1st Marquess Somerset and Dorset Grand Son of King Edward III of England

Great x 3 Grandfather: John Beaufort 1st Duke Somerset Great Grand Son of King Edward III of England

Great x 4 Grandmother: Margaret Holland Duchess Clarence 2 x Great Grand Daughter of King Edward "Longshanks" I of England

Great x 2 Grandmother: Margaret Beaufort Countess Richmond 2 x Great Grand Daughter of King Edward III of England

Great x 4 Grandfather: John Beauchamp 3rd Baron Beauchamp Bletsoe 7 x Great Grand Son of King Henry I "Beauclerc" England

Great x 3 Grandmother: Margaret Beauchamp Duchess Somerset 6 x Great Grand Daughter of King John "Lackland" of England

Great x 4 Grandmother: Edith Stourton Baroness Beauchamp Bletsoe 5 x Great Grand Daughter of King John "Lackland" of England

GrandMother: Margaret Tudor Queen Scotland Daughter of King Henry VII of England and Ireland

Great x 4 Grandfather: Richard of Conisbrough 1st Earl Cambridge Grand Son of King Edward III of England

Great x 3 Grandfather: Richard Plantagenet 3rd Duke York Great Grand Son of King Edward III of England

Great x 4 Grandmother: Anne Mortimer 2 x Great Grand Daughter of King Edward III of England

Great x 2 Grandfather: King Edward IV of England 2 x Great Grand Son of King Edward III of England

Great x 4 Grandfather: Ralph Neville 1st Earl of Westmoreland 5 x Great Grand Son of King Henry "Curtmantle" II of England

Great x 3 Grandmother: Cecily "Rose of Raby" Neville Duchess York Great Grand Daughter of King Edward III of England

Great x 4 Grandmother: Joan Beaufort Countess of Westmoreland Grand Daughter of King Edward III of England

Great x 1 Grandmother: Elizabeth York Queen Consort England Daughter of King Edward IV of England

Great x 4 Grandfather: Richard Woodville

Great x 3 Grandfather: Richard Woodville 1st Earl Rivers

Great x 4 Grandmother: Joan Bittelsgate

Great x 2 Grandmother: Elizabeth Woodville Queen Consort England 6 x Great Grand Daughter of King Henry III of England

Great x 4 Grandfather: Peter Luxemburg I Count Saint Pol 4 x Great Grand Son of King Henry III of England

Great x 3 Grandmother: Jacquetta of Luxemburg Duchess Bedford 5 x Great Grand Daughter of King Henry III of England

Great x 4 Grandmother: Margherita Baux 5 x Great Grand Daughter of King John "Lackland" of England