David Rizzio facts for kids
David Rizzio (pronounced RIT-see-oh or RITCH-ee-oh) was an Italian courtier born around 1533 in Pancalieri, near Turin. He came from a noble family. Rizzio became the private secretary to Mary, Queen of Scots. Mary's husband, Lord Darnley, grew jealous of Rizzio. There were rumours that Rizzio had become too close to the Queen. Darnley joined a group of Protestant nobles who planned to murder Rizzio. This group was led by Patrick Ruthven, 3rd Lord Ruthven. Rizzio was killed in front of the Queen. His murder had big consequences for Mary's rule and for Darnley himself.
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Rizzio's Life at Court
David Rizzio, whose Italian name was Davide Riccio, first worked at the court of the Duke of Savoy in Nice. When he didn't find good opportunities there, he found a way to join the group of the Count of Moretta in 1561. This Count was going on an important trip to Scotland.
Once in Scotland, the Count didn't need Rizzio anymore. However, Rizzio managed to get close to the Queen's musicians. Mary, Queen of Scots, had brought these musicians with her from France. A friend of Rizzio, James Melville, said that the Queen's musicians needed someone to sing the fourth part of their songs. Rizzio was known as a good musician and a great singer. This talent helped him get noticed by the young Queen.
By late 1564, Rizzio had become quite successful under the Queen's support. He was made the Queen's secretary for dealing with France. The person who had that job before him had retired. Rizzio was very ambitious. He started to control who could see the Queen. He began to act almost like a high-ranking government official. Other people at court felt that Rizzio was too powerful. They worried that he was too close to the Queen, especially because he was a Catholic and a foreigner.
Rizzio's yearly pay as a valet was 150 Francs, which was about £75 Scots. In 1565, he received £80. Queen Mary also gave him gifts of expensive fabrics from her own clothes collection. These included black velvet with gold patterns. In February 1566, Rizzio even took part in a fancy dress party. This party celebrated the arrival of Nicolas d'Angennes, who brought an important award for Lord Darnley.
The Murder of David Rizzio
Rizzio was murdered because of jealousy. This happened in the Queen's supper room at the Palace of Holyroodhouse. It was Saturday, March 9, 1566, at 8 o'clock in the evening. The Queen's guards were quickly defeated. The palace was taken over by the rebels.
Mary and Rizzio were having supper in a small room. This room is still part of the Queen's bedchamber today. It was described as a small cabinet, about 12 feet square, with a low bed and a table. The Queen was six months pregnant with her son, James VI, at the time.
During supper, the rebels burst into the room. They were led by Lord Ruthven. They demanded that Rizzio be given to them. The Queen refused to hand him over. Rizzio tried to hide behind Mary. But he was still grabbed by the attackers.
After a violent struggle, Rizzio was dragged out of the room. He was pulled through the bed-chamber into the next room, called the Audience Chamber. There, he was stabbed many times. Some reports say he was stabbed 57 times. His body was then thrown down the main staircase. His attackers took his jewels and fine clothes. Today, a small plaque marks the spot where Rizzio was murdered in the Audience Chamber. There is also a red mark on the floorboards, which people say is from his blood.
Rizzio was first buried in the cemetery of Holyrood Abbey. Later, the Queen ordered his body to be moved. It was placed in the tomb of the kings of Scotland inside Holyrood Abbey. This action made the rumours about her closeness to Rizzio even stronger. People spread stories about why he was killed. Some said Darnley was simply jealous. Others believed powerful lords wanted to get rid of Rizzio because he was annoying them and influencing the Queen too much.
What Happened Next
Right after the murder, Mary spoke with Lord Darnley. She may have convinced him that they were both in danger and prisoners in the palace. The guards around her became less strict. The next day, at midnight, Mary and Darnley escaped. She rode to Seton Palace and then to safety at Dunbar Castle.
Mary soon returned to Edinburgh with her supporters. She stayed on the Royal Mile instead of going back to the palace. On March 21, she declared Darnley innocent of the murder.
Robert Melville came to Edinburgh from London. He reported back to Queen Elizabeth I and Cecil about what happened after the murder. He noted that many people suspected of being involved in the plan had fled. These included Morton, Lord Ruthven, Lord Lindsay, and William Maitland of Lethington.
Rizzio's brother, Joseph, arrived in Scotland in April 1566. He was appointed secretary in David's place.
Rizzio's Legacy
David Rizzio's story was remembered even by kings. Henry IV of France once joked about James VI of Scotland (Mary's son). James was sometimes called the "Scottish Solomon" for his wisdom. Henry IV said he hoped James was "not David the fiddler's son." This was a hint at the old rumours that Rizzio, not Darnley, might have been James's father.
It has been said that Rizzio is buried at Canongate Kirkyard in Edinburgh. However, it's more likely he lies in an unmarked grave at Holyrood Abbey. The historian George Buchanan wrote in 1581 that David was first buried outside the Abbey. Then, Mary had him moved to the tomb of her father, James V, and Madeleine of France. Buchanan felt this reflected badly on the Queen.
Rizzio in Stories and Films
David Rizzio's life and death have been shown in many stories and films:
- In the 1936 film Mary of Scotland, he was played by John Carradine.
- Ian Holm played him in the 1971 movie Mary, Queen of Scots.
- Tadeusz Pasternak played him in the BBC mini-series Gunpowder, Treason, and Plot.
- Andrew Shaver played him in The CW TV show Reign.
- Ismael Cruz Córdova played him in the 2018 film Mary Queen of Scots.
The murder of Rizzio is also a main part of the 1830 play Maria Stuart by Juliusz Słowacki. Rizzio's life and death are important in Caleb Carr's Sherlock Holmes story The Italian Secretary. Arthur Conan Doyle also used Rizzio's death in his 1908 story, "The Silver Mirror". The Scottish author Denise Mina wrote a short novel about Rizzio's murder in 2021 called "Rizzio".
People Involved in the Murder
Thomas Randolph listed these men as taking part in Rizzio's murder:
- Earl of Morton
- Patrick Ruthven, 3rd Lord Ruthven
- Patrick Lindsay, 6th Lord Lindsay
- William Maitland of Lethington
- Master of Ruthven
- John Cockburn, laird of Ormiston
- William Sinclair of Herdmanston, laird of "Haughton"
- John Crichton, laird of Brunstane
- The laird of Whittinghame
- The laird of Lochleven
- The laird of Elphingstone (Johnston)
- Patrick Murray
- Andrew Kerr of Fawdonsyde
- William Tweedie of Drumelzier
- Adam Tweedie of Dreva
