George Gordon, 2nd Marquess of Huntly facts for kids

Quick facts for kids George Gordon
An engraved portrait of George Gordon from a painting by Anthony van Dyck
Born	c. 1592 Huntly, Kingdom of Scotland
Died	22 March 1649 St Giles Cathedral, Edinburgh, Kingdom of Scotland
Title	2nd Marquess of Huntly
Tenure	1636–1649
Other titles	Viscount Aboyne
Nationality	Scottish
Spouse(s)	Lady Anne Campbell
Issue	10, including James, Lewis, and Charles
Parents	George Gordon, 1st Marquess of Huntly (father) Henrietta Stewart (mother)
← Predecessor George Gordon Successor Lewis Gordon →

George Gordon, 2nd Marquess of Huntly (born around 1592 – died March 1649) was a powerful Scottish nobleman. He was the eldest son of George Gordon, the 1st Marquess of Huntly. From 1599 to 1636, he was known as the Earl of Enzie. He was born at Huntly Castle in Scotland but grew up in England as a Protestant. Later, King Charles I made him Viscount Aboyne.

A Young Nobleman's Life

George, Lord Gordon, was brought to the royal court in Edinburgh in February 1596. In November 1596, he was kept as a "pledge" (a kind of guarantee) for his father's good behavior. This happened during the baptism of Princess Elizabeth. The plan was for him to be raised as a Protestant and taught by Robert Rollock.

In July 1602, Anne of Denmark, the Queen, suggested he marry a sister of the Earl of Moray. Later, a group of people trying to settle a long-standing feud between his family and the Earl of Moray's family suggested he marry a daughter of the Earl of Argyll. He eventually did marry her.

Years in England

When he was still Lord Gordon, he spent some years in England at the court of King James I. The King made sure he was educated in the Protestant faith and gave him the title Earl of Enzie.

In 1609, he was given a special job to deal with a rebellious group in the north called the "Society of Boys." In 1613, his father asked for his help in a disagreement over land in Lochaber. A peace agreement was signed in 1618.

Dealing with Disputes

Enzie also had a personal disagreement with a man named Mackintosh. Enzie took Mackintosh to court and won. He then surrounded Mackintosh's castle, forcing him to flee. Mackintosh went to the King for help. Enzie also went to London to tell his side of the story. The King ordered Mackintosh to be held in Edinburgh Castle until he made things right with Enzie.

In 1622, Enzie was asked to deal with the Earl of Caithness. However, this plan changed, and he was sent on a mission to France instead. He stayed in France for several years, leading a group of soldiers. On April 20, 1632, he became Viscount of Aboyne.

When his father died in June 1636, George was still in France. He returned to England in October and arrived back in Scotland in June 1637.

The Covenanter Movement

Even though his father had problems with the government, the 2nd Marquess was well-liked by the King. He had grown up at court with Prince Henry and Prince Charles. As a Protestant who supported bishops (an "Episcopalian"), the King trusted him to help against the Covenanters.

Standing Against the Covenanters

The Covenanters were a group of Scots who signed a "Covenant" to protect their Presbyterian church. They were against the King's changes to the church. Huntly was very powerful in the north of Scotland, which helped balance the power of the Covenanters in the west.

In 1638, Huntly made sure the King's message was read in Aberdeen. The Covenanters tried to get him to join them. They even offered to make him their leader and pay all his debts, which were huge. But Huntly bravely refused. He said his family had always supported the Kings of Scotland. He added that if the King was ruined, he was ready to lose his own life, titles, and wealth alongside him.

So, Huntly refused to sign the Covenanters' agreement. In September, he was the only nobleman in the north to accept the King's order to make people sign the King's own agreement.

A Time of Indecision

In 1639, Huntly was secretly made the King's leader in the north. When he heard the Covenanters were meeting in Turriff, he wanted to break them up. But when Montrose (who was with the Covenanters at this time) arrived with 800 men, Huntly just marched his 2,000 men past them without fighting. He then sent his soldiers home.

People wondered why he didn't fight. Huntly said he didn't have the King's permission to strike first. Some also say he believed in astrology and thought the King and others wouldn't succeed. This made him seem hesitant during the wars.

Huntly didn't get enough support from the King's side. The Covenanters were very active. So, on March 15, Huntly sent people to talk with Montrose. Montrose's answer wasn't good. Huntly then gathered his forces at Inverurie. But before his messengers returned, he sent his soldiers home and went to Strathbogie.

Capture and Imprisonment

Aberdeen was left unprotected, and Montrose entered it easily. Montrose and his men then went to Inverurie. They took supplies from houses where people had fled. Huntly, who had gone to the Bog of Gight, decided it was useless to fight for now. He sent people to ask for a meeting with Montrose.

They met on April 5. Huntly agreed not to stop his followers from signing the Covenanters' agreement. He also said those who didn't sign would promise to uphold Scotland's laws. He was allowed to go back to Strathbogie.

Later, the Covenanter leaders met in Aberdeen. Huntly was asked to come. He agreed if he was guaranteed a safe return home. Montrose gave him this promise. However, because of pressure from Huntly's enemies, Montrose found reasons to arrest him.

On April 11, Montrose invited Huntly to supper. He suggested Huntly give up his leadership role and write to the King, saying the Covenanters were loyal. Huntly agreed, but guards were placed at his lodging. The next day, Montrose asked Huntly for money for the army and to arrest some people who opposed the Covenanters. Huntly refused. When asked to shake hands with his old enemy, Crichton of Frendraught, Huntly firmly said no.

Montrose then asked Huntly to come to Edinburgh. Huntly asked if he would go as a prisoner or a volunteer. Montrose said, "Make your choice." Huntly replied, "Then I will not go as a captive, but as a volunteer." So, Huntly and his two oldest sons went with Montrose to Edinburgh, guarded but not as official prisoners.

In Edinburgh, the Covenanter leaders tried to make him sign their agreement, offering good terms. But Huntly refused in writing on April 20. He famously wrote: "For my own part, I am in your power, and resolved not to leave that foul title of traitor as an inheritance upon my posterity. You may take my head from my shoulders, but not my heart from my sovereign."

Release and Continued Loyalty

According to a peace agreement signed in June 1639, Huntly was set free. He immediately went to the King's camp and stayed there until the King left for London.

When Huntly returned to Edinburgh, he stayed for a while and signed the Covenanters' agreement. But after his daughters' weddings, he left Edinburgh and joined the King in England.

While Huntly was held in Edinburgh Castle, his supporters, the Gordons, started taking things from the Covenanters. They made people in Turriff sign the King's agreement. But later, the minister of Turriff made them apologize and freed them from that oath.

After Huntly went to England, his second son, James Gordon, tried to support the King in his father's lands. But he was defeated by Montrose at the Battle of the Brig of Dee in June 1639. In 1640, Huntly's lands were looted, and his castle was taken by General Monro.

Supporting Charles I

In 1641, Huntly went with King Charles I to Scotland. He rode in the procession to Parliament. But because he refused to sign the Covenanters' agreement, he couldn't take part in the discussions. He was named one of the King's special advisors, but his name was later removed. When the King left for London, Huntly went with him to Berwick.

On January 1, 1642, Huntly arrived in Aberdeen on his way to Strathbogie. He hadn't been in his own lands since April 1639. He found his affairs in such bad shape that he gave his estate to his son, Lord Gordon. This was to pay his debts and provide for his children. He kept only a small yearly income and his castles.

In August 1643, he was ordered to appear before a meeting of Scottish leaders in Edinburgh. He didn't go, so he was declared a rebel. He sent apologies, but they were rejected. When he offered to go to France, he was not allowed. In December 1643, ministers visited him to ask him to sign the Covenant, but he refused. The government tried to arrest him, but he was hard to catch.

Hiding and Fighting

Huntly seemed to want peace, but the government's actions forced him to fight to protect himself. On March 19, 1644, some of his followers rode into Aberdeen. They took the mayor and other leaders prisoner and brought them to Strathbogie. Huntly said he took them because they were causing trouble.

On March 24, he entered Aberdeen with 240 horsemen. On the 28th, he took weapons and supplies from the town. Before leaving, he made people sign an agreement against the Covenant and to serve the King. His followers later attacked Montrose but retreated when the Covenanters' forces arrived. Huntly left Aberdeen without fighting.

On May 12, 1644, Huntly was officially removed from the church (excommunicated). The Covenanter leader Argyll then moved into his lands. But Huntly had already sent his followers home and hidden himself. He went to the Bog of Gight, took some money, and escaped by boat to Sutherlandshire. He then went to Caithness and by sea to Strathnaver, where he stayed until October 1645. While he was away, Argyll marched through his lands and damaged them.

Huntly's sudden retreat was partly because he didn't want to work with his old enemy Montrose. Montrose had now joined the King's side and was leading the King's forces in Scotland. Huntly just couldn't bring himself to work with Montrose.

Last Efforts and Capture

Huntly's actions were mostly passive. When Montrose appeared in Strathbogie, the Gordons retreated. Montrose tried to contact Huntly, but it was useless. So, the Gordons wouldn't join the King's army.

After Montrose was defeated in September 1645, Huntly returned to his lands. He gathered 1,600 foot soldiers and 600 horsemen and attacked Aberdeen. But with his usual indecision, he soon returned to Strathbogie.

In December 1645, King Charles sent a message to Huntly. The King wanted to escape from the Scottish army and asked Huntly to raise an army to support him. Huntly started to do this, but it was too late, as the King remained a prisoner in England.

Huntly was not included in a general pardon in March 1647. A reward of £1,000 was offered for his capture. General David Leslie was sent to find him. When Leslie approached, Huntly fled to the Lochaber mountains.

After hiding for several months, constantly changing his hiding place, he was finally caught in December. Lieutenant-colonel Menzies captured him at midnight in Delnabo. This happened after a tough fight with the ten gentlemen and servants who were with him. Six of them were killed trying to defend him.

When news of his capture spread, about 500 men gathered to try and rescue him. But Menzies quickly took Huntly to Blairfindy Castle for safety. Huntly also sent a message to his supporters, telling them not to try and rescue him.

Execution

When the Scottish leaders heard of his capture, they debated whether to execute him immediately or wait for Parliament to meet. They decided to wait by just one vote. After two days, he was handed over to the Edinburgh officials and sent to the Tolbooth prison.

He stayed there until March 22, 1649. On that day, by order of the Scottish Parliament, he was beheaded at the Market Cross of Edinburgh on the Royal Mile.

When a minister asked him if he wanted to be forgiven for being excommunicated, he replied that he didn't listen to "false prophets" and didn't want to be bothered. He didn't admit he had broken any laws or deserved to die. However, he said he freely forgave those who voted for his death. His body was taken to Seton and buried there.

Family Life

George Gordon and his wife, Lady Anna Campbell, had five sons and five daughters. Here are some of them:

• Lord George Gordon: He was killed in the Battle of Alford in 1645.
• James Gordon, 2nd Viscount Aboyne (died 1649).
• Lewis Gordon, 3rd Marquess of Huntly: He became the 3rd Marquess and was the father of George, the 4th Marquess.

These three older sons were all brave in supporting the King.

• Charles Gordon: King Charles II made him the Earl of Aboyne in 1660.
• Henry Gordon: He was a brave soldier in Poland.
• Anne Gordon: She married the 3rd Earl of Perth.
• Henrietta Gordon: She married George, Lord Seton, and later John, the 2nd Earl of Traquair.
• Alexander Gordon (born 1642): He married Jane Robinson.
• Jean Gordon: She married Thomas Hamilton, 2nd Earl of Haddington.
• Mary Gordon: She married Alexander Irvine of Drum.
• Catherine Gordon: She became a lady-in-waiting to Marie Louise Gonzaga, who was Queen of Poland. Catherine married Jan Andrzej Morsztyn, and they had many descendants, including Stanisław II Augustus, who became King of Poland.