James Hamilton, Duke of Châtellerault facts for kids

Quick facts for kids James Hamilton
1st Duke of Châtellerault 2nd Earl of Arran
The Duke of Châtellerault wearing the collar of the Order of St Michael
Tenure	1529–1575
Predecessor	James, 1st Earl of Arran
Successor	James, 3rd Earl of Arran
Born	c. 1519
Died	22 January 1575 Hamilton Castle, Lanarkshire, Scotland
Spouse(s)	Margaret Douglas
Issue Detail	James, John, Claud, Anne & others
Father	James, 1st Earl of Arran
Mother	Janet Bethune

James Hamilton, 1st Duke of Châtellerault, 2nd Earl of Arran (around 1519 – 22 January 1575) was an important Scottish nobleman. He was the head of the powerful Clan Hamilton.

James Hamilton was a great-grandson of King James II of Scotland. This meant he was next in line to the Scottish throne for many years (1536–1540, 1541–1542, 1542–1566, and 1567–1575).

From 1543 to 1554, he served as the Regent of Scotland. A regent is someone who rules a country when the true monarch is too young. He ruled for Mary, Queen of Scots when she was a child. Later, he lost this role to Mary's mother, Mary of Guise.

At first, James supported England and the Protestant religion. But in 1543, he changed his mind. He became Catholic and started to support France. He agreed to Mary, Queen of Scots, marrying Francis, the son of the French King. As a reward, the French King made him the Duke of Châtellerault in 1549.

During the Scottish Reformation, a time of big religious changes in Scotland, Châtellerault joined the Protestant Lords of the Congregation. They were against Mary of Guise's rule. Because of this, he lost his French dukedom.

Family Background

James Hamilton was born around 1519 in Hamilton, Scotland. He was the oldest son of James Hamilton, 1st Earl of Arran. His mother was Janet Beaton.

His grandmother, Mary, was the oldest daughter of King James II. This connection made his family very important. The Hamilton family came from Walter FitzGilbert. He was given land by Robert the Bruce.

James's mother was the daughter of Sir David Beaton. She was the second wife of the 1st Earl of Arran. His parents married in 1516.

In 1529, when he was still young, James became the Earl of Arran. This happened after his father passed away. His older half-brother, James Hamilton of Finnart, looked after him.

His Marriage

Arms of the Earl of Arran (left) and his wife Margaret Douglas (right), Kinneil House

In 1532, Lord Arran married Margaret Douglas. She was about ten years older than him. Margaret was the daughter of James Douglas, 3rd Earl of Morton. Her mother was Catherine Stewart, who was a daughter of King James IV.

James Hamilton of Finnart helped arrange this marriage. Margaret Douglas was given the house and lands of Kinneil House. This was to be hers for life if her husband died before her.

James and Margaret had five sons and four daughters:

• James (1537–1609): He became the 3rd Earl of Arran after his father. However, he became unwell in 1562.
• Gavin: He passed away when he was young.
• John (1540–1604): He later became the 1st Marquess of Hamilton.
• David (died 1611)
• Claud (1546–1621): Many important families, like the dukes of Abercorn, are descended from him.

Their daughters were:

• Barbara: She married James Fleming, 4th Lord Fleming in 1553.
• Jean: She married Hugh Montgomerie, 3rd Earl of Eglinton in 1555.
• Anne (around 1535 – before April 1574): She married George Gordon, 5th Earl of Huntly.
• Margaret: She married Sir Alexander Pethein (Peden).

In 1544, Arran tried to divorce his wife.

Regent of Scotland

In 1536, James Hamilton became next in line to the Scottish throne. This happened after the death of John Stewart, Duke of Albany. When King James V died in 1542, his only heir was his six-day-old daughter, Mary, Queen of Scots. Arran was chosen to be the Governor and Protector of Scotland for her. This meant he would rule the country until Mary was old enough.

In 1543, some people questioned Arran's right to be regent. They said his father's second marriage might not have been valid.

Supporting England

Henry VIII by Hans Holbein the Younger, 1540

At first, Arran was a Protestant and favored England. In 1543, he helped arrange a marriage between Queen Mary and Edward VI, the son of King Henry VIII of England. Henry VIII had separated from the Roman Catholic Church. In the same year, Arran allowed the Bible to be translated and read in the local language.

On January 27, 1543, he had Cardinal Beaton arrested. Cardinal Beaton supported the "Auld Alliance" with France. Beaton was held in Dalkeith Palace and then Blackness Castle.

Supporting France

In September 1543, Arran changed his mind. He secretly met Cardinal Beaton and made peace with him. Soon after, he became Catholic and joined the group that supported France. A war with England, called the Rough Wooing, started on December 20, 1543. Arran signed the declaration of war.

In 1544, there was an attempt to remove Arran as regent. They wanted to give the role to Mary of Guise, Queen Mary's mother. But Arran made Edinburgh stronger, and Mary of Guise's forces left. However, in March 1545, he agreed to give some of his duties to her.

In June 1547, Arran gathered a large army. He wanted to remove the English from Langholm. He had special banners made for his army. Horses pulled cannons and carts full of cannonballs from Edinburgh Castle. The cannons were pulled by oxen.

A 1558 coin depicting Queen Mary and King Francis

In September 1547, Arran's large Scottish army fought an English invasion. The English were led by Edward Seymour, Duke of Somerset. Arran's army was defeated at the battle of Pinkie. He had to leave some of his belongings on the battlefield.

Despite the loss, he remained regent. He continued to lead forces against the English. In February 1548, Arran led a campaign in Teviotdale. He worked with Monsieur d'Essé to take back Ferniehirst Castle.

In July 1548, Arran reluctantly agreed to Mary's marriage to Francis. Francis was the oldest son of King Henry II of France. King Henry II rewarded Arran for this. On February 8, 1549, he made Arran the Duke of Châtellerault. He also made him a knight of the Order of Saint Michael.

After Being Regent

Mary, Queen of Scots, by François Clouet, c. 1555

In 1554, Châtellerault gave up his role as regent to Mary of Guise. He was then made her main helper in Scotland. He agreed to give up the regency only if he would be Queen Mary's heir if she had no children. However, the Scottish throne had been secretly promised to France.

When the Scottish Reformation began, Châtellerault first supported Mary of Guise. He faced a Protestant army at Cupar Muir in June 1559. But in August 1559, he changed his mind. He joined the Protestant Lords of the Congregation. They were against Mary of Guise's rule. Because of this, he lost his French dukedom.

On February 27, 1560, he agreed to the Treaty of Berwick. This treaty placed Scotland under the protection of Queen Elizabeth I of England.

After Mary of Guise died in June 1560, Châtellerault tried to arrange a marriage. He wanted his son James to marry Elizabeth I. Then, after Francis II of France died in December 1560, he tried to arrange for James to marry the widowed Queen Mary. But Mary married Lord Darnley in 1565.

In 1566, Châtellerault went to his lands in France. He tried to get his dukedom back, but he failed. In 1569, he came back to Scotland to support Mary. But he was put in prison by Murray, who was then regent. Murray's parliament declared Châtellerault a traitor.

Murray was killed on January 23, 1570, while Châtellerault was still in prison. Châtellerault was released from prison on April 20, 1570. In 1573, he stopped supporting Mary. He recognized Mary's young son James VI as the new king.

Châtellerault passed away at Hamilton on January 22, 1575. His oldest son, James, became the 3rd Earl of Arran. But because James was unwell, his younger brother John took his place.

Timeline

Genealogical Chart