James Stewart, 1st Earl of Moray facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
James Stewart, 1st Earl of Moray
|
|
|---|---|
| Regent of Scotland | |
The Earl of Moray, a detail from a wedding portrait by Hans Eworth
|
|
| Born | c. 1531 Scotland |
| Died | 23 January 1570 Linlithgow, Scotland |
| Buried | St. Giles Cathedral, Edinburgh |
| Spouse(s) | Christina Stewart Agnes Keith |
| Issue | Elizabeth Stewart, 2nd Countess of Moray Annabel Stewart Margaret Stewart |
| Father | King James V of Scotland |
| Mother | Lady Margaret Erskine |
James Stewart, 1st Earl of Moray (around 1531 – January 23, 1570) was a very important person in Scottish history. He was the son of King James V and Lady Margaret Erskine. This meant he was born outside of marriage, but he still became a powerful leader.
From 1567 until his death in 1570, James Stewart was the regent of Scotland. A regent is someone who rules a country when the king or queen is too young. He ruled for his young nephew, King James VI. Sadly, he was the first head of government in the world to be killed by a firearm.
Contents
Early Life and Rise to Power
James Stewart was born in Scotland around 1531. His father was King James V. His mother was Lady Margaret Erskine.
In 1538, he was given the important job of Prior of St Andrews. This position helped him earn money.
Advising Queen Mary
In 1558, James went to Paris for the wedding of his half-sister, Mary, Queen of Scots. She married the French prince, who later became King Francis II of France.
James became a strong supporter of the Scottish Reformation. This was a big change in Scotland where many people became Protestant. In 1559, he helped remove religious statues from churches in Perth, Scotland. People saw him as a brave leader for the Protestants.
Even though they had different religious views, James became a main advisor to Mary, Queen of Scots. She returned to Scotland in 1561 after her husband, the King of France, died.
In 1562, Mary made him the Earl of Moray. This gave him Darnaway Castle, a very large and beautiful home.
Battles and Challenges
In October 1562, Moray won a big battle against George Gordon, 4th Earl of Huntly. Huntly was a very rich and powerful lord in northern Scotland.
Moray did not agree with Mary's marriage to Henry Stuart, Lord Darnley in July 1565. He even led a rebellion against it, called the Chaseabout Raid. He had to leave Scotland for a short time.
After Darnley was killed in 1567, Moray returned to Scotland. He became an important advisor to the Queen again. He was away in France when Mary married James Hepburn, 4th Earl of Bothwell. This marriage caused many problems for Mary.
The Gude Regent
.jpg)
Mary, Queen of Scots, was forced to give up her crown in July 1567. She was held prisoner at Loch Leven Castle. Moray came back to Scotland from France in August 1567.
On August 22, he was officially made the Regent of Scotland. He would rule for the young King James VI, who was just a baby. Parliament confirmed this decision in December.
Battle of Langside
Mary escaped from Loch Leven Castle in May 1568. Many nobles joined her side. Moray quickly gathered his own supporters.
On May 13, 1568, Moray's forces defeated Mary's army at the Battle of Langside. This battle was near Glasgow. Mary had to flee to England.
After this victory, Moray worked hard to bring peace to Scotland. He helped the country become stable again. Because of his good leadership, people called him "The Gude Regent" (The Good Regent).
Discussions with England
In September 1568, Moray went to York in England. He met with English officials to discuss a treaty. During these talks, he presented some letters. These letters, known as the Casket letters, were said to prove that Queen Mary was involved in Darnley's murder. This helped Moray justify his rule in Scotland.
Keeping Order in Scotland
Scotland was in a civil war at this time. Moray led military trips to stop Mary's supporters. In June 1568, he led an army to the south-west of Scotland. This was called the 'Raid of Dumfries'.
His army captured several castles belonging to those who supported Queen Mary. He also met with English leaders to discuss border issues. Moray was also responsible for destroying Rutherglen Castle in 1569. He did this because the Hamilton family, who owned the castle, had supported Mary.
In June 1569, Moray traveled north. He met with powerful clan chiefs and nobles. He wanted to bring peace and order to the northern parts of Scotland.
Family Life
James Stewart was married twice.
- His first marriage was arranged in 1549/50 to Christina Stewart, 4th Countess of Buchan. She was a young child at the time. This marriage would have given him control of her lands.
- On February 8, 1562, Moray married Agnes Keith. She was the daughter of William Keith, 4th Earl Marischal.
James and Agnes had three daughters:
- Elizabeth Stuart, 2nd Countess of Moray (born August 1565). She later married James Stewart, 2nd Earl of Moray.
- Lady Annabel Stuart (died before 1572).
- Lady Margaret Stuart (born April 8, 1569).
Assassination
On January 23, 1570, James Stewart was in Linlithgow. He was riding through the main street in a procession. James Hamilton of Bothwellhaugh, a supporter of Mary, Queen of Scots, was waiting.
Hamilton shot Moray from a window with a carbine (a type of gun). Moray was fatally wounded. He was the first head of government in the world to be killed by a firearm.
Moray's body was taken to Leith and then to Holyrood Abbey. He was buried on February 14, 1570, at St Giles' Cathedral in Edinburgh. Many important people, including John Knox, attended his funeral.
His wife, Agnes Keith, was buried in the same tomb when she died in 1588.
His eldest daughter, Elizabeth Stewart, 2nd Countess of Moray, became the next Countess of Moray. Her husband, James Stewart of Doune, took on the earldom when they married.
Cultural Depictions
James Stewart, the Earl of Moray, has been shown in many stories and films about Mary, Queen of Scots.
- He appears in Sir Walter Scott's 1820 novel The Monastery.
- He has been played by actors in films like Mary of Scotland (1936) and Mary, Queen of Scots (1971).
- He is also a character in the TV series Reign (2013–2017) and the film Mary Queen of Scots (2018).
Images for kids
-
The Earl of Moray, a detail from a wedding portrait by Hans Eworth
-
Statue of James Stewart, 1st Earl of Moray, Scottish National Portrait Gallery
-
James Stewart (c. 1531–1570), 1st Earl of Moray (1562), Regent of Scotland (1567–1570), 1568
-
Agnes, Countess of Moray, by Hans Eworth
-
Assassination of the Regent Moray. Victorian stained glass window in St Giles' Kirk, Edinburgh.
See also
In Spanish: Jacobo Estuardo (1531-1570) para niños
