Lord Darnley facts for kids

Lord Darnley is a special noble title from Scotland. It's like being a "Lord of Parliament," which means a very important person in the Scottish government. This title was first created way back in 1356 for a family called Stewart of Darnley. The name "Darnley" comes from a place in Scotland.

Over time, this title became connected to other important titles, like the Duke of Richmond in England. There was also another "Earl of Darnley" title created later in Ireland in 1729.

The First Lords of Darnley

The very first person to hold the title of Lord Darnley was Sir John Stewart of Darnley. He was a brave knight and an important figure in Scottish history.

Many years later, one of his family members, John Stewart, 1st Earl of Lennox, became an Earl of Lennox in 1488. This showed how powerful and influential the Stewart family had become.

Henry Stuart, Lord Darnley

One of the most famous people connected to this title was Henry Stuart, Lord Darnley (1545–1567). He was the son of Matthew Stewart, 4th Earl of Lennox. Henry was known as "Lord Darnley" because his father held that title.

Henry Stuart became very important when he married Mary, Queen of Scots. This made him the husband of the Queen of Scotland! Together, they had a son who would later become King James VI and I (1566–1625), a king of both Scotland and England.

A Difficult Time

Life at court was often full of challenges. In March 1566, a man named David Rizzio was murdered at Holyrood Palace. Lord Darnley was involved in this sad event, which caused a lot of trouble between him and Queen Mary. After this, Mary started to distance herself from Darnley.

The Mysterious Death of Lord Darnley

On February 10, 1567, Lord Darnley died in a mysterious way. His home was destroyed by an explosion. His wife, Mary, Queen of Scots, was at a party for one of her servants at the time.

Darnley and his servant were found dead near the ruined house. Their deaths were very puzzling, and many people wondered what had happened. A man named James Hepburn, 4th Earl of Bothwell, was suspected, but he was later cleared. Interestingly, he married Queen Mary just one month after being released from jail.

The Title Continues

The title of Lord Darnley continued to be important in Scottish history. In 1581, the Earldom of Lennox became an even higher title, a dukedom. The barony of Darnley stayed connected to the Lennox title.

Later, in 1612, the Dukedom of Richmond was also added to this line of titles. Even when some of these titles ended, they were sometimes brought back, or "revived," as happened with the subsidiary Earldom of Darnley in 1675.