David Rizzio, private secretary of Mary I of Scotland

David Rizzio or David Riccio (approx. 1533 - 9 March 1566) was an Italian courtier and the private secretary of Mary I of Scotland. Mary's husband, Henry Stuart, Lord Darnley, is said to have been jealous of their friendship, and joined in a conspiracy of Protestant nobles to murder him. david rizzio/riccio, secretary to mary i of scotland This image has been released into the public domain by the copyright holder, its copyright has expired, or it is ineligible for copyright. ... Mary I of Scotland (Mary Stuart) (December 8, 1542 – February 8, 1587), better known as Mary, Queen of Scots, was Queen of Scots, monarch of the Kingdom of Scotland, from December 14, 1542 – July 24, 1567; and Queen Consort of France from July 10, 1559 – December 5, 1560. ... Events January 25 - King Henry VIII of England marries Anne Boleyn, his second Queen consort. ... March 9 is the 68th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (69th in Leap years). ... Events January 7 - Pius V becomes Pope Selim II succeeds Suleiman I as Sultan of the Ottoman Empire Religious rioting in the Netherlands signifies the beginning of the Eighty Years War in the Netherlands. ... Courtiers follow an ancient profession. ... Mary I of Scotland (Mary Stuart) (December 8, 1542 – February 8, 1587), better known as Mary, Queen of Scots, was Queen of Scots, monarch of the Kingdom of Scotland, from December 14, 1542 – July 24, 1567; and Queen Consort of France from July 10, 1559 – December 5, 1560. ... Henry Stewart (or Stuart, which was the style adopted by his father, and thence perpetuated as the House of Stuart), 1st Duke of Albany (7 December 1545 – 9 or 10 February 1567), Earl of Ross, commonly known as Lord Darnley, King Consort of Scotland, was the half first-cousin and... Look up Conspiracy in Wiktionary, the free dictionary Conspiracy, as a legal term, is an agreement of two or more people either to commit a crime or to achieve a lawful end by unlawful means: see conspiracy (crime), and conspiracy (civil). ... Protestantism is a general grouping of denominations within Christianity. ...

Rizzio had arrived at the Scottish court in 1561, one of the staff of the ambassador from Savoy. He was handsome (see the detail of his portrait, possibly an unfinished miniature), and a good musician. Towards the end of 1564, he became the Queen's secretary for relations with France. Ambitious, seeing himself as all but a Secretary of State, a Roman Catholic, and a foreigner to boot, Rizzio had too much of the Queen's ear, it was felt. Jealousy precipitated his murder in the Queen's presence, in her supper chamber at the Palace of Holyroodhouse. He was stabbed an alleged 57 times. Royal motto: Nemo me impune lacessit (English: No one provokes me with impunity) Scotlands location within the United Kingdom Languages English, Gaelic, Scots Capital Edinburgh Largest city Glasgow First Minister Jack McConnell Area - Total - % water Ranked 2nd UK 78,782 km² 1. ... // Events The Edict of Orleans suspends the persecution of the Huguenots. ... This article is about the historical region of Savoy. ... Look up Miniature in Wiktionary, the free dictionary Things known as miniatures include: miniature — a small painting in an illuminated book or manuscript; portrait miniature — a small portrait painting. ... A musician is a person who plays or composes music. ... colonizing the New World September 10 — The Battle of Kawanakajima Ottoman Turks invade Malta Modern pencil becomes common in England Conquistadors crossed the Pacific Spanish founded a colony in the Philippines Births February 15 - Galileo Galilei, Italian astronomer and physicist (died 1642) February 26 - Christopher Marlowe, English poet and dramatist... In several countries, Secretary of State is a senior government position. ... The Roman Catholic Church, most often spoken of simply as the Catholic Church, is the largest Christian church, with over one billion members. ... Holyrood Palace The Palace of Holyroodhouse, more commonly known as Holyrood Palace, originally founded as a monastery by David I of Scotland in 1128, has served as the principal residence of the Kings and Queens of Scotland since the 15th century. ...

Rizzio's murder was only one incident in the larger campaign by Scottish nobles to contain and control the Queen. However, the fact that he was murdered in Mary's presence, when she was heavily pregnant, made it a particularly shocking event.

Rizzio is buried at Canongate Kirkyard, Edinburgh. Edinburgh (pronounced ), Dùn Èideann () in Scottish Gaelic, is the second-largest city in Scotland and its capital city. ...

External links

• David Rizzio at findagrave.com