David Rizzio
David Rizzio arrived in Scotland during 1561 as part of a diplomatic embassy led by Carlo Ubertino Solaro, Count of Moretta. He was born in Pancalieri near Turin to an ancient noble family known as the Riccio Counts of San Paolo e Solbrito. His journey took him from Turin to Nice before he secured his place within the Scottish court. Mary Queen of Scots had brought musicians from France who needed a bass singer for their quartet. James Melville recalled that three valets sang three parts while they lacked a fourth voice. Rizzio filled this gap and became one of the royal chamber musicians alongside Adrian Lefeau and John Adesoun. The queen purchased matching clothes for three lute players in February 1562. This musical role eventually evolved into something far more significant than mere entertainment.
Rizzio gained wealth under Mary's patronage and became her secretary for relations with France towards the end of 1564. He replaced Augustine Raullet and began writing private letters in French, Italian, and Latin. George Buchanan described him as a very able man of business who controlled access to the queen. Rumors spread after July 1565 suggesting Mary treated David like a lover rather than a servant. A French diplomat named Paul de Foix reported finding Rizzio in Mary's bedchamber closet at Holyrood House during the middle of the night dressed only in a fur gown over his shirt. Lord Darnley discovered these circumstances and resolved to be revenged on the Italian secretary. Thomas Randolph noted that Rizzio took part in a costumed masque celebrating Nicolas d'Angennes arrival in February 1566. Mary had given him £200 in January 1566 to refurbish his chamber at Holyrood Palace.
Mary Queen of Scots sat at supper with Jean Stewart Countess of Argyll Robert Beaton of Creich and Arthur Erskine at eight o'clock on Saturday the 9th of March 1566. The supper room measured about twelve feet square and contained a low reposing bed and table decorated by Servais de Condé. Lord Darnley leaned on Mary's chair while guards were overpowered throughout the palace. Patrick Ruthven led rebels into the room alongside George Douglas demanding Rizzio be handed over. The queen refused and Rizzio hid behind her or held her waist before being seized. One intruder pointed a gun at Mary's pregnant belly while another threatened to stab her. Anthony Standen later wrote that Bellenden drew his dagger at the Queen's left side while another man held a snaphance pistol which failed to fire. After this violent struggle Rizzio was dragged through the bedchamber into the adjacent audience chamber where he received fifty-seven dagger wounds. His body was thrown down the main staircase nearby and stripped of jewels and fine clothes.
Robert Melville reported from London that Morton Lord Ruthven Lord Lindsay William Maitland of Lethington James Balfour John Bellenden and others had fled after the murder. Elizabeth I asked Sir John Forster to tell these men to find refuge outside England. Mary returned to Edinburgh with supporters and took lodgings on the Royal Mile rather than returning to the palace. On the 21st of March she declared Darnley innocent of the murder. Joseph Rizzio arrived in Scotland with Michel de Castelnau and was appointed secretary by the 25th of April 1566. He faced accusations alongside Bothwell regarding coins taken from the queen's purse in April 1574. The Privy Council summoned several suspected conspirators including William Tweedie Adam Tweedy and John Somerville on the 19th of March. By the 8th of June advocates proclaimed some suspects rebels who had fled making it unlawful to help them. John Carmichael later received a pardon for his role in detaining Mary at Holyrood from 9 to the 11th of March 1566.
John Carradine played Rizzio in the 1936 RKO picture Mary of Scotland while Ian Holm portrayed him in the 1971 film Mary Queen of Scots. Tadeusz Pasternak appeared as the secretary in the BBC mini-series Gunpowder Treason and Plot. Andrew Shaver took the role on The CW network television show Reign before Ismael Cruz Córdova starred in the 2018 film Mary Queen of Scots. Juliusz Słowacki made the murder central subject of his 1830 play Maria Stuart. Caleb Carr used the event as a key plot element in Sherlock Holmes story The Italian Secretary. Arthur Conan Doyle incorporated the death into his 1908 story The Silver Mirror. Denise Mina wrote a 2021 novella titled Rizzio focusing on the life and death of the Italian courtier. These cultural representations span from nineteenth century theater to modern cinema and literature.
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Common questions
When was David Rizzio born and where did he originate from?
David Rizzio was born in Pancalieri near Turin to an ancient noble family known as the Riccio Counts of San Paolo e Solbrito. He arrived in Scotland during 1561 as part of a diplomatic embassy led by Carlo Ubertino Solaro, Count of Moretta.
How did David Rizzio become secretary to Mary Queen of Scots?
Mary Queen of Scots had brought musicians from France who needed a bass singer for their quartet so David Rizzio filled this gap and became one of the royal chamber musicians alongside Adrian Lefeau and John Adesoun. His musical role eventually evolved into something far more significant than mere entertainment and he gained wealth under Mary's patronage to become her secretary for relations with France towards the end of 1564.
What happened to David Rizzio on the 9th of March 1566 at Holyrood House?
Lord Darnley discovered rumors that Mary treated David like a lover rather than a servant and resolved to be revenged on the Italian secretary. Patrick Ruthven led rebels into the supper room where guards were overpowered throughout the palace and after a violent struggle David Rizzio was dragged through the bedchamber into the adjacent audience chamber where he received fifty-seven dagger wounds before his body was thrown down the main staircase nearby.
Who fled Scotland after the murder of David Rizzio in 1566?
Robert Melville reported from London that Morton Lord Ruthven Lord Lindsay William Maitland of Lethington James Balfour John Bellenden and others had fled after the murder. Elizabeth I asked Sir John Forster to tell these men to find refuge outside England while advocates proclaimed some suspects rebels who had fleeing making it unlawful to help them by the 8th of June.
Which actors have portrayed David Rizzio in film and television productions?
John Carradine played Rizzio in the 1936 RKO picture Mary of Scotland while Ian Holm portrayed him in the 1971 film Mary Queen of Scots. Andrew Shaver took the role on The CW network television show Reign before Ismael Cruz Córdova starred in the 2018 film Mary Queen of Scots and Tadeusz Pasternak appeared as the secretary in the BBC mini-series Gunpowder Treason and Plot.