Editing David Rizzio

{{Short description|Italian courtier (1533–1566)}}
{{Use British English|date=August 2014}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2014}}

{{Infobox person
| image              = David Rizzio.png
| caption            = Seventeenth-century portrait traditionally said to be of Rizzio.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Portrait of a man known as David Rizzio |url=http://www.royalcollection.org.uk/microsites/maryqueenofscots/object.asp?row=5&exhibs=MQOSfeatures&item=6 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130823132432/http://www.royalcollection.org.uk/microsites/maryqueenofscots/object.asp?row=5&exhibs=MQOSfeatures&item=6 |archive-date=23 August 2013 |access-date=4 December 2024 |website=Royal Collection}}</ref> Contemporary accounts describe him as ugly, short and hunch-backed.<ref>{{cite book|first=Antonia|last=Fraser|author-link=Antonia Fraser|year=1994|orig-year=1969|title=Mary Queen of Scots| publisher=Weidenfeld and Nicolson|location=London|isbn=0-297-17773-7|page=236}}</ref>
| birth_date         = {{circa|1533}}
| birth_place        = [[Pancalieri]], Italy
| death_date         = 9 March 1566
| death_place        = [[Holyrood Palace]], [[Edinburgh]], Scotland
}}

'''David Rizzio''' ({{IPAc-en|ˈ|r|ɪ|t|s|i|oʊ}} {{respell|RIT|see|oh}}; {{langx|it|Davide Rizzio}} {{IPA|it|ˈdaːvide ˈrittsjo|}}; {{c.|1533}} – 9 March 1566)<ref>{{cite DNB |wstitle=Riccio, David |volume=48 |pages=98–100 |first=Thomas Finlayson |last=Henderson}}</ref> or '''Riccio''' ({{IPAc-en|ˈ|r|ɪ|tʃ|i|oʊ}} {{respell|RITCH|ee|oh}}, {{IPA|it|ˈrittʃo|lang}}) was an Italian [[courtier]], born in [[Pancalieri]] close to [[Turin]], a descendant of an ancient and noble family still living in [[Piedmont]], the Riccio Counts di San Paolo e Solbrito, who rose to become the private secretary of [[Mary, Queen of Scots]]. Mary's husband, [[Henry Stuart, Lord Darnley|Lord Darnley]], is said to have been jealous of their friendship because of rumours that Rizzio had impregnated Mary, and he joined in a conspiracy of [[Protestant]] nobles to murder him, led by [[Patrick Ruthven, 3rd Lord Ruthven]].  Mary was having dinner with Rizzio and a few ladies-in-waiting when Darnley joined them, accused his wife of adultery and then had a group murder Rizzio,<ref>''Mary, Queen of Scots'', by [[Antonia Fraser]], 1969</ref> who was hiding behind Mary. Mary was held at gunpoint and Rizzio was stabbed numerous times. His body took 57 [[dagger]] wounds.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2021 |title=David Rizzio |url=https://www.scottish-places.info/people/famousfirst372.html |access-date=4 December 2024 |website=Gazetteer for Scotland |publisher=The Editors of The Gazetteer for Scotland}}</ref> The murder was the catalyst of the downfall of Darnley, and had serious consequences for Mary's subsequent reign.<ref>[[Michael Questier]], ''Dynastic Politics and the British Reformations, 1558-1630'' (Oxford, 2019), p. 58.</ref>

==Career==
Rizzio (whose name appears in Italian records as Davide Riccio di Pancalieri in Piemonte) went first from [[Turin]] to the Court of the [[Duke of Savoy]], then at [[Nice]]. However, finding no opportunities for advancement there, he found means in 1561 to get himself admitted into the train of [[Carlo Ubertino Solaro, Count of Moretta]], who was about to lead an embassy to [[Scotland]].<ref>Alexandre Labanoff, [https://archive.org/details/lettresinstructi07maryuoft/page/n75/mode/2up ''Lettres de Marie Stuart'', 7 (London, 1844), p. 65]: John Parker Lawson, [https://digital.nls.uk/publications-by-scottish-clubs/archive/79606237 ''History of Scotland by Robert Keith'', 2 (Edinburgh, 1845), pp. 125–6]</ref> The Count in Scotland had no employment for Rizzio, and dismissed him. Rizzio however, had made friends with the Queen's musicians, who had come with her from France. [[James Melville of Halhill|James Melville]], a friend of Rizzio, said that "Her Majesty had three valets in her chamber, who sung three parts, and wanted a bass to sing the fourth part".{{sfnp|Hawkins|1778}}

Rizzio was considered a good musician and excellent singer, which brought him to the attention of the cosmopolitan young queen. Towards the end of 1564, having grown wealthy under her patronage, he became the queen's secretary for relations with France, after the previous occupant of the post had retired. Rizzio was ambitious, controlling access to the queen and seeing himself as almost a Secretary of State. Other courtiers felt that as a [[Catholic Church|Catholic]] and a foreigner he was too close to the queen.<ref>Alexandre Teulet, [https://archive.org/details/papiersdetatpies02bann/page/50/mode/2up ''Papiers d'état'', vol. 2 (Paris, 1851), p. 50]</ref>

===Relationship with Darnley and with Mary===
Rizzio became an ally of Lord Darnley, and helped with plans for his [[Wedding of Mary, Queen of Scots, and Henry, Lord Darnley|marriage to Mary]].<ref>Thomas Thomson, ''Memoirs of his own Life by Sir James Melville'' (Edinburgh, 1827), pp. 134, 136.</ref> [[George Buchanan]] described Rizzio gaining Darnley's favour. As their familiarity grew, Rizzio was admitted to Darnley's chamber, bed, and secret confidence.<ref>James Aikman, ''History of Scotland by George Buchanan'', 2 (Glasgow, 1827), p. 467</ref><ref>''History of Scotland by George Buchanan'' (London: Edward Jones, 1690), p. 172.</ref><ref>George Buchanan, ''Rerum Scoticarum historia'' (Edinburgh: John Paton, 1727), p. 528, "ut lectum, cubiculum, secretosque sermones".</ref> [[David Calderwood]] later wrote that Rizzio had "insinuated himself in the favours of Lord Darnley so far, that they would lie some times in one bed together".<ref>David Calderwood, [https://archive.org/details/historyofkirkofs0002cald/page/286/mode/2up ''History of the Kirk of Scotland'', 2 (Edinburgh, 1844), p. 286]</ref>

George Buchanan wrote about events and plots in June 1565 before the royal wedding. He claims that Mary summoned her brother, the [[James Stewart, 1st Earl of Moray|Earl of Moray]], to meet her at Perth. There, a quarrel between Moray and Darnley would escalate, Rizzio would strike the first blow, and others would ensure Moray was killed.<ref>James Aikman, ''History of Scotland by George Buchanan'', 2 (Glasgow, 1827), pp. 468–69.</ref> Thomas Randolph described this plan differently, and his version does not involve Rizzio. Moray however did not come to Perth, but stayed at [[Lochleven Castle]]. Rumours followed that Moray and the [[Archibald Campbell, 5th Earl of Argyll|Earl of Argyll]] planned to kidnap Mary and Darnley as they passed by [[Kinross]].<ref>Robert Keith, [https://archive.org/details/historyofaffairs0002keit/page/300/mode/2up ''History of the affairs of church and state in Scotland'', vol. 2 (Edinburgh, 1844), pp. 300, 309–311]</ref><ref>David Hay Fleming, ''Mary Queen of Scots'' (London, 1897), 109, 354.</ref><ref>[[Aeneas James George Mackay]], [https://digital.nls.uk/publications-by-scottish-clubs/archive/107683963 ''Historie and cronicles of Scotland'', 2 (Edinburgh: STS, 1899), p. 182]</ref>

Before the [[Wedding of Mary, Queen of Scots, and Henry Stuart, Lord Darnley|wedding of Mary and Darnley]], Rizzio was with the couple when they walked in disguise or [[masque]] costume on Edinburgh's [[Royal Mile|High Street]].<ref>Joseph Stevenson, ''Selections from unpublished manuscripts illustrating the reign of Mary Queen of Scotland'', pp. 119–120.</ref> After the marriage in July 1565, rumours became rife that Mary was having an adulterous affair with Rizzio.<ref>Robert Stedall, ''The Challenge to the Crown: The Struggle for Influence in the Reign of Mary Queen of Scots'' (Book Guild Publishing, 2012), p. 191.</ref> It was said (in 1568) that Mary and Darnley's love decayed after they returned from the campaign against Moray's rebellion, known as the [[Chaseabout Raid]], when Mary was "using the said David more like a lover than a servant, forsaking her husband's bed".<ref>[[Thomas Finlayson Henderson]], [https://archive.org/details/maryqueenofscots02hend/page/654/mode/2up ''Mary, Queen of Scots: Her Environment and Tragedy'', 2 (New York, 1905), p. 654, modernised here]</ref> According to the report of a French diplomat, [[Paul de Foix]], Darnley discovered Rizzio in the closet of Mary's bedchamber at Holyrood house in the middle of the night dressed only in a fur gown over his shirt.<ref>Alexander Teulet, [https://archive.org/details/relationspoliti05teulgoog/page/n277/mode/2up ''Relations Politiques'', 2 (Paris, 1862), p. 267]</ref> [[George Buchanan]] included a similar story in his ''History'', that Darnley had a key to a secondary door to Mary's bedchamber, but found it locked or barred against him. Thereafter, he resolved to be revenged on Rizzio.<ref>James Aikman, ''History of Scotland by George Buchanan'', 2 (Glasgow, 1827), p. 478: ''Ane Cronickill of the Kingis of Scotland'' (Edinburgh: Bannatyne Club, 1830), p. 103.</ref>

Following Darnley's murder, Lord Ruthven, in the account known as ''Ruthven's Relation'', revealed that Darnley had described the circumstances of his jealousy to Mary. This account also focusses on Rizzio's presence in Mary's bedchamber:<blockquote>Since yon fellow Davie fell in credit and familiarity with your Majesty, you regarded me not, neither treated me nor entertained me after your wonted fashion; for every day before dinner, you would come to my chamber and pass time with me, and thus long time ye have not done done so; and when I come to your Majesty's chamber, you bear me little company, except Davie had been the third "marrow" [companion]: and after supper your Majesty hath a use to sit at cards with the said Davie till one or two of the clock after midnight; and this is the entertainment that I have had of you this long time.<ref>[[David Hay Fleming]], ''Mary Queen of Scots'' (London, 1897), 384 fn.41 quoting Ruthven's [https://archive.org/details/bim_early-english-books-1641-1700_a-relation-of-the-death-_ruthven-patrick-ruthven_1699/page/(30)/mode/2up ''Relation'' (London, 1699), p. 30] British Library Cotton Caligula B.IX (2) f.270.</ref></blockquote>

The chronicle account, the ''Historie of James the Sext'', tells the story in a different way, asserting that Mary's secretary, [[William Maitland of Lethington|William Maitland]] of [[Lennoxlove|Lethington]], was jealous of Rizzio's increasing power. Maitland made Darnley jealous of Rizzio, hoping that the naive king-consort would destroy his rival.<ref>[https://digital.nls.uk/publications-by-scottish-clubs/archive/79587250 ''Historie of KIng James the Sext'' (Edinburgh, 1825), 4]</ref>

===Wealth, possessions and costume===
His annual salary for the post of valet was 150 Francs or £75 Scots.<ref>[[Gordon Donaldson]], ''Thirds of Benefices'' (Edinburgh, 1949), p. 155: [[William Barclay Turnbull]], ''Letters of Mary Stuart'' (London, 1845), p. xxxvi.</ref> The sum was paid from the "[[teind|Thirds of Benefices]]" as were some other household expenses, and not through the [[treasurer of Scotland|treasurer's accounts]].<ref>[[John Parker Lawson]], [https://archive.org/details/historyofaffairs30keit/page/384/mode/2up ''History of Scotland by Robert Keith'', 3 (Edinburgh: Spottiswoode Society, 1845), p. 385]</ref> In 1565, Rizzio received £80 in four installments paid by [[George Wishart of Drymme]].<ref>Gordon Donaldson, ''Scotland's History: Approaches and Reflections'' (Scottish Academic Press, 1995), p. 63: [[Charles Rogers (author)|Charles Rogers]], ''History of the Chapel Royal of Scotland'' (London, 1882), p. lxiv: ''Exchequer Rolls of Scotland'', vol. 19 (Edinburgh, 1898), p. 338.</ref>

Mary gave him gifts of rich fabric from her wardrobe, including black velvet figured with gold, and five pieces of gold cloth figured with scales.<ref>Clare Hunter, ''Embroidering Her Truth: Mary, Queen of Scots and the Language of Power'' (London: Sceptre, 2022), pp. 157-8: Joseph Robertson, ''Inventaires de la Royne Descosse'' (Edinburgh, 1863), pp. 155, 159, 161: Thomas Thomson, ''Collection of Inventories'' (Edinburgh, 1815), pp. 147 item 118, 149 item 146.</ref> It was said that Rizzio took bribes. [[William Douglas, 6th Earl of Morton|William Douglas]] of [[Lochleven Castle|Lochleven]] wrote that he offered Rizzio £5,000 to prevent the forfeit of the [[Regent Moray|Earl of Moray]], but Rizzio refused saying he would not act for £20,000.<ref>[[David Hay Fleming]], ''Mary Queen of Scots'' (London, 1897), p. 382.</ref> Rizzio's involvement with pardons for the Chaseabout rebels sparked Darnley's envy.<ref>Thomas Finlayson Henderson, [https://archive.org/details/maryqueenofscots02hend/page/654/mode/2up ''Mary, Queen of Scots: Her Environment and Tragedy'', 2 (New York, 1905), p. 654]</ref>

According to a letter of [[Thomas Randolph (diplomat)|Thomas Randolph]], Rizzio took part in a costumed [[masque]] in February 1566, celebrating the arrival of [[Nicolas d'Angennes]], seigneur de [[Rambouillet]], who brought the [[Order of Saint Michael]] for Darnley.<ref>''A Narrative of the Minority of Mary Queen of Scots by James Maitland'' (Ipswich, 1842): W. Park, 'Letter of Thomas Randolph to the Earl of Leicester, 14 February 1566', ''Scottish Historical Review'', 34:118 Part 2 (October 1955), pp. 135-139 at 138: [[National Library of Scotland]] MS 3657.</ref>

Mary had given Rizzio £200 in January 1566 to refurbish his chamber at Holyrood Palace.<ref>James Balfour Paul, ''Accounts of the Treasurer'', 11, p. p. 462.</ref> After his murder, it was noted that Rizzio had been living in wealthy circumstances. He was said to have £2,000 Sterling in gold coins, good clothing including 18 pairs of velvet hose, and his chamber at Holyroodhouse was well-furnished with a variety of hand-guns described as daggs, pistolets, and arquebuses, and 22 swords. He was said to be wearing a very rich jewel at his neck when he was killed, and was wearing a satin doublet and a furred damask night gown, perhaps the garment mentioned in the earlier French report.<ref>Henry Ellis, ''Original Letters'', series 1 vol. 2 (London, 1824), p. 218.</ref>

== Murder ==
[[File:John Opie (1761-1807) - The Murder of Rizzio - 49 - Guildhall Art Gallery.jpg|thumb|''The Murder of Rizzio'', 1787, by [[John Opie]]]]

Jealousy precipitated Rizzio's murder in the Queen's supper chamber in the [[Palace of Holyroodhouse]] at 8 o'clock on Saturday, 9 March 1566. Mary, Rizzio, [[Lady Jean Stewart|Jean Stewart, Countess of Argyll]], [[Robert Beaton of Creich|Robert Beaton]] of [[Creich Castle|Criech]] and [[Arthur Erskine of Blackgrange|Arthur Erskine]] were seated at the supper table.<ref>[[Henry Ellis (librarian)|Henry Ellis]], ''Original Letters'', series 1 vol. 2 (London, 1824), p. 210: John Parker Lawson, [https://digital.nls.uk/publications-by-scottish-clubs/archive/79609693 ''History of Scotland by Robert Keith'', 2 (Edinburgh, 1845), p. 413]</ref> The supper room, which still exists as part of the bedchamber, and was then "a cabinet about XII [[Foot (unit)|foot]] square, in the same a little low reposinge bedde, and a table" according to an account of the murder written by [[Francis Russell, 2nd Earl of Bedford|Francis, Earl of Bedford]], and [[Thomas Randolph (ambassador)|Thomas Randolph]]. The room had been decorated by Mary's servant [[Servais de Condé]].<ref>''HMC Calendar of the manuscripts of the Most Honourable the Marquess of Salisbury preserved at Hatfield House, Hertfordshire'', vol. 1 (London, 1883), p. 333, and in [https://archive.org/details/queenelizabethhe01wriguoft/page/226 Thomas Wright, ''Queen Elizabeth and her Times'', vol. 1 (London, 1838), pp. 226-235].</ref>

On the night of the murder the royal guards were overpowered and the palace was turned over to the control of the rebels. The Queen was six months pregnant (with [[James VI]]) at the time, and some accused Rizzio of having impregnated her. The rebels burst into the supper room, led by [[Patrick Ruthven, 3rd Lord Ruthven|Lord Ruthven]], and demanded that Rizzio be handed over. The Queen refused. Rizzio then hid behind Mary but was nevertheless seized. Mary would allege that one of the intruders, Patrick Bellenden (brother of the [[John Bellenden (Lord Justice Clerk)|Lord Justice Clerk]]), pointed his gun at her pregnant belly <ref>Peter Anderson, ''Robert Stewart, Earl of Orkney Lord of Shetland'' (Edinburgh: John Donald, 1982), p. 48.</ref> while Andrew Kerr of Faldonsyde threatened to stab her. Lord Ruthven denied this.<ref>Thomas Wright, ''Queen Elizabeth and her Times'', vol. 1 (London, 1838), pp. 229-30.</ref>

After this violent struggle, Rizzio was dragged through the bed-chamber into the adjacent Audience Chamber and stabbed an alleged 57 times. His body was thrown down the main staircase nearby (now disused) and stripped of his jewels and fine clothes.<ref name="Daniel1">Daniel, William S. (1852), ''History of The Abbey and Palace of Holyrood'' (Edinburgh, 1852), p. 75.</ref> The location of Rizzio's murder is marked with a small plaque in the Audience Chamber, underneath which is a red mark on the floorboards, which reportedly was left when Rizzio was stabbed to death.<ref>[https://www.rct.uk/sites/default/files/Mary,%20Queen%20of%20Scots%20at%20the%20Palace%20of%20Holyroodhouse%20-%20Creative%20Writing%20Resource.pdf ''Mary, Queen of Scots at the Palace of Holyroodhouse: A Creative Writing Resource for Teachers''] – [[Palace of Holyrood House]]</ref>

Rizzio was first buried in the cemetery of Holyrood Abbey.<ref>Joseph Stevenson, ''The History of Mary Stewart: From the Murder of Riccio Until Her Flight Into England by Claude Nau'' (Edinburgh, 1883), pp. 16, 227.</ref> Buchanan states that shortly afterwards his body was removed by the Queen's orders and deposited in the tomb of the kings of Scotland in Holyrood Abbey.<ref name="Daniel3">Daniel, William S. (1852), ''History of The Abbey and Palace of Holyrood'' (Edinburgh, 1852), p. 76.</ref> This strengthened the previous rumours of her familiarity with him.{{sfnp|Ruthen|1815}} Rumours circulated about the motive for the murder: that Darnley was jealous, or that powerful lords sought to manipulate Darnley and remove an irritating presence at court.

==Aftermath==
[[File:The Murder of David Rizzio.jpg|thumb|''[[The Murder of David Rizzio]]'' by [[William Allan (painter)|William Allan]], 1833]]
Immediately after the murder Mary was able to speak to Lord Darnley, and may have convinced him they were both in danger and captives in the palace. The guard around her was relaxed and at midnight the next day they escaped and she rode behind [[Arthur Erskine of Blackgrange]], master of her stable, to [[Seton Palace]] and then to safety at [[Dunbar Castle]].<ref>M. S. Giuseppi, ''HMC Salisbury Hatfield'', vol. 16 (London, 1933), pp. 17-18.</ref> An English servant of Lord Darnley, [[Anthony Standen (spy)|Anthony Standen]], later claimed to have accompanied the queen with [[John Stewart of Traquair|John Stewart]] of [[Traquair]] and his brother [[William Stewart of Caverston|William Stewart]].<ref>Joseph Stevenson, ''The History of Mary Stewart: From the Murder of Riccio Until Her Flight Into England by Claude Nau'' (Edinburgh, 1883), pp. ciii, 11, 16, 227.</ref><ref>M. S. Giuseppi, ''HMC Salisbury Hatfield'', vol. 16 (London, 1933), pp. 17-18.</ref> Mary returned to Edinburgh with her supporters, and took up lodgings on the [[Royal Mile]] rather than return to the palace. On 21 March she had Darnley declared innocent of the murder.<ref>Thomas Wright, ''Queen Elizabeth and her Times'', vol. 1 (London, 1838), pp. 230-1.</ref>

[[Robert Melville, 1st Lord Melville|Robert Melville]] arrived in Edinburgh from London and reported back to Elizabeth and [[William Cecil, 1st Baron Burghley|Cecil]] on the aftermath of the murder. He noted that [[Regent Morton|Morton]], [[Patrick Ruthven, 3rd Lord Ruthven|Lord Ruthven]], [[Patrick Lindsay, 6th Lord Lindsay|Lord Lindsay]], [[William Maitland of Lethington]], the [[Lord Clerk Register|Clerk Register]] [[James Balfour, Lord Pittendreich|James Balfour]], the [[Lord Justice Clerk]] John Bellenden (whose brother was alleged to have pointed a gun at the queen), and some gentlemen of Lothian, who were all suspected of having knowledge of the plan had fled.<ref>''Calendar State Papers Scotland'', vol. 2 (Edinburgh, 1900), 267, 272, 274-5.</ref>

[[William Cecil, 1st Baron Burghley]] and a French diplomat, [[Paul de Foix]] discussed the news. De Foix seems at first to have been misled about the events, thinking that Darnley had killed Rizzio because he found such a lowly servant having an adulterous relationship with Mary, an idea not present in the reports of the murder.<ref>[[John Hosack]], ''Mary, Queen of Scots, and her Accusers'', 2 (Edinburgh: Blackwood, 1874), pp. 78–80: Allan Crosbie, ''Calendar State Papers Foreign, 1566–1568'' (London, 1871), xi, 37 no. 217.</ref>

Rizzio's brother, Joseph, arrived in Scotland with [[Michel de Castelnau]] and was appointed secretary in David's place by 25 April 1566. Joseph and an Italian colleague, Joseph Lutyni, had some trouble over coins taken from the queen's purse, and in April 1567 he was accused and acquitted with Bothwell of Darnley's murder.<ref>''Calendar State Papers Scotland'', vol. 2 (Edinburgh, 1900), 276, 311, 320.</ref>

==Legacy and memorial==
David Rizzio's career was remembered and referred to by [[Henry IV of France]]. Mocking the pretension of [[James VI of Scotland]] to be the "Scottish Solomon", he remarked that "he hoped he was not David the fiddler's son", alluding to the possibility that Rizzio, not Darnley, fathered King James.

George Buchanan wrote in 1581 that David was first buried outside the door of [[Holyrood Abbey]], and then Mary arranged for him to be buried in the tomb of her father [[James V of Scotland|James V]] and [[Madeleine of Valois|Madeleine of France]] within. Buchanan described this circumstance as reflecting badly on the Queen. Fearing that Mary's son, [[James VI of Scotland|James VI]], would suppress his book, Buchanan's friend [[James Melville (1556–1614)|James Melville]] tried to get Buchanan to rewrite the passage while the book was at the printers. Buchanan asked his cousin, Thomas Buchanan, a schoolmaster in Stirling, if he thought the story was true, and the cousin agreed. The story was published.<ref>Buchanan, George, ''History of Scotland'', book 17 chapter 65: James Aikman, ''History of Scotland'', vol. 2 (Glasgow, 1827), p .483 & footnote: ''The Diary of Mr James Melville'' (Bannatyne Club, 1829), p. 86.</ref>

It is sometimes said that Rizzio was buried at the [[Canongate Kirk]] and burying ground. Holyroodhouse is within the old [[Canongate]] jurisdiction,  and Rizzio's death was recorded in the Canongate registers. This pre-dated the building of the [[Canongate Kirk]] in 1688, and it is unlikely he could be buried there.<ref>A. Francis Steuart, [https://archive.org/details/in.ernet.dli.2015.526872/page/n125/mode/2up ''Life od Seigneur Davie'' (London, 1922), p. 110 fn]</ref>

==Representation in fiction==
Rizzio was played by [[John Carradine]] in the 1936 RKO picture ''[[Mary of Scotland (film)|Mary of Scotland]]''; by [[Ian Holm]] in the 1971 movie ''[[Mary, Queen of Scots (1971 film)|Mary, Queen of Scots]]''; by Tadeusz Pasternak in the BBC mini-series ''[[Gunpowder, Treason, and Plot]]''; by [[Andrew Shaver]] in [[The CW]] network television show ''[[Reign (TV series)|Reign]]''; and by [[Ismael Cruz Córdova]] in the 2018 film ''[[Mary Queen of Scots (2018 film)|Mary Queen of Scots]]''.

The murder of Rizzio and the subsequent downfall of Darnley form the main subject of the 1830 play ''Maria Stuart'' by [[Juliusz Słowacki]].

Rizzio's life and death are a key plot element in [[Caleb Carr]]'s [[Sherlock Holmes]] story ''[[The Italian Secretary]]'', Holmes vocally dismissing the idea that Rizzio was ever anything more than entertainment.

[[Arthur Conan Doyle]] used the death of Rizzio as a plot point in his 1908 story, “The Silver Mirror”.

Rizzio's murder is also the subject of Scottish author [[Denise Mina]]'s 2021 novella, "Rizzio".

==The takers in hand==
[[Thomas Randolph (diplomat)|Thomas Randolph]] listed these men among the participants in Rizzio's murder:<ref>Joseph Bain, ''Calendar of State Papers Scotland'', vol. 2 (Edinburgh, 1900), 269–270: Henry Ellis, ''Original Letters'', series 1 vol. 2 (London, 1824), 220-222.</ref>
*[[Regent Morton|Earl of Morton]]
*[[Patrick Ruthven, 3rd Lord Ruthven]]
*[[Patrick Lindsay, 6th Lord Lindsay]]
*[[William Maitland of Lethington]]
*[[William Ruthven, 1st Earl of Gowrie|Master of Ruthven]]
*James Ormiston, laird of Ormiston.<ref>[[Maureen Meikle]], ''A British frontier? Lairds and Gentlemen in the Eastern Borders'' (Tuckwell, 2004), pp. 241–242.</ref>
*William Sinclair of Herdmanston, laird of "Haughton"
*John Crichton, laird of [[Brunstane]]
*[[William Douglas of Whittinghame|The laird of Whittinghame]]
*[[William Douglas, 6th Earl of Morton|The laird of Lochleven]]
*The laird of Elphingstone (Johnston)
*Patrick Murray
*Andrew Kerr of Fawdonsyde, son-in-law of [[John Knox]]
*William Tweedie of Drumelzier
*Adam Tweedie of Dreva
with the preachers; [[John Knox]] and John Craig. On 19 March, the [[Privy Council of Scotland|Privy Council]] sent letters to a number of men, requiring they attend in Edinburgh to answer questions.<ref>John Hill Burton, ''Register of the Privy Council of Scotland'', vol. 1 (Edinburgh, 1877), pp. 436-7.</ref> John Carmichael of Meadowflat, later Captain of Crawford, was given a remission or pardon in 1574 for his "art and part" in the detention of Mary at Holyrood from the 9 to 11 March 1566.<ref>Gordon Donaldson, ''Register of the Privy Seal of Scotland'', 6 (Edinburgh: HMSO, 1963), p. 485 no. 2684.</ref>

==References==
{{reflist}}

==Sources==
*{{cite book|first=Lord |last=Ruthen |date=1815 |title=Some Particulars of the Life of David Riccio, chief favourite of Mary Queen of Scots |publisher= Triphook |location= London }}
*''The Register of the Privy Council of Scotland'', edited by [[John Hill Burton]], LL.D., vol.1. 1545–1569, Edinburgh, 1877, p.&nbsp;437, lists all those charged with "the slauchter of David Riccio." Given the very many names shown, it presumably includes those in the wider conspiracy.
*{{cite book|first=Sir John |last=Hawkins |date=1778 |title=History and Character of Scots Music, including Anecdotes of the Celebrated David Rizzio |publisher= Universal Magazine, October 1778 }}

==External links==
* {{Commonscat-inline|David Rizzio}}
* [http://gallica.bnf.fr/ark:/12148/btv1b90592962/f160.item Manuscript of extracts of letters sent by Mary to her uncle, the Cardinal of Lorraine, with news of the murder] from the [[Bibliothèque nationale de France]]

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Rizzio, David}}
[[Category:Scottish royal favourites]]
[[Category:1530s births]]
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[[Category:Nobility from Turin]]
[[Category:Expatriates in the Kingdom of Scotland]]
[[Category:Italian murder victims]]
[[Category:Deaths by stabbing in Scotland]]
[[Category:Burials at the Canongate Kirkyard]]
[[Category:Burials at Holyrood Abbey]]
[[Category:Italian people murdered abroad]]
[[Category:Court of Mary, Queen of Scots]]
[[Category:16th-century Italian nobility]]
[[Category:Assassinated Italian politicians]]
[[Category:People murdered in Scotland]]
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