Carlo Ubertino Solaro, Count of Moretta (born 1540) was a diplomat from Piedmont serving Emmanuel Philibert, Duke of Savoy. He is sometimes known as the Monsieur de Morette, Obertino Solaro, or Robertino. [1]
Carlo Ubertino Solaro, Count of Moretta (born 1540) was a diplomat from Piedmont serving Emmanuel Philibert, Duke of Savoy. He is sometimes known as the Monsieur de Morette, Obertino Solaro, or Robertino. [1]
He was a son of Bartolommeo Solaro of Moretta and Casalgrasso, a landowner in the Province of Cuneo. Carlo Ubertino, Count of Moretta is known for his diplomatic missions to Rome, France, Portugal, England, and Scotland. He married Lucrezia Della Rovere, a sister of Gerolamo Della Rovere, Bishop of Toulon and Archbishop of Turin, in 1558. [2] He received the French Order of Saint Michael. [3]
He was sent to England and Scotland as the ambassador of Savoy in 1560 and 1561 with schemes for the potential marriages of Jacques de Savoie, Duke of Nemours and Alfonso II d'Este, Duke of Ferrara to Elizabeth I and Mary, Queen of Scots. [4] [5] [6] [7] These marriage plans may have been proposed by Ippolito II d'Este, Cardinal of Ferrara, and uncle of Alfonso II d'Este. [8] Ippolito II d'Este had spent time with Mary's father, James V, in France in 1536. [9]
Moretta made his first visit to England in November 1560. [10] He returned via France, joining the French court at the Palace of Fontainebleau. [11] An English diplomat in Paris, Nicholas Throckmorton, who had previously had identified Moretta as a nephew and successor of Charles de Solier, comte de Morette, and thought him a good skilled courtier, heard that Elizabeth I had failed to give him the usual diplomatic gift on his first visit, and suggested she send a gold chain. [12]
In 1561, Moretta was sent to announce the news of the pregnancy of the Duchess of Savoy, Margaret of Valois, a daughter of Francis I of France. His brother-in-law, Girolamo Della Rovere, accompanied him on this mission. [13] He visited the French ambassador in London, Michel de Seure. De Seure heard that Elizabeth I said to Moretta that she was young and did not need to lean on a husband like an old lady with a walking stick. [14] diplomats
The Spanish ambassador in London, Álvaro de la Quadra, was highly critical of Moretta's proposals regarding the marriages and the possibility of Elizabeth I sending delegates to a Papal council, a session of the Council of Trent. [15] Moretta also met two junior English diplomats John Somers and Robert Jones. [16]
Moretta came to Scotland in November 1561 to meet Mary, Queen of Scots. [17] He stayed near Holyrood Palace, at the house of the queen's brother Lord Robert Stewart. He watched courtiers ride in costume at "running at the ring" on the sands of Leith, where he chatted to the English diplomat Thomas Randolph. [18] The event, the second of two tournaments at Leith, was probably a celebration of Mary's birthday. [19]
David Rizzio was a member of Moretta's retinue in Edinburgh, said to be a servant of Moretta's brother-in-law, the Bishop of Toulon. [20] [21] Rizzio's home town in Piedmont was Pancalieri, close to Casalgrasso. [22] Rizzio stayed in Scotland, Moretta returned to Piedmont via London and France, convinced that Mary had determined to marry Carlos, Prince of Asturias. [23] The Duke's son, Charles Emmanuel, was born in January 1562. Elizabeth I sent a gift to Moretta, who was with the French court at the Château de Saint-Germain-en-Laye, and he wrote to her that the Duchess and her son were well. [24]
Moretta made another journey to Scotland for the baptism of James VI in December 1566 at Stirling Castle. [25] However, he was delayed and Savoy was represented at the ceremony by Philibert du Croc. [26] Moretta arrived in Scotland in January 1567, and gave Mary a fan with jewelled feathers. [27]
Moretta was still in Edinburgh when Darnley was murdered in February 1567, and he reported the evidence gathered from women who heard his shouts. [28] [29] He said that Mary had persuaded him not to meet with Darnley, [30] neither was he permitted to see Darnley's body. [31] Moretta's version of events at the Kirk o' Field seemed not to vindicate Mary from suspicion of involvement in the murder. [32]
Henry Stuart, Lord Darnley was King of Scotland as the second husband of Mary, Queen of Scots, from 29 July 1565 until his murder in 1567. Lord Darnley had one child with Mary, the future James VI of Scotland and I of England. Through his parents, he had claims to both the Scottish and English thrones. Less than a year after the birth of his son, Darnley was murdered at Kirk o' Field in 1567. Many contemporary narratives describing his life and death refer to him as simply Lord Darnley, his title as heir apparent to the Earldom of Lennox.
David Rizzio or Riccio 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, 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, who was hiding behind Mary. Mary was held at gunpoint and Rizzio was stabbed numerous times. His body took 57 dagger wounds. The murder was the catalyst of the downfall of Darnley, and had serious consequences for Mary's subsequent reign.
James Stewart, 1st Earl of Moray was a member of the House of Stewart as the illegitimate son of King James V of Scotland. At times a supporter of his half-sister Mary, Queen of Scots, he was the regent of Scotland for his half-nephew, the infant King James VI, from 1567 until his assassination in 1570. He was the first head of government to be assassinated with a firearm.
The Chaseabout Raid was a rebellion by James Stewart, 1st Earl of Moray, against his half sister, Mary, Queen of Scots, on 26 August 1565, over her marriage to Henry Stuart, Lord Darnley. The rebels also claimed to be acting over other causes including bad governance, and religion in the name of the Scottish Reformation. As the government and rebel forces moved back and forth across Scotland without fighting, the conflict became known as the "chase about raid." Queen Mary's forces were superior and the rebel lords fled to England where Queen Elizabeth censured the leader.
Patrick Ruthven, 3rd Lord Ruthven played an important part in the political intrigues of 16th century Scotland. He succeeded to the lordship in December 1552. The Ruthven lordship encompassed the offices of Provost and Constable of Perth, and Sheriff of Strathearn.
The Casket letters were eight letters and some sonnets said to have been written by Mary, Queen of Scots, to the Earl of Bothwell, between January and April 1567. They were produced as evidence against Queen Mary by the Scottish lords who opposed her rule. In particular, the text of the letters was taken to imply that Queen Mary colluded with Bothwell in the murder of her husband, Lord Darnley. Mary's contemporary supporters, including Adam Blackwood, dismissed them as complete forgeries or letters written by the Queen's servant Mary Beaton. The authenticity of the letters, now known only by copies, continues to be debated. Some historians argue that they were forgeries concocted in order to discredit Queen Mary and ensure that Queen Elizabeth I supported the kingship of the infant James VI of Scotland, rather than his mother. The historian John Hungerford Pollen, in 1901, by comparing two genuine letters drafted by Mary, presented a subtle argument that the various surviving copies and translations of the casket letters could not be used as evidence of their original authorship by Mary.
Robert Stewart, 1st Earl of Orkney and Lord of Zetland (Shetland) was a recognised illegitimate son of James V, King of Scotland, and his mistress Eupheme Elphinstone. Robert Stewart was half-brother to Mary, Queen of Scots and uncle to James VI and I of Scotland and England.
Mary Beaton, or Bethune as she wrote her family name, was a Scottish courtier. She is remembered in history as one of the four girls who were companions of Mary, Queen of Scots from childhood, known as The Queen's Maries or The Four Maries, and has also entered folklore through the traditional ballad of Marie Hamilton.
Bastian Pagez was a French servant and musician at the court of Mary, Queen of Scots. He was born in Auvergne. He devised part of the entertainment at the baptism of Prince James at Stirling Castle in 1566. When Mary was exiled in England, Bastian and his family continued in her service. The 19th-century historians Agnes Strickland and William Barclay Turnbull considered his court role as equivalent to the English Master of the Revels; in England he was Mary's chamber valet and designed her embroidery patterns.
Patrick Lindsay, 6th Lord Lindsay of the Byres, (1521–1589), Scottish courtier and Confederate lord.
John Stewart, Commendator of Coldingham (1531–1563) was a Scottish landowner.
Timothy Cagnioli was an Italian merchant and banker in Scotland. Cagnioli was active in Edinburgh during the Regency of Mary of Guise and the personal reign of Mary, Queen of Scots. As a merchant he supplied luxury fabrics used in costume and interior decoration. He was able to lend large sums of money and issue letters of credit needed by travellers abroad.
The jewels of Mary, Queen of Scots (1542–1587), are mainly known through the evidence of inventories held by the National Records of Scotland. She was bought jewels during her childhood in France, adding to those she inherited. She gave gifts of jewels to her friends and to reward diplomats. When she abdicated and went to England many of the jewels she left behind in Scotland were sold or pledged for loans, first by her enemies and later by her allies. Mary continued to buy new jewels, some from France, and use them to reward her supporters. In Scotland her remaining jewels were worn by her son James VI and his favourites.
The baptism of James VI was celebrated at Stirling Castle in December 1566 with a masque, fireworks, and a staged assault on a mock fortress. The entertainment was devised by George Buchanan and Bastian Pagez.
The wardrobe of Mary, Queen of Scots, was described in several contemporary documents, and many records of her costume have been published.
Arthur Erskine of Blackgrange was a Scottish courtier.
Mary, Queen of Scots, and Henry Stuart, Lord Darnley, were married at the Palace of Holyroodhouse on 29 July 1565, when she was 22 years old, and he was 19.
John Somers or Somer or Sommers was an English diplomat, courtier, and cryptographer. He served as joint keeper of Mary, Queen of Scots, at Tutbury Castle with Ralph Sadler. Somers is said to have been Sadler's son-in-law.
Gregory Railton or Raylton was an English administrator and Clerk of the Signet. As a Protestant, Railton went into exile during the reign of Mary I of England.
Robert Jones was an English diplomat, from April 1558 a Clerk of the Privy Seal, and keeper of the council chamber.