James Atkinhead or Aikenhead was a Scottish courtier, a diplomat, and Captain of Dunbar Castle.
Atkinhead was a member of the royal household of James V of Scotland. He became involved in the king's marriage plans and was sent to France at least three times.
In January 1535, James V wrote to Francis I of France discussing negotiations about his marriage to a French bride. An marital alliance with France had been agreed in 1517 by the Treaty of Rouen. He sent Atkinhead to France. [1] Atkinhead was instructed to explain that James V could not deviate from the 1517 Treaty of Rouen by marrying a bride who was not a Princess without the consent of the Parliament of Scotland. [2]
Francis I was suggesting that James V could marry Mary of Bourbon rather than his daughter Madeleine of Valois. Aitkinhead was sent to France to meet Mary of Bourbon, instructed to "see and wesie the gentyll woman that is offerit us", to note her personage, her manners, "having" (deportment), and conversation. Atkinhead, if satisfied on these points, was to enquire about a dowry for Mary as if she were a daughter of Francis I. If the business was concluded, Mary of Bourbon should "haste home" to Scotland with an "honest train" of gentlewomen before winter. James sent letters on the same day with Aikenhead to Philippe Chabot and Anne de Montmorency. [3]
The Duke of Albany suggested that James V might marry Christina of Denmark, now the widowed Duchess of Milan, and James V halted progress on plans for the marriage to Mary of Bourbon. At this time, there was also an investigation into the possibility of him marrying his former mistress, Margaret Erskine. On 28 December 1535, Aikenhead was sent to France to resume the Vendôme marriage plan and get the best deal for James V. Atkinhead's instructions included that Mary's train should consist of a 'sobir nummyr' of gentlewomen. James V then appointed "procurators", his legal representatives, to finalise the match. [4]
James V married Madeleine of Valois at Notre-Dame de Paris on 1 January 1537, and after her death, Mary of Guise. Atkinhead was made Captain of Dunbar Castle. [5]
In 1539 the Earl of Norfolk mentioned that a member of the Hamilton family, wife of the late Captain of Dunbar, was living in Berwick-upon-Tweed. She was a daughter of Patrick Hamilton of Kincavil. [6]
James V was King of Scotland from 9 September 1513 until his death in 1542. He was crowned on 21 September 1513 at the age of seventeen months. James was the son of King James IV and Margaret Tudor, daughter of Henry VII of England. During his childhood Scotland was governed by regents, firstly by his mother until she remarried, and then by his second cousin, John Stewart, Duke of Albany. James's personal rule began in 1528 when he finally escaped the custody of his stepfather, Archibald Douglas, 6th Earl of Angus. His first action was to exile Angus and confiscate the lands of the Douglases.
Mary of Guise, also called Mary of Lorraine, was Queen of Scotland from 1538 until 1542, as the second wife of King James V. She was a French noblewoman of the House of Guise, a cadet branch of the House of Lorraine and one of the most powerful families in France. As the mother of Mary, Queen of Scots, she was a key figure in the political and religious upheaval that marked mid-16th-century Scotland, ruling the kingdom as queen regent on behalf of her daughter from 1554 until her death in 1560.
Sir David Lyndsay of the Mount was a Scottish knight, poet, and herald who gained the highest heraldic office of Lyon King of Arms. He remains a well regarded poet whose works reflect the spirit of the Renaissance, specifically as a makar.
Madeleine of Valois was a French princess who briefly became Queen of Scotland in 1537 as the first wife of King James V. The marriage was arranged in accordance with the Treaty of Rouen, and they were married at Notre-Dame de Paris in January 1537, despite French reservations over her failing health. Madeleine died in July 1537, only six months after the wedding and less than two months after arriving in Scotland, resulting in her nickname, the "Summer Queen".
James Stewart, Earl of Moray was a Scottish nobleman and diplomat.
John Stewart, 2nd Duke of Albany was the regent of the Kingdom of Scotland and the count of Auvergne and Lauraguais in France.
The Treaty of Rouen was signed on 26 August 1517 between France and Scotland. The treaty provided the renewal of the Auld Alliance in terms of mutual military assistance and reciprocal aid. Provision was made for the future marriage of James V of Scotland to a daughter of Francis I if circumstances allowed.
Lady Margaret Erskine was a mistress of King James V of Scotland and mother of Regent Moray.
John Erskine, 5th Lord Erskine was a Scottish nobleman.
Thomas Magnus (1463/4–1550) was an English churchman, administrator and diplomat.
Sir Thomas Erskine of Haltoun and Brechin was the royal secretary to James V of Scotland from 1524.
Patrick Paniter Scottish churchman and principal secretary to James IV of Scotland and the infant James V. The surname is usually written Paniter, or Painter, or occasionally Panter.
Mary of Bourbon or Marie de Bourbon was a daughter of Charles, Duke of Vendôme, and Françoise d'Alençon, daughter of René, Duke of Alençon. Mary was the subject of marriage negotiations of James V of Scotland. He visited her in France, but subsequently married Madeleine of Valois. Mary died two years later.
Antoine d'Arcy, sieur de la Bastie-sur-Meylan and of Lissieu, was a French nobleman involved in the government of Scotland.
Robert Barton of Over Barnton was a Scottish landowner, merchant, sailor and politician. He served as Comptroller, Master of the Mint and Lord High Treasurer to James V of Scotland.
Louis de Bourbon-Vendôme, was the son of Francis, Count of Vendôme and Marie of Luxembourg and a French prince du sang and religious leader.
Sir William Hamilton of Sanquhar was pursemaster for James V and the Captain of Edinburgh Castle during the Regency of Regent Arran.
John Stewart, Commendator of Coldingham (1531–1563) was a Scottish landowner.
Charles de Prunelé, Baron d'Esneval was a French diplomat and ambassador in Scotland in 1586. The Château d'Esneval is at Pavilly, Seine-Maritime. He is known by his title, as "D'Esneval", or "D'Aisneval", or "D'Anneval".
Mary, Queen of Scots, (1542-1587), married Francis, Dauphin of France, (1544–1560), at Notre-Dame de Paris on 24 April 1558. The festivities included pageants, some designed by Bartolomeo Campi.