Marriage
Marries Mary Fleming, a kin of ary Queen of Scots, the Chapel Royal at Stirling
Permanent historical records ยท Updated 2026-11-03
1566 in Scotland
Explore 54 historical events and records for Scotland in 1566.
Historical records for Scotland in 1566
Sorted by month and day. Records with no month are shown last. Showing 40 of 54 unique records.
54Unique records
1 of 2Page
23Named events on this page
11Named people on this page
12Places on this page
January
Assassination of Henry Stewart
Writes a letter to Beaton expressing her contempt for Darnley
Assassination of Henry Stewart
A conference takes place between Bothwell, Morton, Archibald Douglas & Maitland
Assassination of Henry Stewart
A conference takes place between Bothwell, Morton, Archibald Douglas & Maitland
Assassination of Henry Stewart
A conference takes place between Bothwell, Morton, Archibald Douglas & Maitland
February
Assassination of Henry Stewart
Mary & Bothwell visit Darnley who is killed by an explosion. Mary & Bothwell visit Darnley at Kirk oField who is killed by an explosion
Assassination of Henry Stewart
Victim of a plot for the "crown matrimonial" & helping Marys enemies. Darnley is assassinated at Kirk-o-Field
March
Assassination of David Rizzio
Rizzio is assassinated by Darnley & Ruthven in Marys presence. Darnley says it is because of an affair between Rizzio & Mary
Assassination of David Rizzio
Breaks into Marys supper room & has David Rizzio killed with 56 dagger strokes
Death of Mary of Scots
Rizzio is assassinated by Darnley & Ruthven in Marys presence. Darnley says it is because of an affair between Rizzio & Mary
Arrest of Mary of Scots
Darnley claims innocence for the murder of Riccio & smuggles Mary out of Holyrood
Siege of Edinburgh
Escorts Queen Mary back to Edinburgh with a force of 8,000
Siege of Edinburgh
Returns to Edinburgh with 8,000 soldiers under Bothwell
Assassination of David Rizzio
Sends a message to obtain Queen Marys signature to the "bond of security" after the assassination of Rizzio. Heads an armed force which takes possession of Holyrood palace to effect the assassination of Rizzio
Exile of James Douglas
Mary escapes to Dunbar, and Morton and the other leaders fled to England
June
Christening
Given a catholic christening in the chapel royal of Stirling Castle. Elizabeth I is a godparent
Birth of James IV
Birth of James IV, the Mons Meg is fired in salute
Birth of James VI
Birth of James VI, son of Mary Queen of Scots & Lord Darnley, Edinburgh Castle. Birth of James VI, son of Mary Queen of Scots, in Edinburgh Castle
Birth of James VI
Mary and Darnley's son James is born with a strong hereditary claim to both Scotland and, through Margaret Tudor, the English crown.
Trial
Gives her half brother Moray a pardon after Darnleys assassination of David Rizzio
Trial
Pardoned by her half-sister Mary Queen of Scots
Plot
The "casket letters" are used to involve Marys complicity with Bothwell
December
James VI Baptised at Stirling
James is baptised in a major royal ceremony that publicly confirms the survival of the infant at the centre of the Scottish succession.
Alliance Mary of Scots and the Protestant Church
Makes a personal gift of ล10,000 to the Protestant Church
Other events (month unknown)
A Papal Nuncio is despatched with 150,000 crowns to help Mary combat
A Papal Nuncio is despatched with 150,000 crowns to help Mary combat heretics
Arrest of Margaret Douglas
Arrested for a 2nd time for the marriage of one of her sons, this time Charles Stuart, but pardoned after her sons death in 1576. Arrested after her sons marriage to Mary without Elizabeth Is approval
Arrest of Mary of Scots
After Rizzios assassination Mary persuades Darnley to escape with her from Holyrood
Assassination of David Rizzio
At Holyrood on the night of Rizzios assassination but denies knowledge of it
Assassination of David Rizzio
Queen Mary of Scots, possibly pregnant with Rizzios son. A plot between Darnley & Protestant Lords after Darnley is refused the crown
Assassination of Henry Stewart
Signs a bond at Craigmillar with other nobles to rid Mary of Darnley
Assassination of Henry Stewart
Offers a reward of ล2,000 for information about the assassination of Darnley
Bishop
Appointed Bishop of Ross
Casket Letters
If authentic throughout, they provide proof of Marys complicity in the murder of her husband, Henry Stuart, Lord Darnley. Casket Letters is the name generally given to a group of eight letters and a sequence of irregular sonnets said to have been addressed by Mary, Queen of Scots, to the Earl of Bothwell, between January and April 1566 or 1567
Casket Letters
If authentic throughout, they provide proof of Marys complicity in the murder of her husband, Henry Stuart, Lord Darnley. Casket Letters is the name generally given to a group of eight letters and a sequence of irregular sonnets said to have been addressed by Mary, Queen of Scots, to the Earl of Bothwell, between January and April 1566 or 1567
Death of Henry Stewart
Queen Mary of Scots maybe pregnant with Rizzios son
Death of James Hepburn
At Holyrood on the night of Rizzios assassination but denies knowledge of it
Exile of James Stewart
Returns to Scotland after the assassination of Rizzio and is pardoned by Mary
Group of Eight
Casket Letters is the name generally given to a group of eight letters and a sequence of irregular sonnets said to have been addressed by Mary, Queen of Scots, to the Earl of Bothwell, between January and April 1566 or 1567
Group of Eight
Casket Letters is the name generally given to a group of eight letters and a sequence of irregular sonnets said to have been addressed by Mary, Queen of Scots, to the Earl of Bothwell, between January and April 1566 or 1567
Invasion of England
It is rumoured Darnley plans to inhabit the Scilly Isles & lead a Catholic invasion
How these records were prepared
Generated from the World History Database historical_events table. Identical display records are collapsed; descriptions otherwise retain the stored text. Coverage and source quality vary. Check primary and specialist sources before citing individual historical claims.