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Archibald Campbell, 5th Earl of Argyll (1532/1537 – 12 September 1573) was a Scottish nobleman, peer, and politician. He was one of the leading figures in the politics of
Scotland Scotland is a Countries of the United Kingdom, country that is part of the United Kingdom. It contains nearly one-third of the United Kingdom's land area, consisting of the northern part of the island of Great Britain and more than 790 adjac ...
during the reign of
Mary, Queen of Scots Mary, Queen of Scots (8 December 1542 – 8 February 1587), also known as Mary Stuart or Mary I of Scotland, was List of Scottish monarchs, Queen of Scotland from 14 December 1542 until her forced abdication in 1567. The only surviving legit ...
, and the early part of that of
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.


Rise to prominence

Succeeding his father Archibald Campbell, 4th Earl of Argyll (c. 1507–1558) in the
earldom Earl () is a rank of the nobility in the United Kingdom. In modern Britain, an earl is a member of the peerage, ranking below a marquess and above a viscount. A feminine form of ''earl'' never developed; instead, ''countess'' is used. The titl ...
in 1558, Argyll's inheritance made him one of the most powerful magnates in the kingdom. A devout Protestant, he along with his brother-in-law, Lord James Stewart, illegitimate son of
James V of Scotland James V (10 April 1512 – 14 December 1542) was List of Scottish monarchs, 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 a ...
, became an adherent of
John Knox John Knox ( – 24 November 1572) was a Scottish minister, Reformed theologian, and writer who was a leader of the country's Reformation. He was the founder of the Church of Scotland. Born in Giffordgate, a street in Haddington, East Lot ...
about 1556. Like his father he was one of the most influential members of the party of religious reform, signing what was probably the first "godly band" in December 1557, and Argyll soon became one of the leaders of the
Lords of the Congregation The Lords of the Congregation (), originally styling themselves the Faithful, were a group of Protestant Scottish nobles who in the mid-16th century favoured a reformation of the Catholic church according to Protestant principles and a Scottish ...
. Together, Argyll and Stewart negotiated with
Sir William Cecil William Cecil, 1st Baron Burghley (13 September 15204 August 1598), was an English statesman, the chief adviser of Queen Elizabeth I for most of her reign, twice Secretary of State (1550–1553 and 1558–1572) and Lord High Treasurer from ...
to secure English aid against the regent,
Mary of Guise Mary of Guise (; 22 November 1515 – 11 June 1560), also called Mary of Lorraine, was List of Scottish royal consorts, Queen of Scotland from 1538 until 1542, as the second wife of King James V. She was a French people, French noblewoman of the ...
, by the Treaty of Berwick, and were largely responsible for the negotiation of the
Treaty of Edinburgh The Treaty of Edinburgh (also known as the Treaty of Leith) was a treaty drawn up on 5 July 1560 between the Commissioners of Queen Elizabeth I of England with the assent of the Scottish Lords of the Congregation, and the French representatives o ...
in 1560, which saw the triumph of the Congregation and the withdrawal of French and English troops from Scotland. It was about this time that Cecil referred to Argyll as "a goodly gentleman universally honoured of all Scotland."


Influences of national events


Mary's court

With the young queen's return to Scotland in 1561, Argyll and Stewart, now Earl of Moray, retained their leading roles in the kingdom, continuing to pursue an anglophilic policy, and Argyll was separated from the party of Knox. Mary, Queen of Scots, and Moray came to Castle Campbell in January 1563 to celebrate the marriage of his sister, Margaret Campbell, to James Stewart, 1st Lord Doune. Her courtiers put on a
masque The masque was a form of festive courtly entertainment that flourished in 16th- and early 17th-century Europe, though it was developed earlier in Italy, in forms including the intermedio (a public version of the masque was the pageant). A mas ...
, dressed as shepherds. Mary and her court wore Highland clothes for a visit to
Argyll Argyll (; archaically Argyle; , ), sometimes called Argyllshire, is a Shires of Scotland, historic county and registration county of western Scotland. The county ceased to be used for local government purposes in 1975 and most of the area ...
and
Inveraray Inveraray ( or ; meaning "mouth of the Aray") is a town in Argyll and Bute, Scotland. Located on the western shore of Loch Fyne, near its head, Inveraray is a former royal burgh and known affectionately as "The Capital of Argyll." It is the ...
in 1563. Mary wore a "marvellous fair" costume which had been a gift from
Agnes Campbell Lady Agnes Campbell (1526 – in or after 1590) was a Scottish noblewoman and queen consort of Tír Eoghain. She was the mother of Iníon Dubh and the maternal grandmother of Red Hugh O'Donnell. Campbell was a skilled diplomat and political lead ...
the wife of James MacConel or MacDonald of Dunyvaig.


Chaseabout raid

The Earl of Argyll was said to be an opponent of the planned
wedding of Mary, Queen of Scots, and Henry, Lord Darnley 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. Background Mary, Queen of Scots had Wedding of Mary, Queen of Scots, and Francis, Dauph ...
. It was said that Argyll was a leader of a plot to kidnap Mary and
Henry Stuart, Lord Darnley Henry Stuart, Lord Darnley (1546 – 10 February 1567) 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 ...
in June 1565 as they travelled between Perth and Edinburgh. They would be imprisoned in Lochleven Castle or Castle Campbell. According to Adam Blackwood the plot failed while the other conspirators were waiting for Argyll, when the Laird of Dowhill gave Mary a warning. The English diplomat Thomas Randolph said that Argyll came towards
Kinross Kinross (, ) is a burgh in Perth and Kinross, Scotland, around south of Perth, Scotland, Perth and around northwest of Edinburgh. It is the traditional county town of the Counties of Scotland, historic county of Kinross-shire. History Kinro ...
hoping to meet Mary, but only to join her for a discussion over dinner. The Argyll's pre-eminence at court came to an end in 1565, with the queen's marriage to Darnley, whose claims to the English throne did not endear him to
Elizabeth I of England Elizabeth I (7 September 153324 March 1603) was Queen of England and Ireland from 17 November 1558 until her death in 1603. She was the last and longest reigning monarch of the House of Tudor. Her eventful reign, and its effect on history ...
, leading Argyll, the Earl of Moray, and other Protestant leaders to rise in a revolt, now known as the " Chaseabout Raid". When the English failed to help their Scottish allies, Argyll, alone of the rebels, was able to remain in the Kingdom, due to his very strong position in the Highlands. The failure of the English to come to the aid of his party led to the beginning of Argyll's disillusionment with his previous Anglophilic policy.


Mary at Lochleven

Argyll can be connected to the assassinations of
David Rizzio David Rizzio ( ; ; – 9 March 1566) 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 bec ...
in 1566 and of
Henry Stuart, Lord Darnley Henry Stuart, Lord Darnley (1546 – 10 February 1567) 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 ...
in 1567. Although supposed to be a signatory of the Ainslie Tavern Bond, Argyll was horrified by the Queen's marriage to
James Hepburn, 4th Earl of Bothwell James Hepburn, 1st Duke of Orkney and 4th Earl of Bothwell ( – 14 April 1578), better known simply as Lord Bothwell, was the third husband of Mary, Queen of Scots. He was accused of the murder of Mary's second husband, Henry Stuart, Lord ...
. He joined with Moray and other Protestant leaders in fighting Mary and Bothwell in that year, leading to the capture of the queen at
Carberry Hill The Battle of Carberry Hill took place on 15 June 1567, near Musselburgh, East Lothian, a few miles east of Edinburgh, Scotland. A number of Scottish lords objected to the rule of Mary, Queen of Scots, after she had married the James Hepburn, 4 ...
, but broke with his former allies over the question of deposing the queen.


Offices held and military involvement

With Mary's escape from prison in 1568, Argyll became the leader of the Queen's Party, and led Mary's army in the defeat at
Langside Langside is a district in the Scottish city of Glasgow. It is situated south of the River Clyde, and lies east of Shawlands, south of Queens Park, west of Cathcart and north of Newlands. The district is residential and primarily middle-clas ...
in which he showed little military skill. He continued to champion the queen's cause following her flight to England, but eventually reconciled with the regent Lennox in 1571, and lent his support to the King's party, as a means of restoring peace and lessening English meddling in Scottish affairs. He was appointed to the Privy Council that year, and became
Lord Chancellor of Scotland The Lord Chancellor of Scotland, formally titled Lord High Chancellor, was an Officer of State in the Kingdom of Scotland. The Lord Chancellor was the principal Great Officer of State, the presiding officer of the Parliament of Scotland, the K ...
in 1572.


Role in Ulster politics

Argyll, in his role as Campbell clan chief, was also heavily involved in the politics of
Ulster Ulster (; or ; or ''Ulster'') is one of the four traditional or historic provinces of Ireland, Irish provinces. It is made up of nine Counties of Ireland, counties: six of these constitute Northern Ireland (a part of the United Kingdom); t ...
during the 1560s. Although he initially hoped for an alliance with the English to secure his claims on land possessed by the
O'Donnell The O'Donnell dynasty ( or ''Ó Domhnaill,'' ''Ó Doṁnaill'' ''or Ua Domaill;'' meaning "descendant of Dónal") were the dominant Irish clan of the kingdom of Tyrconnell in Ulster in the north of medieval and early modern Ireland. Naming ...
and Sorley Boy MacDonnell families against the encroachment of the O'Neill, English unwillingness to work with him led him to ally with Shane O'Neill, and orchestrate a marriage alliance among the three feuding clans of Ulster, which would ultimately have major effects on Irish history with the eruption of the Hugh O'Neill rebellion in the 1590s. In February 1569, an English official, Nicholas White, visited Mary, Queen of Scots, at
Tutbury Castle Tutbury Castle is a largely ruined medieval castle at Tutbury, Staffordshire, England, in the ownership of the Duchy of Lancaster and hence currently of King Charles III. It is a scheduled monument and a Grade I listed building. People who have ...
. They mentioned that he was going to Ireland, and White said that the chiefest troubles of Ireland proceed from the north of Scotland, through the Earl of Argyll's "supportation". Mary did not give him much of an answer.


Marriages and death

He first married Lady Jean Stewart (died 1588), daughter of
James V of Scotland James V (10 April 1512 – 14 December 1542) was List of Scottish monarchs, 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 a ...
and Elizabeth Bethune; he was thus half-brother-in-law to Mary and to Moray. After divorcing Jean Stewart, Argyll married Jean Cunningham, daughter of the
Earl of Glencairn Earl of Glencairn was a title in the Peerage of Scotland. King James III of Scotland, James III created the title in 1488 by royal charter for Alexander Cunningham, 1st Earl of Glencairn, Alexander Cunningham, 1st Lord Kilmaurs. He held the e ...
in August 1573. Janet Cunningham gave birth to the Earl's stillborn posthumous son in June 1574. She subsequently married Humphrey Colquhoun of Luss and died in 1585. Jane E. A. Dawson, 'The Earl of Argyll and Divorce', Julian Goodare & Alasdair A. MacDonald, ''Sixteenth-Century Scotland'' (Brill, 2008), p. 165. Argyll died in September 1573, without male issue, and was buried at Kilmun Parish Church. He was succeeded by his half-brother Colin.


Further reading

*Jane Dawson. ''The Politics of Religion in the Age of Mary, Queen of Scots: The Earl of Argyll and the Struggle for Britain and Ireland''. Cambridge, 2002.


References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Argyll, Archibald Campbell, 5th Earl of Argyll, Archibald Campbell, 5th Earl of Argyll, Archibald Campbell, 5th Earl of 5 Lords of the Congregation Lords Justice-General Privy Council of Mary, Queen of Scots 16th-century Scottish landowners Burials at the Argyll Mausoleum 16th-century Scottish peers