John Stewart of Darnley
Encyclopedia
Sir John Stewart of Darnley, 1st Lord of Concressault and 1st Lord of Aubigny, Count of Évreux (c. 1380-d.1429) was a Scottish
nobleman and prominent soldier during the Hundred Years War.
, he was a distant cousin of the Stewart Kings of Scotland, being descended from the second son of Alexander Stewart, 4th High Steward of Scotland
, John Stewart of Bonkyll.
Darnley inherited his father's estates in 1404, and was knighted c.1418. In 1419, Darnley was part of the Scottish expeditionary force which under the Earls of Buchan (Darnley's cousin) and Wigtown
, set out to France
. By 1420 Darnley was referred to as Constable of the Scottish Army there.
Darnley was present at the major Scots victory at the Battle of Baugé
in 1421, and for his part in the fight was the granted the lordships of Concressault
in 1421, and Aubigny-sur-Nère
in 1422, by a grateful Dauphin.
Darnley was present, and a commander, at the defeat at Cravant
, where he was captured and suffered the loss of an eye.
During his captivity, Darnley could not participate at the Battle of Verneuil
, at which the Franco-Scottish army was heavily defeated. His ransom having been paid by the Dauphin Charles
, Darnley once again entered French service, taking command of the remaining Scots forces in the country. Following a victory over the English at Mont Saint-Michel
, Darnley was made Count of Évreux
, and allowed to append the Fleur-de-Lis
to his arms.
In 1427, he along with Renaud of Chartres, the Archbishop of Rheims, returned to Scotland to raise further troops, and to negotiate the future marriage between Princess Margaret of Scotland, and the Dauphin's son Louis
.
He returned again to France in 1429, where he took part in the Siege of Orléans
where he arrived with 1000 men. Four days later, he commanded the Scottish contingent at the Battle of the Herrings
, where he was killed.
John Stewart of Darnley was buried in the Sainte-Croix Cathedral, Orléans
.
c.1408, she accompanied Darnley to France, where she died 10 months after him and is buried beside him at Orléans.
They had issue:
Kingdom of Scotland
The Kingdom of Scotland was a Sovereign state in North-West Europe that existed from 843 until 1707. It occupied the northern third of the island of Great Britain and shared a land border to the south with the Kingdom of England...
nobleman and prominent soldier during the Hundred Years War.
Life
The son of Sir Alexander Stewart of DarnleyAlexander Stewart of Darnley (d.1404)
-Life:He was the son of Sir Alexander Stewart of Darnley. It is not known who his first wife was, but evidence that his son John Stewart of Darnley bore the emblems of Clan Turnbull as a quartering on his arms, suggests that she was of that blood. By this unknown spouse Darnley had six...
, he was a distant cousin of the Stewart Kings of Scotland, being descended from the second son of Alexander Stewart, 4th High Steward of Scotland
Alexander Stewart, 4th High Steward of Scotland
Alexander Stewart was 4th hereditary High Steward of Scotland from his father's death in 1246.A son of Walter Stewart, 3rd High Steward of Scotland by his wife Bethóc, daughter of Gille Críst, Earl of Angus, Alexander is said to have accompanied Louis IX of France on the Seventh Crusade...
, John Stewart of Bonkyll.
Darnley inherited his father's estates in 1404, and was knighted c.1418. In 1419, Darnley was part of the Scottish expeditionary force which under the Earls of Buchan (Darnley's cousin) and Wigtown
Archibald Douglas, 5th Earl of Douglas
Archibald Douglas was a Scottish nobleman and General, son of Archibald Douglas, 4th Earl of Douglas and Margaret Stewart, eldest daughter of Robert III...
, set out to France
Kingdom of France
The Kingdom of France was one of the most powerful states to exist in Europe during the second millennium.It originated from the Western portion of the Frankish empire, and consolidated significant power and influence over the next thousand years. Louis XIV, also known as the Sun King, developed a...
. By 1420 Darnley was referred to as Constable of the Scottish Army there.
Darnley was present at the major Scots victory at the Battle of Baugé
Battle of Baugé
The Battle of Baugé, fought between the English and the Franco-Scots on 21 March 1421 in Baugé, France, east of Angers, was a major defeat for the English in the Hundred Years' War...
in 1421, and for his part in the fight was the granted the lordships of Concressault
Concressault
Concressault is a commune in the Cher department in the Centre region of France.-Geography:A small farming village situated by the banks of the Sauldre river, some north of Bourges at the junction of the D8 with the D11 and D21 roads.-Population:...
in 1421, and Aubigny-sur-Nère
Aubigny-sur-Nère
Aubigny-sur-Nère is a commune in the Cher department in the Centre region of France.-Geography:An area of forestry and farming surrounding a small light industrial town, situated in the valley of the river Nère some north of Bourges at the junction of the D940, D924, D30 and the D923...
in 1422, by a grateful Dauphin.
Darnley was present, and a commander, at the defeat at Cravant
Battle of Cravant
The Battle of Cravant was an encounter fought on 31 July 1423, during the Hundred Years' War between English and French forces, a victory for the English and their Burgundian allies. After the Treaty of Troyes in 1420, the English king was permitted to occupy all the country north of the Loire...
, where he was captured and suffered the loss of an eye.
During his captivity, Darnley could not participate at the Battle of Verneuil
Battle of Verneuil
The Battle of Verneuil was a battle of the Hundred Years' War, fought on 17 August 1424 near Verneuil in Normandy and was a significant English victory.-The black time:...
, at which the Franco-Scottish army was heavily defeated. His ransom having been paid by the Dauphin Charles
Charles VII of France
Charles VII , called the Victorious or the Well-Served , was King of France from 1422 to his death, though he was initially opposed by Henry VI of England, whose Regent, the Duke of Bedford, ruled much of France including the capital, Paris...
, Darnley once again entered French service, taking command of the remaining Scots forces in the country. Following a victory over the English at Mont Saint-Michel
Mont Saint-Michel
Mont Saint-Michel is a rocky tidal island and a commune in Normandy, France. It is located approximately one kilometre off the country's north-western coast, at the mouth of the Couesnon River near Avranches...
, Darnley was made Count of Évreux
Count of Évreux
The Count of Évreux was a French noble title and was named after the town of Évreux in Normandy. It was successibly used by the Norman dynasty, the Montfort-l'Amaury family, the Capetian's as well as the House of La Tour d'Auvergne...
, and allowed to append the Fleur-de-Lis
Fleur-de-Lis
Fleur-de-Lis is a fictional character, a comic book secret agent published by DC Comics. She debuted in Infinity, Inc. #34 , and was created by Len Wein, Randy Lofficier and Ross Andru.-Fictional character biography:...
to his arms.
In 1427, he along with Renaud of Chartres, the Archbishop of Rheims, returned to Scotland to raise further troops, and to negotiate the future marriage between Princess Margaret of Scotland, and the Dauphin's son Louis
Louis XI of France
Louis XI , called the Prudent , was the King of France from 1461 to 1483. He was the son of Charles VII of France and Mary of Anjou, a member of the House of Valois....
.
He returned again to France in 1429, where he took part in the Siege of Orléans
Siege of Orléans
The Siege of Orléans marked a turning point in the Hundred Years' War between France and England. This was Joan of Arc's first major military victory and the first major French success to follow the crushing defeat at Agincourt in 1415. The outset of this siege marked the pinnacle of English power...
where he arrived with 1000 men. Four days later, he commanded the Scottish contingent at the Battle of the Herrings
Battle of the Herrings
The Battle of the Herrings was a military action near the town of Rouvray in France, just north of Orléans, which took place on 12 February 1429 during the siege of Orléans. The immediate cause of the battle was an attempt by French forces, led by Charles of Bourbon, Count of Clermont, to intercept...
, where he was killed.
John Stewart of Darnley was buried in the Sainte-Croix Cathedral, Orléans
Orléans
-Prehistory and Roman:Cenabum was a Gallic stronghold, one of the principal towns of the Carnutes tribe where the Druids held their annual assembly. It was conquered and destroyed by Julius Caesar in 52 BC, then rebuilt under the Roman Empire...
.
Marriage and Issue
Darnley married Elizabeth, a daughter of Donnchadh, Earl of LennoxDonnchadh, Earl of Lennox
Donnchadh of Lennox was the Mormaer of Lennox, 1385-1425. He was a son of Baltar mac Amlaimh and Margaret, daughter of Domhnall, Earl of Lennox....
c.1408, she accompanied Darnley to France, where she died 10 months after him and is buried beside him at Orléans.
They had issue:
- Sir Alan Stewart of DarnleyAlan Stewart of DarnleySir Alan Stewart of Darnley, was a Scottish nobleman involved in the Hundred Years War.-Life:The son of John Stewart of Darnley and Elizabeth, daughter of Donnchadh, Earl of Lennox, Darnley accompanied his father and brothers to fight in France.Following his father's death at the Battle of the...
, from whom descends the Stewart Earls of Lennox, and all Monarchs of Scotland, England and Great Britain from James VI of Scotland onwards. - Sir John Stewart, 2nd Lord of AubignyJohn Stewart, 2nd Lord of AubignyJohn Stewart, 2nd Lord of Aubigny and Concressault was a Scottish and French nobleman.-Life:Stewart was the younger son of John Stewart of Darnley and Elizabeth of Lennox....
, from whom descends all later Dukes of Aubigny and Dukes of Lennox. - Alexander Stewart of Darnley
External links
- Scots at the Siege of Orleans (french)