Biography of James "Lord Bothwell" Hepburn 1st Duke Orkney 1534-1578

Paternal Family Tree: Hepburn

Maternal Family Tree: Helen Home Lady Hailes 1427-1513

1513 Battle of Flodden

1542 Death of King James V of Scotland

1558 Marriage of Mary Queen of Scots and the Francis Dauphin of France

1567 Marriage of Mary "Queen of Scots" and Lord Bothwell

1587 Execution of Mary Queen of Scots

Battle of Flodden

On 09 Sep 1513 at the Battle of Flodden was fought at the Branxton, Northumberland [Map]. the English army was commanded by Thomas Howard 2nd Duke of Norfolk (age 70), Thomas Howard 3rd Duke of Norfolk (age 40), Edmund Howard (age 35), Thomas Dacre 2nd Baron Dacre Gilsland (age 45), Edward Stanley 1st Baron Monteagle (age 51) and Marmaduke Constable (age 56).

The English army included: Henry "Shepherd Lord" Clifford 10th Baron Clifford (age 59), William Conyers 1st Baron Conyers (age 44), Thomas Berkeley 5th Baron Berkeley (age 41) and Richard Neville 2nd Baron Latimer of Snape (age 45).

Randall Babington, John Bigod (age 38) and Thomas Fitzwilliam (age 39) were killed.

Marmaduke Constable (age 33), William Constable (age 38), George Darcy 1st Baron Darcy Aston (age 16), Edmund Walsingham (age 33), Thomas Burgh 7th Baron Cobham 5th Baron Strabolgi 1st Baron Burgh (age 25) and Walter Stonor (age 36) were knighted by Thomas Howard 3rd Duke of Norfolk (age 40).

Christopher Savage, Thomas Venables (age 44) and Brian Tunstall (age 33) were killed.

Bryan Stapleton of Wighill (age 55) was killed. (Some reports have him dying in 1518).

John Booth (age 78) was killed.

Father and son Ralph ellerker of risby in yorkshire and Ralph Ellerker were knighted by Thomas Howard Earl of Surrey (age 70).

The Scottish army suffered heavy casualties:

King James IV of Scotland (age 40) was killed. His body ws taken to London, then to Sheen Priory, Richmond; thereafter it dissappeared. His son King James V of Scotland (age 1) succeeded V King Scotland.

Alexander Stewart ArchBishop of St Andrews (age 20) was killed.

David Kennedy 1st Earl Cassilis (age 43) was killed. His son Gilbert Kennedy 2nd Earl Cassilis (age 18) succeeded 2nd Earl Cassilis. Isabel Campbell Countess Cassilis by marriage Countess Cassilis.

William Sinclair 2nd Earl Caithness (age 54) was killed. His son John Sinclair 3rd Earl Caithness succeeded 3rd Earl Caithness.

Matthew Stewart 2nd Earl Lennox was killed. His son John Stewart 3rd Earl Lennox (age 23) succeeded 3rd Earl Lennox.

William Hay 4th Earl Erroll was killed. His son William Hay 5th Earl Erroll (age 18) succeeded 5th Earl Erroll.

John Douglas 2nd Earl Morton was killed. His son James Douglas 3rd Earl Morton succeeded 3rd Earl Morton, 6th Lord Dalkeith.

[his grandfather] Adam Hepburn 2nd Earl Bothwell was killed. His son [his father] Patrick Hepburn 3rd Earl Bothwell (age 1) succeeded 3rd Earl Bothwell.

Alexander Stewart 4th of Garlies (age 32) was killed. His son Alexander Stewart 5th of Garlies (age 6) succeeded 5th Lord Garlies.

Alexander Elphinstone 1st Lord Elphinstone was killed. His son Alexander Elphinstone 2nd Lord Elphinstone (age 3) succeeded 2nd Lord Elphinstone.

Thomas Hay, George Hepburn Bishop Isles (age 59), Adam Hepburn Master (age 56), Thomas "Younger of Cushnie" Lumsden

William Douglas 6th Lord Drumlanrig was killed. William "Younger" Douglas 7th Lord Drumlanrig succeeded 7th Lord Drumlanrig.

George Seton 5th Lord Seton was killed. His son George Seton 6th Lord Seton succeeded 6th Lord Seton.

John Hay 2nd Lord Hay of Yester was killed. His son John Hay 3rd Lord Hay (age 23) succeeded 3rd Lord Hay of Yester. Elizabeth Douglas Lady Hay by marriage Lord Hay of Yester.

Robert Keith Master of Marischal (age 30), Guiscard Harbottle (age 28), John Erskine, David Home (age 22), Andrew Stewart 1st Lord Avondale (age 43), Archibald Campbell 2nd Earl Argyll (age 64), Robert Douglas of Lochleven (age 89) were killed.

[his grandfather] Henry Sinclair 3rd Lord Sinclair (age 48) was killed. His son [his uncle] William Sinclair 4th Lord Sinclair succeeded 4th Lord Sinclair.

James Stewart 1st Lord of Traquair (age 33) was killed. His son William Stewart 2nd Lord Traquair (age 7) succeeded 2nd Lord Traquair.

John Maxwell 4th Lord Maxwell (age 57) was killed. His son Robert Maxwell 5th Lord Maxwell (age 20) succeeded 5th Lord Maxwell.

William Murray (age 43), Colin Oliphant (age 26), William Ruthven (age 33), George Douglas (age 44) and William Douglas (age 42) were killed.

George Home 4th Lord Home and John Stewart 2nd Earl Atholl (age 38) fought.

Brothers David Lyon of Cossins, William Lyon and George Lyon were killed.

William Graham 1st Earl Montrose (age 49) was killed. His son William Graham 2nd Earl Montrose (age 21) succeeded 2nd Earl Montrose.

Robert Erskine 4th Lord Erskine 16th Earl Mar was killed. His son John Erskine 17th Earl Mar (age 26) de jure 17th Earl Mar, Lord Erskine.

Thomas Stewart 2nd Lord Innermeath (age 52) was killed. His son Richard Stewart 3rd Lord Innermeath succeeded 3rd Lord Innermeath.

Walter Lindsay of Arden and Walter Lindsay (age 33) were killed.

William Keith of Inverugie (age 43) was killed.

David Wemyss of Wemyss (age 40) was killed.

John Somerville 1st of Cambusnethan (age 55) was killed.

Robert Crichton 2nd Lord Crichton of Sanquhar (age 41) was killed. His son Robert Crichton 3rd Lord Crichton of Sanquhar (age 22) succeeded 3rd Lord Crichton of Sanquhar

Father and son William Rollo (age 59) and Robert Rollo 5th of Duncrub (age 34) were killed.

Around 1534 James "Lord Bothwell" Hepburn 1st Duke Orkney was born to Patrick Hepburn 3rd Earl Bothwell (age 22) and Agnes Sinclair Countess Bothwell. Coefficient of inbreeding 3.13%.

In 1534 [his father] Patrick Hepburn 3rd Earl Bothwell (age 22) and [his mother] Agnes Sinclair Countess Bothwell were married. She by marriage Countess Bothwell. He the son of Adam Hepburn 2nd Earl Bothwell and Agnes Stewart Countess Bothwell (age 65). They were first cousin once removed. He a great x 4 grandson of King Edward III of England.

Death of King James V of Scotland

On 14 Dec 1542 King James V of Scotland (age 30) died at Falkland Palace [Map]. His daughter [his future wife] Mary Queen of Scots succeeded I Queen Scotland. She was six days old.

In Sep 1556 [his father] Patrick Hepburn 3rd Earl Bothwell (age 44) died. His son James "Lord Bothwell" Hepburn 1st Duke Orkney (age 22) succeeded 4th Earl Bothwell.

Marriage of Mary Queen of Scots and the Francis Dauphin of France

On 24 Apr 1558 Dauphin of France (age 14) and [his future wife] Mary Queen of Scots (age 15) were married at Notre Dame de Paris Cathedral [Map]. He by marriage King Consort Scotland. She the daughter of King James V of Scotland and Mary of Guise Queen Consort Scotland (age 42). He the son of King Henry II of France (age 39) and Catherine Medici Queen Consort France (age 39). They were fourth cousins. She a great granddaughter of King Henry VII of England and Ireland.

On 29 Jul 1565 Henry "Lord Darnley" Stewart (age 19) and [his future wife] Mary Queen of Scots (age 22) were married at Holyrood Palace, Holyrood. She the daughter of King James V of Scotland and Mary of Guise Queen Consort Scotland. He the son of Matthew Stewart 4th Earl Lennox (age 48) and Margaret Douglas Countess Lennox (age 49). They were half first cousins. He a great grandson of King Henry VII of England and Ireland. She a great granddaughter of King Henry VII of England and Ireland.

In Feb 1566 James "Lord Bothwell" Hepburn 1st Duke Orkney (age 32) and Jean Gordon Countess Bothwell and Sutherland (age 20) were married. She by marriage Countess Bothwell. She the daughter of George Gordon 4th Earl Huntley. He the son of Patrick Hepburn 3rd Earl Bothwell and Agnes Sinclair Countess Bothwell. They were third cousins. He a great x 5 grandson of King Edward III of England.

On 07 May 1567 James "Lord Bothwell" Hepburn 1st Duke Orkney (age 33) and Jean Gordon Countess Bothwell and Sutherland (age 21) were divorced.

On 12 May 1567 James "Lord Bothwell" Hepburn 1st Duke Orkney (age 33) was created 1st Duke Orkney, 1st Marquess Fife.

Marriage of Mary "Queen of Scots" and Lord Bothwell

On 15 May 1567 James "Lord Bothwell" Hepburn 1st Duke Orkney (age 33) and Mary Queen of Scots (age 24) were married in the Great Hall Holyrood House. She the daughter of King James V of Scotland and Mary of Guise Queen Consort Scotland. He the son of Patrick Hepburn 3rd Earl Bothwell and Agnes Sinclair Countess Bothwell. They were half third cousin once removed. He a great x 5 grandson of King Edward III of England. She a great granddaughter of King Henry VII of England and Ireland.

Around 1568 James "Lord Bothwell" Hepburn 1st Duke Orkney (age 34) was imprisoned at Denmark.

On 13 Dec 1573 Alexander Gordon 12th Earl Sutherland (age 21) and [his former wife] Jean Gordon Countess Bothwell and Sutherland (age 27) were married at Huntly Castle, Huntly. She the daughter of George Gordon 4th Earl Huntley. He the son of John Gordon 11th Earl Sutherland and Helen or Eleanor Stewart Countess Erroll and Sutherland. They were second cousin once removed. He a great x 5 grandson of King Edward III of England.

On 20 Jun 1575 [his illegitimate brother-in-law] Adam Stewart died.

In Apr 1578 James "Lord Bothwell" Hepburn 1st Duke Orkney (age 44) died at Dragsholm Castle. His nephew Francis Stewart 5th Earl Bothwell (age 15) succeeded 5th Earl Bothwell at Great Hall Stirling Castle.

Execution of Mary Queen of Scots

On 08 Feb 1587 [his former wife] Mary Queen of Scots (age 44) was beheaded in the Great Hall at Fotheringay Castle, Northamptonshire [Map].

George Talbot 6th Earl of Shrewsbury (age 59), Henry Grey 6th Earl Kent (age 46), Richard Knightley (age 54) and Henry Wriothesley 3rd Earl of Southampton (age 13) witnessed her execution.

There are few extant original sources describing Mary's execution. Those that do exist are somewhat contradictory. They include The letter-books of Sir Amias Poulet, Keeper of Mary Queen of Scots, the Calendar of State Papers, Spain (known as the Simancas), Volume 4, 1587-1603 and Beale's sketch of the execution. The most reliable primary source appears to be Jebb's De vita et rebus gestis serenissimæ principis Mariæ Scotorum Reginæ published in French.

On 10 Dec 1599 Alexander Ogilvy and [his former wife] Jean Gordon Countess Bothwell and Sutherland (age 53) were married. She the daughter of George Gordon 4th Earl Huntley.

On 14 May 1629 [his former wife] Jean Gordon Countess Bothwell and Sutherland (age 83) died at Dunrobin Castle, Dunrobin.

Royal Ancestors of James "Lord Bothwell" Hepburn 1st Duke Orkney 1534-1578

Kings Wessex: Great x 14 Grand Son of King Edmund "Ironside" I of England

Kings Gwynedd: Great x 11 Grand Son of Owain "Great" King Gwynedd

Kings Seisyllwg: Great x 17 Grand Son of Hywel "Dda aka Good" King Seisyllwg King Deheubarth

Kings Powys: Great x 12 Grand Son of Maredudd ap Bleddyn King Powys

Kings England: Great x 5 Grand Son of King Edward III of England

Kings Scotland: Great x 7 Grand Son of Robert "The Bruce" I King Scotland

Kings Franks: Great x 11 Grand Son of Louis VII King Franks

Kings France: Great x 7 Grand Son of Philip "The Fair" IV King France

Ancestors of James "Lord Bothwell" Hepburn 1st Duke Orkney 1534-1578

Great x 4 Grandfather: Adam Hepburn of Hailes

Great x 3 Grandfather: Patrick Hepburn

Great x 4 Grandmother: Janet Borthwick

Great x 2 Grandfather: Adam Hepburn 1st Lord Hailes

Great x 3 Grandmother: Ellen Wallace

Great x 1 Grandfather: Patrick Hepburn 1st Earl Bothwell

Great x 4 Grandfather: Alexander Home of Home and Dunglas

Great x 3 Grandfather: Alexander Home 1st Lord Home

Great x 2 Grandmother: Helen Home Lady Hailes

GrandFather: Adam Hepburn 2nd Earl Bothwell 15 x Great Grand Son of King Henry I "Beauclerc" England

Great x 4 Grandfather: Alexander Seton 11 x Great Grand Son of King Henry I "Beauclerc" England

Great x 3 Grandfather: Alexander Gordon 1st Earl Huntley 12 x Great Grand Son of King Henry I "Beauclerc" England

Great x 4 Grandmother: Elizabeth Gordon

Great x 2 Grandfather: George Gordon 2nd Earl Huntley 13 x Great Grand Son of King Henry I "Beauclerc" England

Great x 4 Grandfather: William Crichton 1st Lord Crichton

Great x 3 Grandmother: Elizabeth Crichton Countess Huntley

Great x 1 Grandmother: Margaret Gordon Countess Bothwell 14 x Great Grand Daughter of King Henry I "Beauclerc" England

Father: Patrick Hepburn 3rd Earl Bothwell 4 x Great Grand Son of King Edward III of England

Great x 4 Grandfather: Robert Stewart of Innermeath

Great x 3 Grandfather: John Stewart of Innermeath 3rd of Lorn

Great x 4 Grandmother: Margaret Holkettle

Great x 2 Grandfather: James "Black Knight of Lorn" Stewart

Great x 3 Grandmother: Isabel Macdougall

Great x 1 Grandfather: James Stewart 1st Earl Buchan 2 x Great Grand Son of King Edward III of England

Great x 4 Grandfather: John of Gaunt 1st Duke Lancaster Son of King Edward III of England

Great x 3 Grandfather: John Beaufort 1st Marquess Somerset and Dorset Grand Son of King Edward III of England

Great x 4 Grandmother: Katherine Roet Duchess Lancaster

Great x 2 Grandmother: Joan Beaufort Queen Consort Scotland Great Grand Daughter of King Edward III of England

Great x 4 Grandfather: Thomas Holland 2nd Earl Kent Great Grand Son of King Edward "Longshanks" I of England

Great x 3 Grandmother: Margaret Holland Duchess Clarence 2 x Great Grand Daughter of King Edward "Longshanks" I of England

Great x 4 Grandmother: Alice Fitzalan Countess Kent 2 x Great Grand Daughter of King Henry III of England

GrandMother: Agnes Stewart Countess Bothwell 3 x Great Grand Daughter of King Edward III of England

James "Lord Bothwell" Hepburn 1st Duke Orkney 5 x Great Grand Son of King Edward III of England

Great x 3 Grandfather: Henry Sinclair 2nd Earl Orkney

Great x 2 Grandfather: William Sinclair 3rd Earl Orkney 1st Earl Caithness 6 x Great Grand Son of King John "Lackland" of England

Great x 4 Grandfather: William "Nithsdale" Douglas

Great x 3 Grandmother: Egidia "Fair Maid of Nithsdale" Douglas Countess Orkney 5 x Great Grand Daughter of King John "Lackland" of England

Great x 4 Grandmother: Princess Egidia Stewart 4 x Great Grand Daughter of King John "Lackland" of England

Great x 1 Grandfather: William Sinclair 2nd Lord Sinclair 7 x Great Grand Son of King John "Lackland" of England

Great x 3 Grandfather: Archibald Douglas 1st Duke Touraine

Great x 4 Grandmother: Joanna Strathearn Countess Douglas

Great x 2 Grandmother: Elizabeth Douglas Countess Buchan and Orkney and Caithness 6 x Great Grand Daughter of King John "Lackland" of England

Great x 4 Grandfather: King Robert III of Scotland 4 x Great Grand Son of King John "Lackland" of England

Great x 3 Grandmother: Margaret Stewart Duchess Touraine 5 x Great Grand Daughter of King John "Lackland" of England

Great x 4 Grandmother: Anabella Drummond Queen Consort Scotland

GrandFather: Henry Sinclair 3rd Lord Sinclair 8 x Great Grand Son of King John "Lackland" of England

Great x 2 Grandfather: George Leslie 1st Earl Rothes

Great x 1 Grandmother: Christian Leslie Lady Sinclair

Mother: Agnes Sinclair Countess Bothwell 9 x Great Grand Daughter of King John "Lackland" of England

Great x 4 Grandfather: Patrick "Younger" of Hailes Hepburn

Great x 3 Grandfather: Adam Hepburn of Hailes

Great x 2 Grandfather: Patrick Hepburn

Great x 4 Grandfather: William "Elder" Borthwick

Great x 3 Grandmother: Janet Borthwick

Great x 1 Grandfather: Adam Hepburn 1st Lord Hailes

Great x 2 Grandmother: Ellen Wallace

GrandMother: Margaret Hepburn

Great x 4 Grandfather: Thomas Home of Home

Great x 3 Grandfather: Alexander Home of Home and Dunglas

Great x 2 Grandfather: Alexander Home 1st Lord Home

Great x 1 Grandmother: Helen Home Lady Hailes