← Mary Queen of Scots last night in Edinburgh prior to her imprisonment
Elizabeth I is excommunicated by Pope Pious V →- January 22, 1570
James Stewart, known as the Regent Moray, was a significant figure in the turbulent history of Scotland during the 16th century. He served as Regent of Scotland from 1567 to 1570 and played a central role in the political and religious conflicts of the time.
One of the most notable events during his regency was the abdication of Mary, Queen of Scots, in 1567, which was partly orchestrated by him and other Protestant lords. Following the abdication, James Stewart became the de facto ruler of Scotland as regent, given his nephew James VI (the son of Mary Queen of Scots) was an infant at the time.
Regent Moray’s rule was marked by efforts to establish Protestantism in Scotland and to centralize power in the hands of the crown. However, his tenure was cut short when he was assassinated in Linlithgow on January 23, 1570. His murder triggered further political and religious turmoil in Scotland and contributed to the broader conflict between Catholic and Protestant factions during the Reformation period.
James Stewart, the Regent Moray, remains a notable and controversial figure in Scottish history, with his legacy being a subject of historical debate and interpretation.