Alexander Ruthven
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Template:Use dmy dates Alexander Ruthven, master of Ruthven (12 January 1580 – 5 August 1600) was a Scottish nobleman. He is most notable for his participation in the Gowrie conspiracy of 1600.
Early life
Ruthven was born in Perth, the third son of William Ruthven, 1st Earl of Gowrie, and his wife Dorothea Stewart.Template:Sfn He was educated at Perth grammar school, and later at the University of Edinburgh.Template:Sfn
Gowrie conspiracy
Script error: No such module "labelled list hatnote". Ruthven was, with his brother John Ruthven, responsible for an attempt to kidnap or murder King James in August 1600. He lured the king to Gowrie House, where he attempted to confine him in a corner turret while his brother distracted members of the king's retinue. According to Adrian Damman and Thomas Hamilton, Alexander Ruthven tried to tie the king's hands with his garter.[1][2]
However, the king was able to call for help, and both Alexander and John Ruthven were killed by members of the king's party. Alexander was killed by John Ramsay.[3] While opponents of the king were of the belief that James had fabricated the conspiracy to cover his eradication of the Ruthven family, most modern scholarship agrees that the brothers concocted a plot to kidnap the monarch.Template:Sfn
Aftermath
Following his death, Alexander was condemned for treason, and hanged and quartered in Edinburgh on 17 November 1600.Template:Sfn His head remained exposed in that city, while his arms and legs were taken to Perth.Template:Sfn
Notes
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- ↑ John Duncan Mackie, Calendar State Papers Scotland, 13:2 (Edinburgh: HMSO, 1969), p. 668 no. 540.
- ↑ Georg Willem Vreede, Inleiding tot eene Geschiedenis der Nederlandsche Diplomatie, 2 (Utrecht: Broese, 1858), pp. 182–185.
- ↑ John Duncan Mackie, Calendar State Papers Scotland, 13:2 (Edinburgh: HMSO, 1969), pp. 679 no. 535, 668 no. 540.
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References
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- 1580 births
- 1600 deaths
- People from Perth, Scotland
- Nobility from Perth and Kinross
- 1600 in Scotland
- Posthumous executions
- Deaths by stabbing
- Younger sons of earls
- Alumni of the University of Edinburgh
- Executed Scottish people
- Ruthven family