James VI and Esme Stuart d'Aubigny (1579 - 1583): the formative years

When the unknown cousin of James VI of Scotland, Esmé Stuart d’Aubigny, arrived in Scotland in September 1579, neither the king nor his cousin expected that the next four years would change their lives. From being a small lord in France to being the only duke in Scotland, Esmé Stuart d’Aubigny changed dimension due to one phenomenon: the royal favour of the young James VI. Why were these years spent together essential in both their personal and political growth ? This talk will explore and question their relationship through the lens of politics and intimacy.

Elisabeth Rébeillé-Borgella is an historian of the late sixteenth-century Scotland history, specialised in the early reign of James VI of Scotland. She graduated from the University of Edinburgh in 2023 after conducting a doctoral research on “Esmé Stuart d’Aubigny, First Duke of Lennox (c.1542-1583). A French Courtier in Scotland”. Her interests are the reign of James VI in Scotland, the Stuart d’Aubigny family and gender history. She is, at the moment, a tour guide and coordinator who writes and delivers tours in Edinburgh in French on different themes. She is also a freelance historian.

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Doors open at 6.30pm

The lecture will conclude with time for a short Q&A session.

Please be aware the Chapel is only accessible up one flight of spiral stairs.

Assistance Dogs only.