Janet (Stewart) Stewart Lady Fleming (abt. 1502 - 1562)

Born about 17 Jul 1502 in Edinburgh, Midlothian, Scotland [uncertain]

Ancestors

Wife of Malcolm (Fleming) Fleming Third Lord Fleming — married 26 Feb 1525 in Biggar, Lanarkshire, Scotland

Descendants

Died 5 Oct 1562 at about age 60 in Boghall Castle, Biggar, Lanarkshire, Scotland [uncertain]

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Biography

Janet (Stewart) Stewart Lady Fleming is Notable.

Janet (Stewart) Stewart Lady Fleming is a member of Clan Stewart.

Janet (Stewart) Stewart Lady Fleming was born in Scotland.

Janet Stewart was born, 17 July 1502, the illegitimate daughter of King James IV of Scotland and a mistress, Isabel Stewart, Countess of Bothwell, daughter of James Stewart, third Earl of Buchan.^[1][2]

She married, dispensation dated 26 February 1525, marriage occurring shortly after, Malcolm Fleming, 3rd Lord Fleming.^[1][2] They had a number of children:^[3]

1. James, 4th Lord Fleming^[2][3]
2. John, 5th Lord Fleming^[2][3]

1. Johanna, m. 1st John Livingstone, Master of Livingstone, 2nd John Sandilands, 3rd David Crawford of Kerse^[2][3]
2. Janet, m. Richard, son of Andrew Brown of Hartree^[2][3]
3. Agnes, m. William Livingstone, 6th Lord Livingstone^[2][3]
4. Margaret, m. 1st Robert Graham, Master of Montrose, m. 2nd Thomas Erskine, Master of Erskine, m. 3rd John Stewart, 4th Earl of Atholl^[2][3]
5. Mary, m. 1st William Maitland of Sanquhar, m. 2nd George Muldrum of Fyvie^[2][3]
6. Elizabeth, m. William Crichton, 3rd Lord Crichton of Sanquhar^[2][3]

Her daughter Mary Fleming was appointed to the infant Queen Mary as a playmate when four and only slightly older than the Queen. She is known in history as one of the Queen's Maries. While the youngest of the "Maries", she was the most senior due to her Royal bloodline. She remained with the Queen and was with her on the isle of Inchmahon in the lake of Monteith.

Malcolm Fleming was killed at the Battle of Pinkie Cleugh in September1547 and the young Queen Mary, along with their daughter Mary, were taken to the castle of Dumbarton for safe keeping.

Needing to escape Scotland the Queen's party planned a departure for France in 1548. Janet Stewart was appointed as Governess for the young ladies. Important for later was the notice in Lord Fleming's will^[4] that Lady Fleming was not to remarry else she would lose her entitlements under the Will. The Queen, attended by Lady Fleming and her four Marys, and by Lords Erskine and Livingstone, and Lord James Fleming, her son, accordingly set sail for France in a French galley, commanded by Monsieur de Villegaignon, in July 1548. The Queen was six.^[5]

They landed at Brest on 13 August, and proceeded to the French court at St. Germains, where they were joyfully and honourably welcomed. Lady Fleming was much respected and developed considerable influence at the French court. The English attempted, on a number of occasions, to caste doubt on her and her dealings and reputation. It is certain that a significant relationship developed between her and Henry II., King of France, and Lady Fleming was influential in the agreement to marry the Dauphin, Francis, to Mary, Queen of Scots.

This relationship with Henry gave them a son;

1. Henry de Valois - le bâtard d'Angoulême.^[3]

Henry, born 1551, was titled Count of Angoulême by his father, was served as abbot of La Chaise-Dieu, located in the Auvergne, became Grand Prior of France and Admiral of the Levant, and ruled as Governor of Provence from 1579 until his death in 1586. Although Balfour Paul, and others confuse dates, it seems probable that the relationship, between Henry of France and Lady Fleming, created a number of jealousies. Lady Fleming's religion is not stated and although her husband, late in life, became a devout Catholic it is unlikely that Lady Fleming shared the same ideals. It was certainly this conflict, in a court of devout Catholics and with an increasing Catholic influence on the developing Queen Mary, that led to her termination of service. In 1555 she was replaced, as tutor and Governess to the Queen and her party by a Madame Parois, a devout Catholic placed there by Cardinal Lorraine, the Queen's uncle, in a deliberate attempt to prevent adoption of the alternative Protestant faiths then raging through much of Europe including Germany, England, and in Scotland.^[6]

After this event, in 1555, she returned to Scotland, returning to Boghall castle in accordance with her husband's will.

She died after 1560 but before 1564.^[2][3]

Research Notes

• William Hunter suggests two sons and five daughters.^[7] Wikipedia mentions two sons and six daughters but confuses Janet and Johanna and has John and James in the incorrect order and places a number of events in the incorrect order. Of the list of legitimate children provided by James Balfour Paul it is not possible that the one named as Janet (Johanna on wikipedia) and married Richard Brown was legitimate.

• The Peerage: Janet Stewart

• http://fmg.ac/Projects/MedLands/SCOTLAND.htm#JamesIVdied1513 where she is incorrectly stated to be Jean. [Jean, though, is just a spelling variant of Janet.]

• Reliable sources give a range of years for the date of Janet's death but unreliabele sources such as Wikipeida and Find a Grave (Find A Grave: Memorial #118808430 among others, give a date of 20 Feb 1562 and the place: Paris.

Sources

1. ↑ ^{1.0 1.1} Paul, James Balfour. "The Scots Peerage : founded on Wood's ed. of Sir Robert Douglas's Peerage of Scotland; containing an historical and genealogical account of the nobility of that kingdom", Edinburgh: David Douglas, 1904, Vol. I, Archive.org, pp. 22-3
2. ↑ ^{2.00 2.01 2.02 2.03 2.04 2.05 2.06 2.07 2.08 2.09 2.10} Richardson, Douglas, "Royal Ancestry: A Study in Colonial and Medieval Families", Salt Lake City: the author, 2013 Vol. I, p. 672
3. ↑ ^{3.00 3.01 3.02 3.03 3.04 3.05 3.06 3.07 3.08 3.09 3.10} Paul, James Balfour. "The Scots Peerage : founded on Wood's ed. of Sir Robert Douglas's Peerage of Scotland; containing an historical and genealogical account of the nobility of that kingdom", Edinburgh: David Douglas, 1911, Vol. VIII, Archive.org, pp. 540-41
4. ↑ Spalding Club, "The Miscellany of the Spalding Club", Aberdeen: private , 1852, Vol. V, Hathitrust, p. 308
5. ↑ Hunter, William, "Biggar and the House of Fleming, An Account of the Biggar District, Archaeological, Historical, and Biographical", Edinburgh: William Paterson, 1867, Ed. 2, Archive.org, p. 519
6. ↑ Hunter, William, "Biggar and the House of Fleming, An Account of the Biggar District, Archaeological, Historical, and Biographical", Edinburgh: William Paterson, 1867, Ed. 2, Archive.org, p. 520
7. ↑ Hunter, William, "Biggar and the House of Fleming, An Account of the Biggar District, Archaeological, Historical, and Biographical", Edinburgh: William Paterson, 1867, Ed. 2, Archive.org, p. 516

See also:

• Wikipedia: Janet Stewart, Lady Fleming

• Wikidata: Item Q461721, en:Wikipedia