| James Hepburn, 4th Earl of Bothwell Human Mummy | |
| |
| Biographical Information | |
|---|---|
| Name(s) | James Hepburn |
| Age | 439 |
| Sex | Male |
| Status | Married to Mary 1 of Scotland
Duke of Orkney Earl of Bothwell |
| Height | Unknown |
| Source | |
| Culture | Scottish |
| Date(s) | Passed away in 1578 |
| Site | Dragsholm Castle, Denmark |
| Current Location | |
| Location | Farevelje, Denmark |
| Catalog # | Unknown |
James Hepburn was a Scottish noblemen who is most famous for his abduction and marriage to Mary, Queen of Scots (Mary I of Scotland).
James Hepburn (1534-1578?) was the 4th Earl of Bothwell and the 1st Duke of Orkney. Before meeting Mary I of Scotland, Hepburn was married twice to daughters of prominent fathers. Hepburn met Mary during her stay in France but did not support her Catholic reign and supported the new Protestant movement in Scotland. Upon the Queen's return to Scotland, Hepburn abducted her and forced her to marriage. They remained married until his death in Denmark, which followed his attempts to raise an army to put Mary back on the throne of Scotland.
Before his death in Denmark, Hepburn was imprisoned for over 10 years in a castle near the city of Farevelje. His mummified body can be found in the church of the castle, although there ares still scholars who believe that the mummified body may not be his. There has never been a biological investigation of the mummy to determine if the body is indeed Hepburn's. The belief that the mummy is his comes from local stories and beliefs.
Stedall, R (2014). What happened to the Duke of Orkney after Carberry Hill. Retrieved from http://www.maryqueenofscots.net/happened-earl-bothwell-duke-orkney-carberry-hill/ Stedall, R (2014). James Hepburn. Retrieved from http://www.maryqueenofscots.net/people/james-hepburn-4th-earl-bothwell/