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ORIGINS OF THE CLAN
Origins. The Ruthven lands in Perthshire, Scotland take their name from the Scottish Gaelic, Ruadhainn which means Dun uplands. The clan chief's family are believed to be of Norse origin.
The family traces its descent from Thor, who settled in Scotland during the reign of David I of Scotland. Thor was, by tradition son of Sweyn the Viking chief, who was the founder of the Clan Ruthven. The name Ruthven comes from the lands north of Loch Rannoch in Perthshire. In Gaelic these lands are called Ruadhainn. This name may be further related to its Viking roots, since there is an island on an inland fiord in Norway, called ‘Roedven’ (inland from the town of “Molde). The island has a stave church from around 1200 and the area has long had links to Scotland. The name of the island derives from the main farm on the island and refers to a river outlet from a ravine or gorge. The local pronunciation of the name of the island approximates with the Scottish pronunciation of “Ruthven” (”Rivven”). In 1488, Sir William Ruthven, 1st Lord Ruthven was created Lord Ruthven by summons to Parliament.
ANGLO SCOTTISH WARS
During the Anglo-Scottish Wars Sir William Ruthven, 1st Lord Ruthven’s eldest son William was killed at the Battle of Flodden Field in 1513, and so the title passed to his grandson: William Ruthven, 2nd Lord Ruthven served as am Extraordinary Lord of Session and Keeper of the Privy Seal of Scotland, and had three sons.
MURDER OF DAVID RIZZIO
Patrick Ruthven, 3rd Lord Ruthven is celebrated as the principal perpetrator of the murder of David Rizzio, the Italian secretary of Mary, Queen of Scots. Patrick fled to England and died in 1566 after masterminding the murder of the queen’s secretary.
THE RUTHVEN RAID
Patrick Ruthven’s son, who was created the Earl of Gowrie, headed the conspirators who seized King James VI of Scotland and took over the government in his name. For this action, later to be known as the “Ruthven Raid” or Raid of Ruthven, he was beheaded.
William Ruthven, 1st Earl of Gowrie also participated in the Rizzio murder. In 1582 he devised the plot to seize King James VI, known as the Raid of Ruthven. All his honors were forfeited when he was attainted and executed in May, 1584.
The earldom of Gowrie passed to his brother: James Ruthven, 2nd Earl of Gowrie (conflicting references in the 1911 Britannica claim he was named William also). He died young in 1586 and the title passed to his youngest brother:
John Ruthven, 3rd Earl of Gowrie. John is alleged to have been part of a plot to kidnap James VI of Scotland. He was killed by the king’s attendants in 1600 and the earldom of Gowrie went extinct until 1945.
William Ruthven, 4th Lord Ruthven left a son: Alexander Ruthven (d. 1599), the founder of the family of Ruthven of Freeland. His grandson was Sir Thomas Ruthven, 1st Lord Ruthven of Freeland (d. 1673).
THE GOWRIE CONSPIRACY
The reputation of the Ruthvens as assassins was strengthened by a mysterious affair which became known as the “Gowrie Conspiracy” in 1600. John and Alexander Ruthven were killed in Gowrie House during an alleged attempt on the person of the King James VI. The Ruthven brothers were declared by Parliament to be traitors, although there was no evidence of what, if anything, they had planned to do. Following the Gowrie conspiracy the Ruthven name was banned- proscribed and the family driven out of the kingdom. The family coat of arms was publicly debased, their estates forfeited and the title of Gowrie was outlawed.