The Resume

(circa 1533-March 9, 1566)
Born in Torino, Italy
Last name also written as Riccio or Rizzo
Private secretary to Mary, Queen of Scots
Murdered in a conspiracy organized by Mary’s husband, Lord Darnley

Why he might be annoying:

In contemporary accounts, he was described as ugly, short and hunchbacked.
His closeness to the Queen was resented by Scottish nobles because he was a Catholic and a foreigner.
When the murderers burst into the Queen’s private dining room, he attempted to hide behind her skirts.
He was rumored to have slept with the Queen.
When Mary’s son and successor, King James VI, called himself a ‘Scottish Solomon,’ King Henri IV of France quipped that it was no surprise, since Solomon and James were both ‘sons of David.’

Why he might not be annoying:

He was a good singer, and first won a spot at court when a group of valets who sang for the Queen needed a bass.
Darnley may have hoped that killing Rizzio in front of Mary, who was seven months pregnant with James VI, would cause her to have a miscarriage.
He was stabbed 56 times.

Credit: C. Fishel

Featured in the following Annoying Collections:

• C. Fishel's Profiles [Series 66]
• I Died in My 30s (Ranked: 32)
• I was Murdered
• I was Stabbed
• Look at Me, I'm Wearing a Ruffled Collar
• Look at Me, My Picture Is Art
• Profiles 41006-41250 (Ranked: 41240)

Year In Review:

In 2023, Out of 3 Votes: 66.67% Annoying
In 2022, Out of 2 Votes: 50.0% Annoying
In 2021, Out of 14 Votes: 64.29% Annoying
In 2020, Out of 7 Votes: 71.43% Annoying
In 2019, Out of 1 Votes: 0% Annoying
In 2018, Out of 3 Votes: 66.67% Annoying
In 2017, Out of 2 Votes: 100% Annoying