Archibald Ruthven

Archibald Ruthven of Forteviot and Master of Ruthven (1546-1578), was a Scottish nobleman who raised a Scottish force for Swedish service in Estonia. There his men and the German soldiers in Swedish service fought a serious battle with each other; many hundred Scotsmen being killed. The Scots were blamed for the disaster, and, although wounded by his own men, Ruthven was imprisoned. As a prisoner in Sweden he was accused of having participated in a conspiracy to assassinate King John III of Sweden. Others implicated in the plot were executed, but Ruthven was kept a prisoner in Vasteras, where he died. Early life The Master of Ruthven was the son of Patrick Ruthven, 3rd Lord Ruthven, and brother of William Ruthven, 1st Earl of Gowrie. At the age of 14, he became one of the ten Scottish hostages delivered to the English in accordance with the Treaty of Berwick 1560. Swedish service In 1572, Ruthven was recommended to King John III of Sweden by the Regent of Scotland, the Earl of Mar. He therefore went to Sweden and met the Swedish king in Vadstena. John III gave him the mission to return to Scotland and recruit 2,000 soldiers. In Scotland, Ruthven on 4 July 1573 received the permission of the Privy Council of Scotland, to recruit 1,600 soldiers for Swedish service; provided that he did not entice any men from the King's service, nor use any constraint or deceit. He was also forbidden to serve against any Protestant power. In the meantime, Ruthven had participated in the Lang Siege and capture of Edinburgh Castle that fell on 28 May.