Dr. Elisabeth Rébeillé-Borgella, historian and tour guide, will deliver a talk about Esmé Stuart d’Aubigny (c.1542-1583), 1st Duke of Lennox, the unknown French cousin and favourite of James VI of Scotland whose life as a French lord and courtier profoundly changed when he visited his cousin in Scotland in 1579.
This talk will present the results of the research she has made for her doctoral diploma, writing the first complete biography of a normal French lord of the 16th century who ended up being the most influential lord in Scotland for three years.
This will be the occasion to look at the relations between France and Scotland after the end of the treaty of the Auld Alliance and the Reformation in Scotland.
The talk will also question the role of a foreigner favourite in a European context divided by the wars of religions and threatened by the ambitions of several monarchs. Looking at Esmé Stuart’s life will also give another perspective on James VI’s early years as a king and as a teenager who discovered his own feelings.
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Want to be the first to hear about what's happening in Edinburgh? Just hit 'Like' on our Facebook page, join the What's On Scotland Facebook Group and 'Follow' on our Twitter account and you're all set!Join us for the Night of Ideas, our annual night of debate and discussion at the Institut français d’Écosse on 4th February!
READ MOREPostcards for Perec - Two Hundred and Forty-Three Postcards in Real Colour is a travelling exhibition curated by alum Linda Parr and you can see it at the Institut français d'Ecosse in February!
READ MOREAleph Quintet is one of the recent revelations of the Brussels music scene and they play the Institut français d'Ecosse on Thursday 13th February!
READ MOREThe International animated shorts programmes celebrate extraordinary animation from around the globe, showcasing a dizzying range of styles, techniques, genres and ideas.
READ MOREScottish Writer Lisa Ballantyne will be at the Institut français d’Écosse on Tuesday 25th February to talk about the themes of three of her novels.
READ MOREA hilarious evening inspired by an unusual source: real government records. Can public records actually be funny? Come along and find out at the Institut français d'Écosse on 26th February!
READ MORENaaman Sluchin (violin), Maitane Sebastián (cello) and Julien Le Pape (piano) from the Ensemble Sesame bring their Scottish tour to Glasgow Royal Concert Hall on Thursday 6th March!
READ MORENaaman Sluchin (violin), Maitane Sebastián (cello) and Julien Le Pape (piano) from the Ensemble Sesame bring their Scottish tour to the Institut français d’Écosse on 7th March!
READ MOREThis conference with Dr David Evans and Dr Pauline Souleau (University of St Andrews) aims to discuss the value of harnessing oral French and new forms of media in the classroom!
READ MOREFollies can be pleasant, painful and everything in-between. This programme at St Cecilia's Hall on Tuesday 1st April, celebrates some of these musical depictions!
READ MOREJoin the Institut français d’Écosse on Saturday 5th April at Greyfriars Kirk for an Organ recital with Scottish organists Caroline Cradock and John Kitchen!
READ MOREThe Edinburgh Art Workshop is offering an 8-week watercolour course for beginner and intermediate artists, starting on Wednesdays from 9th April.
READ MOREJoin us at the Institut français d’Écosse on Thursday 10th April for this concert and enjoy an exploration of the richness of musical diversity!
READ MOREThe Edinburgh Art Workshop is offering an 8-week watercolour course for beginner and intermediate artists, starting on Thursday from 10th April.
READ MOREJoin the Institut français d’Écosse at Wellington Church on Thursday 10th April for this concert and enjoy an exploration of the richness of musical diversity!
READ MOREJoin the Institut français d’Écosse for this concert at St Cecilia’s Hall on 24th April, as Mujie Yan guides us through a captivating harpsichord programme!
READ MOREBy presenting this 20th century suite alongside the Baroque music and dance that inspired it, we hope to give the audience a unique insight into Maurice Ravel’s creative process.
READ MOREJoin Maxim Emelyanychev for a very special evening of Mozart celebration and final concert of the Baroque Music Festival at St Cecilia's Hall on 10th May!
READ MORECome along to the Costume Society Scotland's season of varied talks on fashion, costume, textiles, accessories and related subjects between between October and April at Augustine United Church!
READ MOREA lecture about spiritual healing and help through the teaching of Bruno Groening is taking place at The Open Door Community Centre, Edinburgh on various dates throughout the year.
READ MOREAre Humans Unique? is the topic of the 2025 Annual Public Lecture by Heriot-Watt University Chaplaincy in Edinburgh and delivered by Dr Sharon Dirckx.
READ MOREJoin us for the Night of Ideas, our annual night of debate and discussion at the Institut français d’Écosse on 4th February!
READ MOREIntroducing the Drinkmonger Cocktail Club on 5th February with Jason Scott, owner of Bramble, The Last Word and Lucky Liquor bars, as he demonstrate how easy it is to make great cocktails at home!
READ MOREJoin the Institut français d'Ecosse for a fascinating exchange of personal experiences, ideas, poetic practices – and languages with multilingual Scotland-based poets Elodie Laügt, Paul Malgrat!
READ MOREJoin SOS: School of Self for a Beauty and Wellness night on 7th February, where you will leave with tips on how to make yourself look and feel better!
READ MOREWater of Leith Visitors Centre will see the opening of a new exhibition launched on Friday 7th February featuring the stories of local people who have bucked the holiday trend!
READ MOREJoin us for an evening with James Naughtie, in aid of The Lyceum, hosted by our Artistic Director, David Greig.
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