Captain James Stewart — a soldier of fortune who had served in the Low Countries — made his power grab in 1581 by publicly denouncing Regent Morton for complicity in Darnley's murder, then manoeuvring himself into the position of the king's principal favourite through a combination of charm, military reputation, and calculated flattery. His rise was backed by armed men he had brought from the Continent and by his ability to position himself between James VI and potential threats. His creation as Earl of Arran gave him vast estates. Stewart's seizure of effective power was accomplished without overt military action but was underpinned by the threat of his armed following.
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