Noble, who led the post-Reformation Roman Catholics in Scotland. Gordon succeeded to the Earldom of Huntly on the death of his father, the 5th Earl (1576). He plotted with Spain for the restoration of Catholicism and raised a rebellion in 1589. In 1591, he murdered James Stuart, the Bonny Earl of Moray, stabbing him 13 times. In 1594, he defeated King James VI's army under Archibald Campbell, the 7th Earl of Argyll (c.1576 - 1638), at Glenlivet. As punishment Gordon was forced to leave the country and his castle at Strathbogie was blown up (later rebuilt as Huntly Castle). However, Gordon later submitted to the crown and was rewarded with the title of Marquis of Huntly in 1599. He lost favour following the accession of King Charles I (1600-49) and was imprisoned in Edinburgh Castle, where he spent most of his remaining years.
Gordon left Edinburgh to return to Strathbogie but got no further than Dundee, where he died. He was buried at Elgin.
