Clan Mar facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Clan Mar |
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| Marr | |||
Crest: On a chapeau Gules furred Ermine, two wings, each of ten pen feathers, erected and addorsed, both blazoned as in the Arms.
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| Motto | Pans Plus (Think More) | ||
| Profile | |||
| Region | Lowlands | ||
| District | Aberdeenshire | ||
| Chief | |||
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| Margaret of Mar | |||
| The 31st Countess of Mar | |||
| Seat | Great Witley, Worcestershire | ||
| Historic seat | Kildrummy Castle | ||
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Clan Mar is a Scottish clan from the Scottish Lowlands. It is also known as the Tribe of Mar. The leaders of Clan Mar were the first Earls of Mar. This important title later passed to other families, like the Douglases and Stewarts, before going to the Erskines. The current chief of Clan Mar is Margaret of Mar, who is the Countess.
Contents
History of Clan Mar
Early Beginnings
One of Scotland's seven old kingdoms was called the Mormaerdom of Mar. A Mormaer was an ancient Pictish ruler, similar to an Earl. The land of the Earldom of Mar was in Aberdeenshire. It was located between the River Dee and the River Don.
Around 1014, Donald, the Mormaer of Mar, fought alongside Brian Boru, the High King of Ireland. They battled against Viking invaders at the Battle of Clontarf. In 1114, a document from Scone Abbey named Rothri, Mormaer of Mar. He was given the Latin title Comes, which means Earl today.
Before 1152, Morggán (also known as Morgund) was a witness to a document for Dunfermline Abbey. Later, Uilleam (William) became one of Scotland's Regents, who ruled when the king was absent or too young. In 1264, he was the Great Chamberlain of the Realm. William's son was Domhnall (Donald) I. King Alexander III of Scotland knighted Donald at Scone in September 1270. Donald also witnessed the marriage agreement between Eric II of Norway and Margaret of Scotland. He agreed that Eric's daughter, Margaret, Maid of Norway, was the rightful heir to the Scottish throne. Sadly, Margaret died in Orkney on her way to claim her kingdom.
Fighting for Scotland's Freedom
The Earls of Mar strongly supported Robert the Bruce's claim to be King of Scotland. Donald's oldest daughter, Isabella of Mar, was Robert the Bruce's first wife. Isabella's brother, Gartnait (Gratney), married Bruce's sister, Christina Bruce. Gratney's son, Domhnall (Donald) II, became the next Earl. This Donald was captured at the Battle of Methven in 1306. He was held hostage in England until after the Scottish victory at the Battle of Bannockburn in 1314. He was then exchanged for other important hostages, including Robert the Bruce's wife, sister, and daughter.
Mar was chosen to be Regent of Scotland in 1332. However, he held this important role for only ten days. The night before he was elected, Edward Balliol marched his English troops to Perth. Mar gathered his own soldiers to face the invaders. In the middle of the night, the English attacked the Scottish army while they were sleeping. They completely defeated them. The Earl of Mar was among those who died in the battle.
Donald's son, Thomas, was the next Earl. He died without children. So, the title passed to his sister, Margaret, Countess of Mar. From Margaret, the title then went to her daughter, Isabel Douglas, Countess of Mar. Isabella's second husband was Alexander Stewart, Earl of Mar. He was the son of Alexander Stewart, Earl of Buchan, who was known as the feared Wolf of Badenoch.
From the 1400s to the 1600s
Isabel Douglas, Countess of Mar also died without children. The claim to the Earldom of Mar then went to Robert Erskine, 1st Lord Erskine. He was a descendant of Elyne, who was the daughter of Gartnait (Gratney). An Act of Parliament in 1885 later officially recognized Robert Erskine as an Earl of Mar.
The 1600s and the Civil War
In 1615, Chief John Erskine was made governor of Edinburgh Castle. He supported King Charles I of England. Lord Erskine fought for the Royalists, who supported the King, at the Battle of Kilsyth in 1645. The family's lands were taken away because they supported the Royalists. But King Charles II of England gave them back in 1660.
The 1700s and Jacobite Uprisings
Chief John Erskine (sometimes called "Bobbing John") supported the House of Stuart and the Jacobite cause. The Jacobites wanted the Stuart family to be kings again. Because he supported them, his titles were taken away. However, these titles were given back to the family by an Act of Parliament in 1824.
Clan Chiefs Today
The current chief of Clan Mar is Margaret, Countess of Mar. She is a descendant of the first Earls of Mar, as decided by an Act of Parliament in 1885. She is the official chief of the Mar name and arms.
The Clan Erskine has its own separate chief. This is James Erskine, Earl of Mar and Kellie. He descends from a different line of Earls of Mar, as decided by the House of Lords in 1875. He is the chief of the Erskine name and arms.
Clan Castle
- Kildrummy Castle in Kildrummy, Aberdeenshire was the main stronghold of the Earldom of Mar. People believe it was built when Uilleam (William) and Domhnall (Donald) I were lords.
See also
