Clan Ruthven facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Clan Ruthven |
|||
|---|---|---|---|
 |
|||
| Motto | Deid schaw | ||
| Chief | |||
.svg) |
|||
| Brer Ruthven | |||
| The 3rd Earl of Gowrie | |||
| Historic seat | Huntingtower Castle | ||
|
|||
|
|||
|
|||
|
|||
The Clan Ruthven (/ˈrɪvən/) is a Lowland Scottish clan. Their name comes from a Scottish Gaelic word, Ruadhainn, which means "Dun uplands." The clan's leaders were originally from Norway. They first settled in East Lothian, Scotland, but by the late 1100s, they had moved to Perthshire.
Contents
History of Clan Ruthven
Early Beginnings
Between 1188 and 1199, a man named Swein gave land, including Tibbermore, to the Monks of Scone. Swein's grandson was Sir Walter Ruthven. He was the first person to use the name Ruthven for his family.
Fighting for Scottish Freedom
Sir Walter Ruthven promised loyalty to Edward I of England in 1291 and 1296. However, in 1297, he helped William Wallace attack Perth. Ruthven also helped Christopher Seaton take back Jedburgh from the English. In 1313, Perth was captured again by the Scots. Robert the Bruce then made Sir William Ruthven the sheriff of the royal town, which was called St Johnston (now Perth).
The 1400s and 1500s
A family member, Sir William Ruthven of Balkernoch, was held hostage in England for three years. This was to help pay the ransom for James I of Scotland. This William Ruthven was a very important nobleman. His yearly income was about four hundred merks, which was a lot of money back then. In 1488, his great-grandson was given the title Lord Ruthven by James III of Scotland.
His eldest son, William, Master of Ruthven, was killed in the Battle of Flodden in 1513.
Rivalry with Clan Charteris
The Charteris family of Kinfauns were said to have received their lands for supporting Robert the Bruce. However, they often argued with the Ruthvens. The Ruthvens had a lot of power in Perth from their Huntingtower Castle.
In 1544, Patrick, Lord Ruthven, was chosen to be the leader of Perth. But Cardinal Beaton stepped in and removed Ruthven from the job. Charteris of Kinfauns was then appointed instead. The people of Perth refused to accept Charteris and closed the city gates to him. Charteris, along with Lord Gray and the Clan Leslie, then attacked the town. However, the Ruthvens, helped by the Clan Moncreiffe, fought them off.
Because of this, Ruthven remained the leader of Perth until 1584. That year, William Ruthven, Earl of Gowrie, was executed. Earlier, in 1552, John Charteris had been killed by the earl's heir on Edinburgh High Street.
The Death of David Rizzio
In 1556, Patrick Ruthven, 3rd Lord Ruthven, and his son, William, were involved in a plot with Lord Darnley. They were present when Mary, Queen of Scot's close friend David Rizzio was killed at Holyrood Palace. Both Ruthvens fled to England after Darnley abandoned them. William later returned and became the family leader after receiving a royal pardon. He was among those who took the queen to Loch Leven Castle, where she was forced to give up her throne. Ruthven also managed Scotland's money when the king was young. In 1581, he was made William Ruthven, 1st Earl of Gowrie.
The Ruthven Raid
In 1582, Ruthven, now the Earl of Gowrie, took James VI of Scotland away. He wanted to remove the king from the influence of the Earl of Lennox and Earl of Arran. This event became known as the "Ruthven Raid." The king was held for ten months. When he was finally released, he seemed to forgive Gowrie. However, Gowrie was later arrested in 1584 and executed for treason.
The Gowrie Conspiracy
In 1586, the Ruthven family lands were given back to William's son, James Ruthven, 2nd Earl of Gowrie. But James Ruthven died just two years later at age thirteen. His brother, John Ruthven, 3rd Earl of Gowrie, then took over.
It was rumored that John practiced unusual things. In 1600, he and his brother Alexander were killed in their house in Perth. This event was called the "Gowrie Conspiracy." Parliament declared the Ruthven brothers to be traitors. However, there is little proof of what they were actually planning. The Ruthven name was then officially removed from Scotland. All family members had to choose new last names.
The 1600s: Wars and New Titles
In 1651, Sir Thomas Ruthven helped improve the family's reputation. He was a descendant of the second Lord Ruthven. He was given the title Lord Ruthven of Freeland.
Patrick Ruthven, 1st Earl of Brentford (around 1573–1651), was a relative of Sir William Ruthven, 1st Lord Ruthven. He fought and negotiated for Gustavus Adolphus of Sweden, the King of Sweden, during the Thirty Years' War. In Germany, he fought alongside his nephews, Colonel Frances Ruthven and Major General John Ruthven.
Patrick Ruthven, 1st Earl of Brentford, also fought for King Charles I during the Wars of the Three Kingdoms. He brought both Colonel Frances Ruthven and Major General John Ruthven to fight with him.
Sir Thomas Ruthven, 1st Lord Ruthven of Freeland (died 1673), was given the title of Lord Ruthven of Freeland by Charles II of England in 1651. His son was David Ruthven, 2nd Lord Ruthven of Freeland.
From the 1700s to the 1900s
- David Ruthven, 2nd Lord Ruthven of Freeland, died in 1701 without marrying. His sister, Jean (died 1722), then took the title of Baroness Ruthven.
- After Jean, the title was taken by William Cunynghame of Cunynghamhead (died 1722). William was Lady Jean's nephew and closest heir. William died in 1722 without an heir.
- His niece, Lady Isobel (died 1732), then took the title. She was married to James Johnson, who took the name Ruthven.
- Their son, James Ruthven (died 1783), took the title and was allowed to vote in elections for Scottish noble representatives.
- In 1853, the title passed to a woman again: Mary Elizabeth Thornton (around 1784–1864). She was the wife of Walter Hore (died 1878). She and her husband took the name Hore-Ruthven and used the Ruthven family symbols.
- Their grandson, Walter James Hore-Ruthven (born 1838), became the 8th baron in 1864.
- His second son, Alexander Hore-Ruthven, 1st Earl of Gowrie (1872–1955), earned back the family's important title. He did this through his excellent service, including being the Governor-General of Australia. He first became Baron Gowrie in 1934 and then Earl of Gowrie in 1944.
Clan Chief
The current Clan Chief is (Patrick Leo) Brer Hore-Ruthven. He is the 3rd Earl of Gowrie, Viscount Ruthven of Canberra, and Baron Ruthven of Gowrie. He is also Baron Gowrie of Canberra, Commonwealth of Australia. He is the Chief of the Name and Arms of Ruthven. He took over after Grey Hore-Ruthven passed away on September 24, 2021.
Castles and Palaces
The Clan Ruthven has been connected to several important places:
- Huntingtower Castle
- Dirleton Castle
- Scone Abbey
- Scone Palace
- Gowrie House
- Freeland House (now the main School House of Strathallan School)
- Trochrie Castle
-
Huntingtower Castle
-
Scone Palace
See also
- Lord Ruthven
- Earl of Gowrie
- Earl of Brentford
