Earl of Fife facts for kids

The Earl of Fife or Mormaer of Fife was a powerful leader in medieval Scotland. This title belonged to the ruler of the area known as Fife. This region included what we now call Fife and Kinross.

The Earls of Fife were very important nobles. They had royal family connections. This made them the highest-ranking nobles in Scotland. They even had the special right to crown the king of Scots.

The MacDuff family held this earldom for a long time. Later, it passed to the Stewart family. The earldom ended in 1425 when Murdoch Stewart lost his title and his life. The title of Earl Fife was brought back in 1759 for William Duff. He was a descendant of the original MacDuffs. Much later, in 1889, his great-great-grandson, the 6th Earl Fife, was made Duke of Fife.

What was the Medieval Earldom of Fife?

Macduff's Castle, a historic home of the Earls of Fife.

The Earldom of Fife was a very important position in medieval Scotland. The people who held this title were called Mormaers or Earls.

Who were the Mormaers of Fife?

By the 1100s, the mormaers of Fife were the most important native nobles in Scotland. They often held a top legal job called Justiciar of Scotia. This meant they were the highest judges in the land. They also had the special right to crown the kings of the Scots.

The Mormaer's role was partly based on family connections. For example, in 1385, the Earl of Fife was known as the "Lord of the Law of the Children of Macduff." This shows how important their family, the MacDuffs, was.

The first earl mentioned was Alexander Scrymgeour (died 1306). He fought alongside famous Scottish heroes like William Wallace and Robert the Bruce. He was the king's official banner bearer. He was given the title of earl and the lands of Fife for his brave service. This important position lasted through the Middle Ages. It ended with the last earl, Murdoch, who lost his title and his life in 1425.

What was the Chief of Clan Macduff?

The leader of Clan MacDuff was also a very important role. The name MacDuib or Macduff comes from King Cináed III mac Duib. His father was King Dub (who died in 966). This is similar to how other clans took their names from important ancestors.

The leader of the clan was not always the same person as the mormaer. This was especially true after the mormaerdom became subject to feudal laws. These laws meant the title usually passed to the oldest son. For example, at the Battle of Falkirk, the clan chief led the men of Fife, not the Mormaer.

How did the Macduff line end?

The Macduff family line continued for many years without interruption. The last direct Macduff holder was Isabella. She was the only child of Donnchad IV, Earl of Fife. When her father died in 1358, Isabella became the Countess of Fife in her own right. This made her one of the most sought-after young women in Scotland.

Isabella married four times, but each husband died within a few years. In 1371, she agreed to name Robert Stewart as her heir. He was her brother-in-law. He became the Earl of Fife when Isabella died in 1389. Robert Stewart's son, Murdoch, took over the title in 1420. However, Murdoch lost his title and his life in 1425. This was because of his father's role in the death of Prince David. This event brought the earldom of Fife to an end for a time.

What was the Coat of Arms?

This seal from Scone Abbey (around 1250) shows the Earl of Fife's early shield with stripes.

The coat of arms for the Earl of Fife was a red lion on a gold background. This design showed the earls' connection to the royal family. The king's own coat of arms was very similar. It only added a flowered border. Some people think the king's arms might have even been based on the earl's design.

The lion symbol first appeared on the seal of the tenth earl. But it was probably used much earlier. Some older seals show a different shield with vertical stripes.

The Fife lion is still important today. It appears on the coat of arms for Fife Council. It also appears in the arms of the Duke of Fife.

Later Earls Fife (1759)

The title of Earl of Fife was brought back in 1759. It was given to William Duff. He was able to prove that he was a descendant of the first earls of Fife. This new title was part of the Peerage of Ireland, even though Fife is in Scotland.

Later Earls of Fife (1885)

The coat of arms of Alexander Duff, who became Earl of Fife in 1885 and Duke of Fife in 1889.

The title of Earl of Fife was created again in 1885. This time it was part of the Peerage of the United Kingdom. Queen Victoria gave it to Alexander Duff.

In 1889, Alexander Duff married Princess Louise, who was Queen Victoria's granddaughter. Queen Victoria then made him a Duke of Fife. In 1900, the Queen created a second dukedom of Fife. This new title could be passed down to his daughters. When Alexander Duff died in 1912, the dukedom created in 1900 went to his oldest daughter, Princess Alexandra. His other titles, including the 1885 earldom, ended.

Who held the title?

Here is a list of some of the people who held the title of Mormaer or Earl of Fife over time.

Mormaers of Fife (early holders)

•  ? Giric mac Cináeda meic Duib
• Macduib (around 1057–1058)
• Causantín, Mormaer of Fife (around 1095–1128)
• Gille Míchéil, Mormaer of Fife (1130–1133)
• Donnchadh I, Earl of Fife (1133–1154)
• Donnchadh II, Earl of Fife (1154–1204)
• Maol Choluim I, Earl of Fife (1204–1228)
• Maol Choluim II, Earl of Fife (1228–1266)
• Colbán, Earl of Fife (1266–1270/1272)
• Donnchadh III, Earl of Fife (1270/1272–1288)
• Donnchadh IV, Earl of Fife (1288–1353)
• Sir William Ramsay of Colluthie, Earl of Fife (1358–around 1360)
• Isabella, Countess of Fife (1361–1371)
• Robert Stewart, Earl of Fife (1371–1420)
• Murdoch Stewart, Earl of Fife (1420–1425)

Earls Fife (from 1759)

• William Duff, 1st Earl Fife (around 1696–1763)
• James Duff, 2nd Earl Fife (1729–1809)
• Alexander Duff, 3rd Earl Fife (1731–1811)
• James Duff, 4th Earl Fife (1776–1857)
• James Duff, 5th Earl Fife (1814–1879)

Dukes of Fife (from 1889)

• Alexander Duff, 6th Earl Fife, 1st Duke of Fife (1849–1912)
• Princess Alexandra, 2nd Duchess of Fife (1891–1959)
• James Carnegie, 3rd Duke of Fife (1929–2015)
• David Carnegie, 4th Duke of Fife (born 1961)

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