Elizabeth Sutherland, 10th Countess of Sutherland facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Elizabeth Sutherland, 10th Countess of Sutherland
Countess of Sutherland Coat of Arms
Born	Unknown
Died	1535 Aboyne, Scotland
Allegiance	Scotland
Relations	John Sutherland, 8th Earl of Sutherland (father) John Sutherland, 9th Earl of Sutherland (brother) Adam Gordon (husband)

Elizabeth Sutherland (died 1535) was an important Scottish noblewoman. She became the 10th Countess of Sutherland after her brother, John Sutherland, 9th Earl of Sutherland, passed away in 1514. This made her a powerful figure in her time.

Becoming Countess of Sutherland

Elizabeth was the daughter of John Sutherland, 8th Earl of Sutherland, who died in 1508. Her brother, John, became the 9th Earl. However, he had health issues that made it hard for him to rule. He decided that his sister Elizabeth, her husband Adam Gordon, and their children should be his heirs.

Just one month later, in 1514, the 9th Earl died. So, Elizabeth and her husband, Adam Gordon, took over the Earldom. Adam Gordon was a younger son of George Gordon, 2nd Earl of Huntly, who was the leader of the powerful Clan Gordon.

Historians believe Elizabeth and Adam Gordon married around 1500. Adam Gordon started helping with the Sutherland family's lands around 1509. This was likely because the 9th Earl was not well enough to manage things himself.

Challenges to the Earldom

After the 9th Earl died in July 1514, it took a few months for Elizabeth to be officially recognized as the heir. This happened on October 3, 1514, in Inverness.

Elizabeth's younger brother, Alexander Sutherland, tried to stop this. He claimed that he was the rightful heir. However, he could not provide proof for his claim, so Elizabeth was officially given the lands on June 30, 1515. After this, she and Adam were known as the Earl and Countess of Sutherland.

Adam Gordon, as the Earl of Sutherland, faced many problems in the region. He became friends with John Sinclair, 3rd Earl of Caithness. While Adam was away, Alexander Sutherland, who still wanted the Earldom, took over Dunrobin Castle. This castle was the main home of the Earl and Countess of Sutherland.

In September 1516, Elizabeth and Adam made an agreement with the Earl of Caithness. One part of the agreement was that the Earl of Caithness would help them get Dunrobin Castle back from Alexander Sutherland. He also promised to support Elizabeth and Adam in keeping their Earldom.

Alexander Sutherland was later held in Edinburgh from March 1517 to February 1518. This was because he had taken money that belonged to the Crown.

Some stories say that in 1517, Alexander Sutherland fought and won a battle against John Mackay, 11th of Strathnaver. This battle was called the Battle of Torran Dubh. However, historians now believe Alexander Sutherland was in prison at that time. Other historians say the Battle of Torran Dubh actually happened in 1517 between the Clan Mackay and other clans, not involving Alexander Sutherland.

In 1518, Alexander Sutherland became friends with the Earl of Caithness and John Mackay. He even married Mackay's sister. While Adam Gordon was away, Alexander Sutherland again took Dunrobin Castle. But the castle was soon taken back. Alexander Sutherland escaped but was later killed by the Gordon forces at the Battle of Alltachuilain in 1519.

Life as Countess

In 1524, Earl Adam and Countess Elizabeth were living in Elgin. They signed important documents for lands like Proncy and Skelbo.

Elizabeth, Countess of Sutherland, passed away in September 1535 in Aboyne. She was buried there. Historians describe her as a "lady of good judgement, and great modesty." Her husband, Adam Gordon, died in March 1537-38, also in Aboyne, and was buried next to her.

Family Life

Elizabeth, Countess of Sutherland, and her husband Adam Gordon had several children:

• Alexander Gordon, Master of Sutherland: He died before his parents. His son, John Gordon, 11th Earl of Sutherland, later became the Earl.
• John Gordon: He had a daughter who married George Gordon of Cochlarachie.
• Mr Adam Gordon: He lived in Aboyne and was killed in a battle called the Battle of Pinkie in 1547. He had a son named Adam Gordon of Golspie-Kirkton.
• Gilbert Gordon of Garty: He is mentioned in a document from 1563. He married Isabel Sinclair and had two sons, John and Patrick, and several daughters.
• Beatrix: She married the Laird of Gormack.
• Eleanor: She married Gordon of Tillwhowdie first, and then George Gordon of Craig.
• Elizabeth: She married the Laird of Lethinite.
• An unnamed daughter: She married the Laird of Leys and Birkenbog.
• An illegitimate daughter: She married John Robson, a leader of the Clan Gunn.