Henry II Sinclair, Earl of Orkney facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Henry Sinclair
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| Earl of Orkney Lord Sinclair Baron of Roslin |
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Earl of Orkney, Lord Sinclair and Baron of Roslin coats of arms
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| Predecessor | Henry I Sinclair, Earl of Orkney |
| Successor | William Sinclair, 3rd Earl of Orkney, 1st Earl of Caithness, 11th Baron of Roslin and 2nd Lord Sinclair |
| Born | c. 1375 |
| Died | c. 1420 |
| Noble family | Clan Sinclair |
Henry II Sinclair (born around 1375, died 1420) was an important Scottish nobleman. He held the title of Jarl (Earl) of Orkney. He was also the Baron of Roslin and the Pantler of Scotland. A pantler was a person in charge of the pantry, often a high-ranking household official. Some historians also believe he was the first person in his family to be called Lord Sinclair.
Contents
Early Life and Family
Henry II Sinclair was the son of Henry I Sinclair, Earl of Orkney. His mother was Jean, who was the daughter of John Halyburton of Dirleton Castle.
Henry married Egida Douglas. Her father was Sir William Douglas of Nithsdale. Egida's mother was the daughter of King Robert II of Scotland. This made Egida the granddaughter of a king! When Sir William Douglas passed away, Henry Sinclair inherited the whole area known as the Lordship of Nithsdale through his wife.
Becoming the Earl of Orkney
In 1402, Henry Sinclair was captured during the Battle of Homildon Hill. This was a big battle between Scottish and English armies. Luckily, he was later released after a payment was made to free him.
By 1404, Henry had taken over his father's role as the Jarl (or Earl) of Orkney. A Jarl was a powerful ruler, similar to an Earl, especially in areas with Norse (Viking) connections like Orkney. It's interesting because there's no official record that he was ever formally made Jarl. Also, it's not certain if he ever actually visited the Orkney Islands during his time as Jarl.
Journey with the Prince
In 1406, Henry Sinclair was traveling with James, Duke of Rothesay. James was the son of the Scottish King. They were on a ship called the Maryenknyght, heading to France. However, English pirates captured their ship near Flamborough Head.
Henry was taken captive along with the prince. But he was released quite soon after. Because of the king's imprisonment, Henry often traveled to England for business related to getting the king freed.
Henry Sinclair passed away on February 1, 1420. He died from a sickness called influenza.
Marriage and Children
Henry Sinclair married Egidia Douglas around 1407. As mentioned, she was the daughter of Sir William Douglas of Nithsdale. She was also the granddaughter of King Robert II of Scotland.
Henry and Egidia had two known children:
- William Sinclair, who became the last Jarl of Orkney. He was also the first Earl of Caithness.
- Beatrix Sinclair, who married James Douglas, 7th Earl of Douglas.
See also
