Lord of Abernethy facts for kids
The Lord of Abernethy was an important title in Scotland from the 1100s to the 1300s. It meant someone was the special owner of the church and lands around the monastery in Abernethy. This title slowly took over from an older one, the Abbot of Abernethy. The people who held this title were descendants of Gille Míchéil, Earl of Fife.
Today, the title Lord Abernethy is a smaller title connected to the Dukes of Hamilton and Brandon. The powerful Mormaers (early Scottish Earls) and Earls of Fife had a special job: they crowned new Kings of Scots. When the main family line of MacDuff ended, this important job went to the Abernethy family, who were a second branch of the MacDuffs.
This special honour then passed to the Douglas Earls of Angus. A famous moment was at the crowning of King James III in 1460. George Douglas, 4th Earl of Angus placed the crown on the King's head and boldly said, "There! Now that I have set it upon your Grace's head, let me see who will be so bold as to move it."
This tradition continued even into modern times. At the crowning of Queen Elizabeth II in 1953, Douglas Douglas-Hamilton, 14th Duke of Hamilton, who was also Lord Abernethy and Angus, carried and presented the Crown of Scotland to the Queen. His son, the 15th Duke, and later the 16th Duke, have done similar duties at the opening of the Scottish Parliament since 1999.
Early Lords of Abernethy
The early leaders of Abernethy were from the family of Gille Míchéil, Earl of Fife. One of the first known leaders was Orm, son of Áed. King William of Scotland confirmed Orm's ownership of the lands in the 1170s. Over time, the title of "Abbot" (a religious leader) slowly changed to "Lord" (a powerful landowner).
Here are some of the early Lords of Abernethy:
- Orm de Abernethy (active in the 1170s)
- Laurence de Abernethy (active in the 1190s)
- Hugh de Abernethy (died in 1291)
- Alexander de Abernethy (died around 1315)
After Alexander Abernethy died, his daughter Margaret inherited the title. She married John Stewart of Bonkyll. He took on the title and was also given the Earldom of Angus.
Douglas Family and the Abernethy Title
Margaret Stewart, the 4th Countess of Angus and Lady of Abernethy, had a son with William Douglas, 1st Earl of Douglas. In 1389, Lady Angus officially gave her son the titles of Earl of Angus and the Lordships of Abernethy and Bonkyll.
- George Douglas, 1st Earl of Angus, Lord of Abernethy and Bonkyll (1380–1403), received these titles when he was engaged to Princess Mary, daughter of Robert III of Scotland.
To learn more about later Lords of Abernethy, you can look at:
