Margaret Graham, Countess of Menteith facts for kids

Margaret Graham (born around 1334, died around 1380) was an important Scottish noblewoman. She was known as the Countess of Menteith. This was a special title because she inherited it directly from her mother, Mary, Countess of Menteith, around 1360. This meant she held the title "in her own right," not just because she was married to an Earl. The Menteith area was a region in Scotland, partly in Perthshire and partly in Stirlingshire.

Margaret's Marriages and Family

Seal of Margaret's fourth husband, Robert Stewart, Duke of Albany.

Margaret Graham was married four times during her life. Two of these marriages happened before she was even 20 years old!

Her first husband was Sir John Moray, Lord of Bothwell. He was the son of Sir Andrew Moray and Lady Christina Bruce. Margaret and John were related, which was not allowed by the church at the time. So, they had to get special permission, called a papal dispensation, from the Pope in 1348. Margaret took her husband's last name, becoming Margaret of Moravia. Sadly, Sir John died around 1351, and they did not have any children together.

Margaret's second marriage was to Thomas, 9th Earl of Mar. Again, they needed special permission from the Pope because they were related. However, after four years, Earl Thomas divorced Margaret. He claimed she could not have children. After the divorce, Margaret went back to live with her mother.

Around 1360, Margaret married for the third time to Sir John Drummond of Concraig. This marriage was meant to help end a long-standing disagreement between their families. Margaret again took her husband's last name. They also needed a papal dispensation because they were related. Their son, John, was born before they got this permission, so they had to do a special act of apology to the church. Sir John died very soon after they received the permission, probably within the same year.

Margaret's fourth and final marriage was to Robert Stewart. He was a son of King Robert II of Scotland.

Historians don't fully agree on how many children Margaret had with Robert, or which children belonged to which mother. However, it is known that she was the mother of Murdoch, 2nd Duke of Albany. Murdoch was born in 1362 and later became a Duke himself.

Some records also suggest Margaret had several daughters with Robert Stewart:

• Mary (died 1420), who married Sir William Abernethy.
• Margaret (died 1402), who married Sir John Swinton.
• Joan, who married her cousin, Robert Stewart.
• Beatrice (died 1424), who married James Douglas.
• Isabella, who married Alexander Leslie and later Walter de Haliburton.

Another record mentions a seventh child:

• Janet, who was planned to marry David de Leon in 1372.

Margaret's Important Titles

Margaret Graham became the Countess of Menteith after her mother, the previous Countess, passed away. Margaret held this title "in her own right." This means she owned the title herself, not just through marriage. When she married Robert Stewart, he was also called the Earl of Menteith. After Robert Stewart died in 1420, the title of Earl of Menteith went to Margaret's son, Murdoch.

When Margaret was married to Thomas, Earl of Mar, she was called the Countess of Mar. This is because the wife of an Earl is known as a Countess.

Margaret was also called the Countess of Fife during her marriage to Robert Stewart. Robert received this title through an agreement with Isabella, who was the wife of his deceased brother. Margaret did not own the Fife title herself. However, because her husband was part of the royal family, being called the Countess of Fife made her the "senior Countess" in all of Scotland. This meant she was the most important Countess in the country at that time.

Margaret was never called the Duchess of Albany. This is because she died before her husband, Robert Stewart, received the title of Duke of Albany in 1398.

Margaret's son, Murdoch Stewart, Duke of Albany.

Death and Burial Place

Margaret Graham passed away sometime between July 20, 1372, and May 4, 1380. She was buried at Inchmahome Priory in Perthshire, Scotland.