Earl of Moray facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Earldom of Moray |
|
|---|---|
 _Duc_d%27Albany.svg)
Quarterly: 1st & 4th, Or a lion rampant within a double tressure flory counterflory gules (Royal arms of Scotland) surrounded with a bordure company argent and azure (Moray); 2nd, Or a fess chequy azure and argent (Stewart of Doune); 3rd, Or three cushions within a double tressure flory counterflory gules (Randolph)
|
|
| Creation date | 30 January 1562 (Fifth creation) |
| Monarch | Mary, Queen of Scots (Fifth creation) |
| Peerage | Peerage of Scotland |
| First holder | James Stewart, 1st Earl of Moray (Fifth creation) |
| Present holder | John Douglas Stuart, 21st Earl of Moray |
| Heir apparent | James Stuart, Lord Doune |
| Remainder to | Heirs male of the 1st earl's body |
| Subsidiary titles | Lord Abernethy Lord Strathdearn Lord Doune Lord St Colme Baron Stuart of Castle Stuart |
| Status | Extant |
| Seat(s) | Doune Park Darnaway Castle |
| Former seat(s) | Castle Stuart Doune Castle |
| Motto | Salus per Christum redemptorem ("Salvation through Christ the Redeemer") |
The title Earl of Moray is a very old and important noble title in Scotland. It was first held by the rulers of a region called Province of Moray, which existed from the 10th century. These early rulers were sometimes called "mormaers" (a Gaelic word for a powerful regional chief or earl) or even "Kings of Moray." They had different levels of independence from the main Kingdom of Alba (early Scotland).
In 1130, a Scottish king named David I of Scotland defeated the ruler of Moray, Óengus of Moray. After this, the title of Moray was stopped for a while. However, it was brought back as a proper earldom by Robert the Bruce in 1312. He gave it to his nephew, Thomas Randolph, 1st Earl of Moray.
Since the 16th century, the title has been held by the Clan Stewart. This happened when James Stewart, who was the illegitimate son of James V of Scotland, received the title. The Earldom of Moray has been created several times in the Peerage of Scotland, which is the system of noble titles in Scotland.
What is the Earldom of Moray?
The Earldom of Moray is a noble title in Scotland. It means the person holding it is an Earl and has a special place in the Scottish nobility. The title has a long history, going back to the early rulers of the Moray region.
Early Rulers of Moray
Before it became a formal earldom, Moray was a powerful region. Its leaders were known as "mormaers" or even "kings." They had a lot of control over their land. This region was very important to the security of Scotland.
Moray's Role in Scottish History
Moray played a key role during major wars between 1296 and 1340. It was a safe place for Scottish leaders. It also provided soldiers for Robert I of Scotland during his campaigns. King Robert I understood how important Moray was for his kingdom's safety.
In 1312, Robert I brought back the Earldom of Moray. He gave it to his nephew, Thomas Randolph, 1st Earl of Moray. This new earldom included all of the old Moray region.
Changes in the Earldom
Thomas Randolph's son, John Randolph, died in 1346 without children. This meant the earldom needed a new owner. Power then shifted to other families and groups.
In 1372, the Earldom of Moray was divided. John Dunbar received the coastal parts. Alexander Stewart, a son of Robert II of Scotland, became lord of the upland areas.
Challenges in Moray
This division led to local conflicts. Raiding groups caused problems in the area. One famous event was when Alexander Stewart, also known as the Wolf of Badenoch, burned Elgin Cathedral. This happened during a disagreement with the Bishop of Moray.
Scottish rulers tried to fix these problems. They sent leaders like Robert Stewart, Duke of Albany and James I of Scotland to the region. They also relied on Alexander Stewart, Earl of Mar to help keep order.
When the Earl of Mar died in 1435, other powerful groups took control. The Clan Gordon eventually became the main lords of the area. However, the crown kept ownership of the earldom itself.
Later Creations of the Earldom
The title was given to Elizabeth Stewart, 7th Countess of Moray. Her husband was also recognized as an earl. However, her husband was killed in battle in 1455. His title was then taken away, a process called "attainder."
The title was created again for James Stewart, son of James IV of Scotland. But he died without children, so the title ended.
Next, it was given to George Gordon, 4th Earl of Huntly. He later lost royal favor. In 1462, he was killed, and his title was taken away.
The Current Creation
The most recent creation of the Earldom of Moray was for another James Stewart. He was the illegitimate son of James V of Scotland. This happened in 1562.
Other Scottish titles connected to this creation include:
- Lord Abernethy and Strathearn (created 1562)
- Lord Doune (1581)
- Lord St Colme (1611)
The Earls of Moray also hold the title Baron Stuart (created 1796). This title allowed them to sit in the House of Lords in the British Parliament.
Perhaps the most famous Earl of Moray was James Stewart, 2nd Earl of Moray. He was the subject of a well-known song called "The Bonny Earl O'Moray." He was also a direct descendant of King Robert II of Scotland.
The main family homes are Doune Lodge near Doune, Stirling, and Darnaway Castle near Forres, Moray.
Who Held the Title?
Over the centuries, many important people have held the title of Moray. Here are some of them:
Mormaers of Moray
These were the early rulers before it became a formal earldom.
- Findláech mac Ruaidrí (before 1014–1020)
- Máel Coluim mac Maíl Brigti (1020–1029)
- Gille Coemgáin mac Maíl Brigti (1029–1032)
- Mac Bethad mac Findláich (Macbeth, King of Scotland) (1032–1057)
- Lulach mac Gille Coemgáin (1057–1058)
- Máel Snechtai mac Lulaich (1058–1078/1085)
- Óengus (?–1130)
- William fitz Duncan (1130s–1147)
Earls of Moray, First Creation (1312)
- Thomas Randolph, 1st Earl of Moray (died 1332)
- Thomas Randolph, 2nd Earl of Moray (died 1332)
- John Randolph, 3rd Earl of Moray (died 1346)
Earls of Moray, Second Creation (1372)
- John Dunbar, 1st Earl of Moray (died 1391)
- Thomas Dunbar, 2nd Earl of Moray (died 1422?)
- Thomas Dunbar, 3rd Earl of Moray (died ?)
- James Dunbar, 4th Earl of Moray (died 1429)
- Elizabeth Dunbar, Countess of Moray (died 1485) (title lost in 1455)
- Archibald Douglas, Earl of Moray (died 1455), husband of Elizabeth Dunbar
- James Crichton, 2nd Lord Crichton and Earl of Moray (died 1454), husband of Janet Dunbar
Earls of Moray, Third Creation (1501)
- James Stewart, Earl of Moray (c. 1499–1544)
Earls of Moray, Fourth Creation (1549)
- George Gordon, 4th Earl of Huntly, Earl of Moray (1514–1562), title lost
Earls of Moray, Fifth Creation (1562)
- James Stewart, 1st Earl of Moray (c. 1531–1570)
- Elizabeth Stuart, 2nd Countess of Moray (died 1591)
- James Stewart, jure uxoris 2nd Earl of Moray (died 1592)
- James Stuart, 3rd Earl of Moray (died 1638)
- James Stuart, 4th Earl of Moray (died 1653)
- Alexander Stuart, 5th Earl of Moray (died 1701)
- Charles Stuart, 6th Earl of Moray (died 1735)
- Francis Stuart, 7th Earl of Moray (died 1739)
- James Stuart, 8th Earl of Moray (1708–1767)
- Francis Stuart, 9th Earl of Moray (1737–1810)
- Francis Stuart, 10th Earl of Moray (1771–1848)
- Francis Stuart, 11th Earl of Moray (1795–1859)
- John Stuart, 12th Earl of Moray (1797–1867)
- Archibald George Stuart, 13th Earl of Moray (1810–1872)
- George Philip Stuart, 14th Earl of Moray (1816–1895)
- Edmund Archibald Stuart, 15th Earl of Moray (1840–1901)
- Francis James Stuart, 16th Earl of Moray (1842–1909)
- Morton Gray Stuart, 17th Earl of Moray (1855–1930)
- Francis Douglas Stuart, 18th Earl of Moray (1892–1943)
- Archibald John Morton Stuart, 19th Earl of Moray (1894–1974)
- Douglas John Moray Stuart, 20th Earl of Moray (1928–2011)
- John Douglas Stuart, 21st Earl of Moray (born 1966)
The Current Earl of Moray
The current Earl is John Douglas Stuart, 21st Earl of Moray. He was born on August 29, 1966. He is the only son of the 20th Earl of Moray.
He was known as Lord Doune from 1974 until 2011. He went to Loretto School and University College London. There he studied History of Art.
In 2003, he lived at Doune Park in Perthshire. He became the Earl of Moray on September 23, 2011, after his father passed away.
On July 1, 2000, he married Catherine Jane Lawson. They have three sons:
- James Douglas Stuart, Lord Doune (born 2002), who is the next in line to the title.
- Alexander Francis Alan Stuart (born 2004).
- Frederick Charles Randolph Stuart (born 2006).
See also
- Viscount Stuart of Findhorn
- Clan Stewart
- Doune Castle
- Castle Stuart
- Mondegreen
