Robert Stewart, 1st Earl of Orkney facts for kids
Robert Stewart, 1st Earl of Orkney and Lord of Zetland (which is Shetland), was born in the spring of 1533. He passed away on February 4, 1593. Robert was a son of King James V of Scotland and his partner Eupheme Elphinstone. This made him the half-brother of Mary, Queen of Scots, and the uncle of James VI, who later became King of Scotland and England.
Robert's Life and Adventures
In 1539, Robert Stewart became the manager of Holyrood Abbey in Scotland. By 1557, he also managed Charlieu Abbey in France.
In 1550, after a war known as the Rough Wooing ended, Robert traveled to France. He went with his stepmother, Mary of Guise, to visit the French royal court. During a time of big religious changes in Scotland, called the Scottish Reformation, Robert shared information about the Hamilton family. This information was gathered for French advisors who were looking into the Hamiltons' loyalty to Mary, Queen of Scots.
Mary, Queen of Scots, returned to Scotland on August 19, 1561. She arrived unexpectedly at Leith with many companions. Lord Robert welcomed her at Holyrood Palace. Later that year, in December 1561, Robert and his half-brother, Lord John, took part in a fun tournament. This event happened at the sands of Leith. There were two teams of six men. Robert's team dressed up as women, while the other team wore strange, foreign costumes. Robert's team won the competition! A similar tournament happened later in 1594 at Stirling Castle.
On May 15, 1565, Robert was knighted as Sir Robert Stewart of Strathdon. This happened during the celebrations for the marriage of Mary, Queen of Scots, to Henry Stuart, Lord Darnley.
In 1581, King James VI made Robert the first Earl of Orkney in a new creation of the title. This new earldom replaced a short-lived Dukedom of Orkney. That dukedom had been given to James Hepburn, 4th Earl of Bothwell, by Mary, Queen of Scots, in 1567. But it was taken away later that year when Mary had to give up her throne.
Robert was briefly held in Linlithgow Palace in 1575. He was released in 1579. After his release, he built the impressive Earl's Palace, Birsay on Orkney. When Robert passed away in 1593, his son Patrick Stewart, 2nd Earl of Orkney became the next Earl of Orkney.
Robert's Family
On December 13 or 14, 1561, Robert Stewart married Lady Jean Kennedy. She was the daughter of Gilbert Kennedy, 3rd Earl of Cassilis. An English diplomat wrote that "Lord Robert was deeply in love with Cassillis' sister." Their wedding took place at the home of one of her family friends.
Robert and Jean had several children:
- Mary, who married Patrick Gray, 6th Lord Gray.
- Jean, who married Patrick Leslie, 1st Lord Lindores.
- Henry, who became Master of Orkney.
- Patrick, who inherited the title of Earl of Orkney. He married Margaret Livingstone.
- John Stewart, who became Earl of Carrick. He married Elizabeth Howard.
- Robert, who was knighted as Sir Robert Stewart of Middleton.
- James, who was knighted as Sir James Stewart of Eday and Tullos. He married Margaret Lyon.
- Elizabeth, who married James Sinclair of Murkle.
- Barbara, who married Hugh Halcro of Halcro.
