https://www.bagtownclans.com The ancient form and original name, as spelt by the Royal Family, is Stewart, taken from the office of Lord High Steward of Scotland, which they held for nearly two centuries before they came to the throne. The first traceable progenitor of this gallant and royal race was a Norman, Alan, Lord of Oswestry, in Shropshire, whose family, almost immediately after their settlement in Scotland, became completely identified with the nationality of their new country, and were associated with all its brightest achievements and deepest calamities. Walter, the son of Alan, obtained from David the first, in the twelfth century, a charter of the burgh and lands of Renfrew ; and Malcolm the forth, by charter, made the office of High Steward hereditary in the family. In 1263, Alexander, the Lord High Steward, together with the King, led the Scottish army at the battle of Largs, when the Norwegians, under King Hacho, were totally defeated. King Alexander the third was wounded in the face by an arrow, and the Great Steward, fighting in the van, was slain. In 1286, his son, James the Steward, was appointed one of the Regency on the death of the young Queen Margaret ; during the Treaty of Paris in 1303, he was one of the commissioners sent to watch over Scottish interests. Walter, the High Steward, when in the flower of his youth, with Douglas, led the left wing of the Scottish army at Bannockburn, and was knighted on the field by King Robert. In 1315, he married Marjory, the only daughter of the latter monarch. From this union sprang that race of sovereigns under whom the two kingdoms were eventually united, and whose descendant at this moment wears the British crown. Walter, the High Steward, died at Bathgate in 1328. On the death of David the second, the High Steward ascended the throne as Robert the second, and first of the House of Stewart. So numerous were the descendants and nobles of the House of Stewart, that we can but refer to them briefly. One of the most famous of these was John Stewart of Coul, afterwards Earl of Buchan and Constable of France. He was the youngest son of Robert, Duke of Albany, and of his second wife, Muriela Keith, of the House of Marischal, and was born about 1380. His father, brother of Robert the third, on the death of that unfortunate monarch, became Regent of Scotland ; and by his intrigues James the first, the good and gentle poet-king, was detained till manhood in the Castle of Windsor. On the 10th of August 1424, the Earl of Buchan led a combined army of French, Scotch, and Italians at Verneuil, but was defeated and slain by the troops of Henry the fifth, who buried him with every honour in the church of St. Gration at Tours. His elder brother Murdoch, who succeeded, in 1420, to the Dukedom of Albany and Regency of the kingdom, was condemned and executed for malpractices by James the first After Mary bestowed the title of Albany on her husband, Henry, Lord Darnley and Mar, it became finally vested in the crown. The Stewarts, Lords Invermeath and Earls of Atliole (from whom sprang the houses of Bonkil, Dreghorn, Dalewinton, Buchan and Taquair), were descended from Alexander, the Lord High Steward, who died in 1283, and was great-grandfather of Robert the second. On the death of the Constable of France at Verneuil, without heirs, his earldom of Buchan was conferred on Sir James Stewart, second son of the Black Knight of Lorn, and his line ended with the death of Christian Stewart, daughter of John, Master of Buchan, who was killed at the battle of Pinkie in 1547. The family of Bute are descended from Sir John Stewart, who obtained from his father, Robert the second, a grant of the Island of Bute, the ancient patrimony of the Stewarts. The Earls of Galloway are descended from Sir John Stewart, second son of Alexander, sixth Lord High Steward, who received from his father a gift of the lands of Garlies and was killed at the battle of Falkirk, 22nd July 1298. The first of the Stewarts, Earls of Angus, was Sir John of Bonkil, who was created Earl by David The second. on his coronation in 1330. Three years after, he was killed at the Battle of Halidon Hill ; on the death of Thomas, third Earl of Angus in 1377, his titles and honours devolved on his nephew, George, who became the first Earl of Angus of the name of Douglas. The Stewarts, Dukes of Lennox, descended from Sir John of Bonkil, killed at Falkirk. Few families were more distinguished in war and peace than this line, from which were descended the families of Halrig, Barscob, and John, Lord d'Aubigny, famous in the Neapolitan wars under Charles The eighth. and Louis the seventh. of France. The male line of this family ended with the death of Charles, Duke of Lennox, of fever, at Elsinore, in 1672, when on an embassy to Denmark. The male line of the Royal Stewarts (or Stuarts) terminated with Cardinal York in 1807.

• published: 07 Oct 2021
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