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| Earls of Mar and Angus | |
|---|---|
| Title | Earls of Mar and Angus |
| Creation | ancient |
| Tenure | variable |
| Peerage | Peerage of Scotland |
Earls of Mar and Angus
The Earls of Mar and Angus are historic Scottish noble titles associated with the Mormaer of Mar, Angus county, and medieval to modern Scots peerage practice. The titles touch on the dynastic networks of Alba, interactions with Norman conquest of England, and later involvement in the Acts of Union 1707 and Jacobite Risings. Their story intersects with figures such as Robert the Bruce, Edward I of England, Mary, Queen of Scots, and institutions like the Court of Session.
The earldoms unite geographic entities—Mar and Angus—and manifest feudal and royal grant patterns evident in the reigns of David I of Scotland, Alexander II of Scotland, and James VI and I. Legal contests over the titles invoked procedures from the Parliament of Scotland, appeals to the House of Lords, and judgments referencing precedents such as the Peerage Act 1963. Their bearers participated in events including the Battle of Bannockburn, the Battle of Flodden, and the Rough Wooing.
Origins trace to the Gaelic mormaership and Pictish polities centered on Kincardine, Kincardine O'Neil, and fortifications like Dunottar Castle and Kildrummy Castle. Early holders were linked to dynasties recorded in chronicles like the Chronicle of the Kings of Alba and entries in the Annals of Ulster. During the reign of Malcolm III of Scotland and the reforms of David I of Scotland feudal structures overlaid native lordship, drawing in families such as the de Moravia and alliances with Anglo-Norman houses including the Comyn family and Balliol family. Interaction with Norway and the Norwegian–Scottish relations influenced coastal lordship, while matrimonial links connected Mar and Angus to the House of Dunkeld and the House of Stuart.
Successions involved contested claims by houses like Erskine family, Douglas family, and collateral kin such as the Campbells and Gordon family. Disputes reached royal arbitration under monarchs including James II of Scotland, James III of Scotland, and James IV of Scotland. Legal precedent from cases heard at the Court of Session and parliamentary commissions paralleled appeals to the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council and later the Judicial Committee of the House of Lords. Examples include rival claims using documents like feudal charters witnessed by Bishops of St Andrews, seals referencing the Great Seal of Scotland, and testimony involving agents of Henry VIII of England during the Auld Alliance turbulence.
Holders served as magnates in assemblies such as the Scottish Parliament and as commanders in conflicts including the Wars of Scottish Independence and the Thirty Years' War via mercenary connections. They acted as sheriffs of districts like Aberdeenshire, patrons of religious houses such as Arbroath Abbey and Melrose Abbey, and participants in royal councils with figures like Cardinal David Beaton and James Stewart, Earl of Moray. During the Reformation in Scotland and the reign of Mary Tudor, earls mediated clan feuds involving Clan Campbell, Clan Gordon, and Clan Keith. Later, involvement in the Jacobite rising of 1715 and Jacobite rising of 1745 saw allegiances contested between supporters of House of Hanover and adherents to House of Stuart.
Estates included principal seats at Kildrummy Castle, Brechin Castle, and holdings in parishes like Alford, Aberdeenshire and Cruden Bay. Feudal incidents referenced the Register of the Great Seal of Scotland and rental records in the Register of the Privy Seal of Scotland. Arms associated with holders appear in rolls such as the Armorial of Scotland and were recorded by heralds of the Court of the Lord Lyon. Heraldic elements echoed symbols used by House of Mar, House of Angus, and allied houses like the Menteith family and Seton family, with tinctures and charges comparable to those in the Blue Book entries and visitations compiled by heralds linked to Sir David Lindsay of the Mount.
Prominent figures include earls who fought alongside Robert the Bruce at the Battle of Bannockburn, supported James III of Scotland at court, or opposed Cardinal Beaton during the Scottish Reformation. Biographies intersect with lives of nobles such as James Douglas, Lord of Douglas, William Wallace, and later peers who sat in the House of Commons before elevation to the peerage. Military careers linked to continental service involved commanders connected to Gustavus Adolphus and regiments raised during the Thirty Years' War, while political careers saw participation in commissions under William of Orange and judgements during the Union of Parliaments.
Contemporary recognition involves entries in the Peerage of the United Kingdom, legal resolutions by the House of Lords and genealogical verification by the College of Arms and the Court of the Lord Lyon. Cultural legacy appears in works by historians such as Sir James Balfour Paul, publications in the Proceedings of the Society of Antiquaries of Scotland, and preservation efforts by organizations like Historic Environment Scotland and the National Trust for Scotland. Monuments and archives in repositories including the National Records of Scotland and collections at universities like University of Aberdeen and University of Edinburgh sustain scholarship on the titles.
Category:Scottish nobility Category:Peerage of Scotland