Euphemia Elphinstone
Encyclopedia
Euphemia Elphinstone was a mistress of James V of Scotland
and the mother of his son Robert Stewart, 1st Earl of Orkney
, born in 1532, as well as another royal bastard who died in childhood. One of her sons with her husband John Bruce was Laurence Bruce
of Cultmalindie (1547–1617), the builder of Muness Castle
.
She was the second daughter of Alexander Elphinstone
(born c. 1480, died 9 September 1513, at the Battle of Flodden Field
), created Lord Elphinstone
in 1510, and Elizabeth Barlow (Berclay) of Aberdeenshire (c. 1476 – 10 September 1518). The family hailed from Elphinstone in Stirling
. Her brother Alexander, Lord Elphinstone, died at Edinburgh following the Battle of Pinkie Cleugh
, and is the ancestor of the Elphinstone family. Euphemia married John Bruce of Cultmalindie (c. 1507 – March 1546/7), a descendant of Robert the Bruce, and had five children: Laurence Bruce
, Robert Bruce (born c. 1536), Henry Bruce (born c. 1538), James Bruce (born c. 1540) and Euphamie Bruce (born c. 1542). She died either in 1542, or after 1547: there is no firm evidence for any death date.
Euphemia appears to have been, in her own right, rather unimportant: the daughter of a minor noble, she married a minor member of the Bruce family, and many consider her to be only a passing fancy to James V (although if she conceived by him on two separate occasions then this would appear slightly misleading). However, her children and descendants were to be important in the history of the Shetland Islands
and Orkney Islands
. Her two most significant children, Laurence Bruce and Robert Stewart and their families were to become closely entwined in the Shetland Islands, of which Laurence Bruce was appointed Sheriff by his half-brother.
According to legend, many people in the Shetland Islands are descended from her; in particular, those named Bruce are supposed to be descended from her children by John Bruce.
James V of Scotland
James V was King of Scots from 9 September 1513 until his death, which followed the Scottish defeat at the Battle of Solway Moss...
and the mother of his son Robert Stewart, 1st Earl of Orkney
Robert Stewart, 1st Earl of Orkney
Robert Stewart, Knt., 1st Earl of Orkney and Lord of Zetland was a recognized illegitimate son of James V, King of Scotland, and his mistress Eupheme Elphinstone....
, born in 1532, as well as another royal bastard who died in childhood. One of her sons with her husband John Bruce was Laurence Bruce
Laurence Bruce
Laurence Bruce of Cultmalindie was the son of John Bruce of Cultmalindie and Eupheme Elphinstone. Easter Cultmalindie is a small hamlet or "fermtoun" in Tibbermore parish, Perthshire, Scotland....
of Cultmalindie (1547–1617), the builder of Muness Castle
Muness Castle
Muness Castle lies in the south east corner of Unst, Shetland; Scotland's most northerly inhabited island, not far from the rocky headland of Mu Ness...
.
She was the second daughter of Alexander Elphinstone
Alexander Elphinstone, 1st Lord Elphinstone
Alexander Elphinstone, 1st Lord Elphinstone was a Scottish peer.Alexander Elphinstone, 1st Lord Elphinstone, was the son of Sir John Elphinstone of that ilk and of Pittendreich. He was raised to the Peerage of Scotland as Lord Elphinstone, of Elphinstone in the County of Stirling, in 1510. He...
(born c. 1480, died 9 September 1513, at the Battle of Flodden Field
Battle of Flodden Field
The Battle of Flodden or Flodden Field or occasionally Battle of Branxton was fought in the county of Northumberland in northern England on 9 September 1513, between an invading Scots army under King James IV and an English army commanded by the Earl of Surrey...
), created Lord Elphinstone
Lord Elphinstone
Lord Elphinstone, of Elphinstone in the County of Stirling, is a title in the Peerage of Scotland. It was created in 1510 for Alexander Elphinstone who was killed at the Battle of Flodden three years later. He was succeeded by his son, the second Lord, killed at the Battle of Pinkie Cleugh in 1547....
in 1510, and Elizabeth Barlow (Berclay) of Aberdeenshire (c. 1476 – 10 September 1518). The family hailed from Elphinstone in Stirling
Stirling
Stirling is a city and former ancient burgh in Scotland, and is at the heart of the wider Stirling council area. The city is clustered around a large fortress and medieval old-town beside the River Forth...
. Her brother Alexander, Lord Elphinstone, died at Edinburgh following the Battle of Pinkie Cleugh
Battle of Pinkie Cleugh
The Battle of Pinkie Cleugh, on the banks of the River Esk near Musselburgh, Scotland on 10 September 1547, was part of the War of the Rough Wooing. It was the last pitched battle between Scottish and English armies, and is seen as the first modern battle in the British Isles...
, and is the ancestor of the Elphinstone family. Euphemia married John Bruce of Cultmalindie (c. 1507 – March 1546/7), a descendant of Robert the Bruce, and had five children: Laurence Bruce
Laurence Bruce
Laurence Bruce of Cultmalindie was the son of John Bruce of Cultmalindie and Eupheme Elphinstone. Easter Cultmalindie is a small hamlet or "fermtoun" in Tibbermore parish, Perthshire, Scotland....
, Robert Bruce (born c. 1536), Henry Bruce (born c. 1538), James Bruce (born c. 1540) and Euphamie Bruce (born c. 1542). She died either in 1542, or after 1547: there is no firm evidence for any death date.
Euphemia appears to have been, in her own right, rather unimportant: the daughter of a minor noble, she married a minor member of the Bruce family, and many consider her to be only a passing fancy to James V (although if she conceived by him on two separate occasions then this would appear slightly misleading). However, her children and descendants were to be important in the history of the Shetland Islands
Shetland Islands
Shetland is a subarctic archipelago of Scotland that lies north and east of mainland Great Britain. The islands lie some to the northeast of Orkney and southeast of the Faroe Islands and form part of the division between the Atlantic Ocean to the west and the North Sea to the east. The total...
and Orkney Islands
Orkney Islands
Orkney also known as the Orkney Islands , is an archipelago in northern Scotland, situated north of the coast of Caithness...
. Her two most significant children, Laurence Bruce and Robert Stewart and their families were to become closely entwined in the Shetland Islands, of which Laurence Bruce was appointed Sheriff by his half-brother.
According to legend, many people in the Shetland Islands are descended from her; in particular, those named Bruce are supposed to be descended from her children by John Bruce.