John Stewart, 1st Earl of Angus
Encyclopedia
Sir John Stewart, 1st Earl of Angus & suo jure uxoris Lord of Abernethy (died 1331) was a medieval Scottish
nobleman.
Stewart was the son of Sir Alexander Stewart of Bonkyll, grandson of Alexander Stewart, 4th High Steward of Scotland
and an unknown mother. Sir Alexander died c. 1319, and Stewart inherited his father's estates in Berwickshire
, centred upon the barony of Bonkyll
and Preston
.
In 1328 he married Margaret de Abernethy, heiress to the Lordship of Abernethy. Her father Sir Alexander de Abernethy
being the last of the Gaelic lords of Abernethy, descendants of Gille Míchéil, Earl of Fife
. Stewart assumed his wife's titles, and was further ennobled by Robert I of Scotland
in 1329, being created Earl of Angus
. The Earldom of Angus had been forfeited by the previous holder, Robert de Umfreville, before 1314, for choosing the losing side during the Wars of Scottish Independence
, although he continued to style himself Earl until his death in 1325.
It is through John Stewart's granddaughter, Margaret
's illicit relationship with William Douglas, 1st Earl of Douglas
, that the Earldom of Angus, Lordship of Abernethy, and the comitatus
associated with it passed on to the Douglases
in the person of George Douglas
(the first Red Douglas). This close connection of the Douglas Earls of Angus with the House of Stewart, was to have large implications for the latter's future struggles with the Black Douglases
.
Stewart was invested with Knighthood in November 1331, but died just two weeks later. He was succeeded by his son Thomas Stewart, 2nd Earl of Angus
.
Kingdom of Scotland
The Kingdom of Scotland was a Sovereign state in North-West Europe that existed from 843 until 1707. It occupied the northern third of the island of Great Britain and shared a land border to the south with the Kingdom of England...
nobleman.
Stewart was the son of Sir Alexander Stewart of Bonkyll, grandson of Alexander Stewart, 4th High Steward of Scotland
Alexander Stewart, 4th High Steward of Scotland
Alexander Stewart was 4th hereditary High Steward of Scotland from his father's death in 1246.A son of Walter Stewart, 3rd High Steward of Scotland by his wife Bethóc, daughter of Gille Críst, Earl of Angus, Alexander is said to have accompanied Louis IX of France on the Seventh Crusade...
and an unknown mother. Sir Alexander died c. 1319, and Stewart inherited his father's estates in Berwickshire
Berwickshire
Berwickshire or the County of Berwick is a registration county, a committee area of the Scottish Borders Council, and a lieutenancy area of Scotland, on the border with England. The town after which it is named—Berwick-upon-Tweed—was lost by Scotland to England in 1482...
, centred upon the barony of Bonkyll
Bonkyl Kirk
Bonkyl Church is a Church of Scotland kirk situated at five miles north-east of Duns in the old county of Berwickshire. The nearest hamlet is Preston just over two miles to the south-west.- History :...
and Preston
Preston, Scottish Borders
Preston is a small village in the pre-1975 ancient county of Berwickshire, now an administrative area of the Scottish Borders region of Scotland....
.
In 1328 he married Margaret de Abernethy, heiress to the Lordship of Abernethy. Her father Sir Alexander de Abernethy
Alexander de Abernethy
Alexander de Abernethy was a Scottish baron. He was a descendant of lay abbots of Abernethy; his grandfather Laurence, great-grandson of Gillemichael, Earl of Fife, was the first to style himself Lord...
being the last of the Gaelic lords of Abernethy, descendants of Gille Míchéil, Earl of Fife
Gille Míchéil, Earl of Fife
Mormaer Gille Míchéil, is the second man we know for certain to have been Mormaer of Fife from 1130 to 1133, although it is unlikely he actually was the second. He had at least one son, called Aed...
. Stewart assumed his wife's titles, and was further ennobled by Robert I of Scotland
Robert I of Scotland
Robert I , popularly known as Robert the Bruce , was King of Scots from March 25, 1306, until his death in 1329.His paternal ancestors were of Scoto-Norman heritage , and...
in 1329, being created Earl of Angus
Earl of Angus
The Mormaer or Earl of Angus was the ruler of the medieval Scottish province of Angus. The title, in the Peerage of Scotland, is currently held by the Duke of Hamilton.-Mormaers:...
. The Earldom of Angus had been forfeited by the previous holder, Robert de Umfreville, before 1314, for choosing the losing side during the Wars of Scottish Independence
Wars of Scottish Independence
The Wars of Scottish Independence were a series of military campaigns fought between the independent Kingdom of Scotland and the Kingdom of England in the late 13th and early 14th centuries....
, although he continued to style himself Earl until his death in 1325.
It is through John Stewart's granddaughter, Margaret
Margaret Stewart, 4th Countess of Angus
Margaret Stewart, Countess of Angus and Mar was Countess of Angus and Lady Abernethy in her own right. Her father was Thomas Stewart, 2nd Earl of Angus....
's illicit relationship with William Douglas, 1st Earl of Douglas
William Douglas, 1st Earl of Douglas
William Douglas, 1st Earl of Douglas was a Scottish magnate.-Early Life:William Douglas was the son of Sir Archibald Douglas and Beatrice Lindsay, and nephew of "Sir James the Good", Robert the Bruce's trusted deputy...
, that the Earldom of Angus, Lordship of Abernethy, and the comitatus
Comitatus
Comitatus may refer to:* Comes, a Latin word with similar meaning* Comitatenses, the Roman late Imperial mobile army...
associated with it passed on to the Douglases
Clan Douglas
Clan Douglas is an ancient Scottish kindred from the Scottish Lowlands taking its name from Douglas, South Lanarkshire, and thence spreading through the Scottish Borderland, Angus, Lothian and beyond. The clan does not currently have a chief, therefore it is considered an armigerous clan.The...
in the person of George Douglas
George Douglas, 1st Earl of Angus
George Douglas, 1st Earl of Angus was born at Tantallon Castle, East Lothian, Scotland. The bastard son of William, 1st Earl of Douglas and Margaret Stewart, Dowager Countess of Mar & Countess of Angus and Lady Abernethy in her own right....
(the first Red Douglas). This close connection of the Douglas Earls of Angus with the House of Stewart, was to have large implications for the latter's future struggles with the Black Douglases
Earl of Douglas
This page is concerned with the holders of the extinct title Earl of Douglas and the preceding feudal barons of Douglas, South Lanarkshire. The title was created in the Peerage of Scotland in 1358 for William Douglas, 1st Earl of Douglas, son of Sir Archibald Douglas, Guardian of Scotland...
.
Stewart was invested with Knighthood in November 1331, but died just two weeks later. He was succeeded by his son Thomas Stewart, 2nd Earl of Angus
Thomas Stewart, 2nd Earl of Angus
Thomas Stewart, 2nd Earl of Angus was a medieval Scottish nobleman.He was the son of John Stewart of Bonkyll and Margaret de Abernethy. Stewart was an infant when his father died and inherited his estates and titles in Berwickshire, Abernethy and Angus.In 1353 he married Margaret Sinclair, a...
.