High Steward of Scotland

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Coat of arms of the Great Steward of Scotland, later part of the coat of arms of the Dukes of Rothesay

High Steward of Scotland or Great Steward of Scotland is a hereditary court office in the Kingdom of Scotland .

The office essentially corresponds to that of the Seneschal , the English Lord High Steward , the Lord High Steward of Ireland , the Roman-German Truchsess or the Grand Maître de France . The originally important court office now has only ceremonial significance.

In 1150 was Walter fitz Alan out of the house FitzAlan dapifer ( English steward ) of the Scottish king David I. He retained the office under his successor Malcolm IV. , Who confirmed him to the post in 1157 as a hereditary court office. His grandson Walter chose the more respected name Senescallus for his office from around 1219 . Walter's son Alexander of Dundonald was no longer referred to only as the king's steward , but also as the steward of Scotland in the 13th century , which enhanced his position. Derived from this official title, the family name "Stewart" or "Stuart" prevailed for the family at that time . Robert Stewart, the 8th High Steward of Scotland, rose to King in 1371 as Robert II . Since then, the office of high steward has been exercised by the Scottish heir apparent , and according to the Act of Union of 1707 and 1800 by the British heir apparent. The official title has since been linked to the Duke of Rothesay and Prince of Scotland titles , so that the incumbent is sometimes referred to as Prince and Great Steward of Scotland .

List of High Stewards of Scotland

literature

  • Hugh MacLeod: Casus Principis; or, an essay towards a history of the Principality of Scotland. G. Nicol, London 1791.

Individual evidence

  1. ^ GWS Barrow: Stewart family (per. C. 1110 – c. 1350). In: Henry Colin Gray Matthew, Brian Harrison (Eds.): Oxford Dictionary of National Biography , from the earliest times to the year 2000 (ODNB). Oxford University Press, Oxford 2004, ISBN 0-19-861411-X , ( oxforddnb.com license required ), as of 2004