Guardian of Scotland

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The winner of the title Guardian of Scotland (to German : Guardian of Scotland ) practiced in the kingdom of Scotland between the 13th and 16th centuries, the reign of. This non-permanent and not hereditary title was first used during the reign of the underage Alexander III. was created and was to appear again and again in the following centuries. In most cases the minority of the king or queen was the reason for the renewed edition of the title, in some cases this was also due to their absence or serious illness. While a whole group of men often reigned, especially at the beginning, in later times only one person was the Guardian of Scotland. Of the more than fifty holders of the title, four were women, all of them the mother of the owner of the throne.

Even if a Guardian of Scotland should actually rule in the spirit of the ruler, this could not prevent holders of the title from repeatedly using their power to assert their own interests in inner-Scottish power struggles. In the history of the title, however, only two Guardians, Robert the Bruce and Robert the Stewart , later actually succeeded in usurping the royal dignity. One of the most influential Guardians was probably Robert Stewart, 1st Duke of Albany , who held the office under three kings ( Robert II , Robert III , James I ) four times and held it for a total of 22 years. The shortest term of office was Domhnall II, Earl of Mar , who died just nine days after his appointment at the Battle of Dupplin Moor .

Despite all the instrumentalisation in inner-Scottish disputes, the title of the Guardian of Scotland as an institutionalized replacement reign made an important contribution to the preservation of the Scottish crown in the frequent phases of royal incapacity in Scotland. After the reign of James VI. , the first Scottish king who also ruled England in personal union, the title was no longer awarded.

List of Guardians of Scotland

Under Alexander III. (1249-1261)

Alexander III was crowned King of Scotland at the age of seven. During the time of his minority several men exercised the rule in two rival groups.

Under Margarete (1286-1290) and during the First Interregnum (1290-1292)

After the sudden death of Alexander III. In 1286, his three-year-old granddaughter Margaret of Norway was his only living descendant. When she was a minor, a six-member college, elected by the Scottish magnates and bishops, exercised the regency. After the death of Alexander Comyn, 6th Earl of Buchan and the assassination of the Earl of Fife in 1289, the four remaining Guardians remained in office. When Margaret died in 1290 while crossing from Norway to Scotland, the succession to the throne was unclear. In order to avoid a civil war, the Scottish bishops and magnates commissioned the English King Edward I to decide on the claims of the aspirants to the throne . On June 11, 1291, the four Guardians handed over the reign to Edward I, who reappointed them and added the English Baron Brian Fitzalan, 1st Baron Fitzalan . After John Balliol was appointed and installed as the new King of the Scots in November 1292, the five Guardians resigned from office.

During the Second Interregnum (1296–1306)

William Wallace and Andrew de Moray were appointed Guardians in 1297 during the First Scottish War of Independence. Moray died that same year. After his defeat at the Battle of Falkirk in 1298, Wallace resigned from office. As a result, at an unknown time between July and December 1298, Robert Bruce and John Comyn of Badenoch were elected as the new Guardians. When tensions arose between these 1299, on August 12, 1299, during a council meeting in Peebles, Bishop William de Lamberton was elected as the third mediating Guardian. After further disputes, Bruce resigned between November 1299 and May 1300. Ingram de Umfraville was appointed as his successor during a parliament on May 10, 1300 in Rutherglen. After renewed disputes, all three presumably resigned from their office in early 1301 or in May 1301 at the latest. John de Soules was appointed the new sole Guardian. When he traveled to France as envoy in the autumn of 1302, John Comyn of Badenoch was probably appointed as his successor. He negotiated the Scottish surrender in February 1304, after which almost all Scottish rebels submitted to the English king.

The English king did not claim the Scottish crown directly, but apparently tried to incorporate Scotland into England. To this end, he appointed lieutenants known as warden or lieutenant , who are occasionally also referred to as guardians:

Due to the reconquest of Scotland under King Robert I , the office finally became obsolete, even if King Edward II appointed other governors.

Under Robert the Bruce (1316-1317)

During his absence due to the Ireland campaign, Robert the Bruce named two Warden who in fact served as the Guardian of Scotland:

Under David II (1329-1341, 1347-1357)

During the years of minority and until David II returned from exile in France (1329–41), and later during the king's captivity in England (1347–57), a number of Guardians ruled. During the period of immaturity this was done with approval, later against the will of the king.

Under Robert II (1388-1390)

In old age Robert II became senile and could no longer exercise the business of government.

Under Robert III. (1390-1406)

Robert III was probably seriously injured by a horse kick in 1387 and was subsequently partially paralyzed. Because of his infirmity, regents were appointed during his reign.

  • Robert Stewart, Duke of Albany (1390-1399; 1402-1406)
  • David Stewart , Duke of Rothesay (1399-1402), was ousted by Robert Stewart and starved to death in captivity

Under James I (1406-1424)

James I fell into English captivity before his succession, from which he did not return until 1424. During this time two Guardians ruled in succession against the will of the King.

  • Robert Stewart, Duke of Albany (1406–1420), died of natural causes
  • Murdoch Stewart , Duke of Albany (1420-1424), was executed in 1425 on the orders of James I.

Under James II (1437-1452)

James II was crowned king at the age of seven. A number of Guardians ruled Scotland until two years after they came of age, although from 1439 this happened without his consent and it has not been completely clarified who actually held the title at what time.

  • Joan Beaufort , Queen of Scotland (1437–1439), mother of James II, was briefly imprisoned in 1439 and ousted
  • Archibald Douglas , Earl of Douglas (1437–1439), died in 1439 of an illness
  • James Douglas , Earl of Douglas (1439–1443), probably died of natural causes in 1443; Title ownership unclear
  • Alexander Livingston of Callendar (1439-1449), hosted James II in his house and was ousted by William Douglas; Title ownership unclear
  • William Chrichton , Lord Crichton (1439–1445?, Possibly 1449–1452), was initially ousted around 1445 and regained influence from 1449; Title ownership unclear
  • William Douglas , Earl of Douglas (1443-1452), was murdered by James II, title ownership unclear

Under James III. (1460–1469)

James III was still a minor at his coronation, so that first his mother with a co-regent and later a number of Guardians ruled until he came of age. Only the last two Guardians from the House of Boyd seem against James III. Will to have ruled and were disempowered by him after reaching the age of majority.

  • Mary of Geldern (Queen) , Queen of Scotland (1460–1463), mother of James III, died in 1463
  • James Kennedy , Bishop of St Andrews (1460-1465)
  • Robert Fleming , Lord Fleming (1465–1466?), Ousted by a parliamentary resolution at the instigation of Robert Boyd
  • Gilbert Kennedy , Lord Kennedy (1465–1466?), Ousted by a parliamentary resolution at the instigation of Robert Boyd
  • Robert Boyd , Lord Boyd (1466-1469), by James III. disempowered
  • Alexander Boyd (1466-1469), by James III. disempowered

Under James IV (1488-1493)

After the violent disempowerment of James III. his son became James IV's new king when he was only 15 years old . During the time of his minority two Guardians exercised the rule.

Under James V. (1515-1528)

James V. was only 17 months old at his coronation and was used as a bargaining chip for the reign between the three Guardians in changing coalitions.

  • Margaret Tudor , Queen of Scotland (1513-1515, 1524-1528), mother of James V, had to give up the reign after marrying Archibald Douglas, was later reinstated and freed James V from captivity
  • John Stewart , Duke of Albany (1515-1524)
  • Archibald Douglas, Earl of Angus (1525-1528), forced the co-regency and held James V until 1528 prisoner

Under Mary Stuart (1542-1560)

Mary Stuart was crowned Queen of Scotland at the age of five but grew up in France from an early age. During her minority and until her return to Scotland in 1560, two Guardians ruled in succession:

Under James VI. (1567–1582)

James VI. was crowned King of Scotland at the age of one. During the period of his minority, a total of five Guardians exercised the rule:

Esmé Stewart was the last Guardian of Scotland. From 1603 Scotland and England were ruled in personal union and finally went into the Kingdom of Great Britain through the Act of Union 1707 in 1707 .

See also

literature

  • GWS Barrow , Robert Bruce and the community of the realm of Scotland. Edinburgh University Press: Edinburgh 2004. ISBN 9780748620227 . Online edition
  • Howard de Walden (Ed.), Thomas Evelyn Scott-Ellis Baron (Ed.), Some feudal lords and their seals, MCCCJ. De Walden Library: London 1904. Online edition (PDF; 17.0 MB)

Web links

Individual evidence

  1. ^ Geoffrey WS Barrow: Robert Bruce and the Community of the Realm of Scotland . Eyre & Spottiswoode, London 1965, p. 38.
  2. ^ Geoffrey WS Barrow: Robert Bruce and the Community of the Realm of Scotland . Eyre & Spottiswoode, London 1965, p. 49.
  3. ^ Geoffrey WS Barrow: Robert Bruce and the Community of the Realm of Scotland . Eyre & Spottiswoode, London 1965, pp. 128-129.
  4. ^ Geoffrey WS Barrow: Robert Bruce and the Community of the Realm of Scotland . Eyre & Spottiswoode, London 1965, p. 147.
  5. ^ Geoffrey WS Barrow: Robert Bruce and the Community of the Realm of Scotland . Eyre & Spottiswoode, London 1965, pp. 151-153.
  6. ^ Geoffrey WS Barrow: Robert Bruce and the Community of the Realm of Scotland . Eyre & Spottiswoode, London 1965, p. 156.
  7. ^ Geoffrey WS Barrow: Robert Bruce and the Community of the Realm of Scotland . Eyre & Spottiswoode, London 1965, p. 161.
  8. ↑ cf. Barrow, p. 189.
  9. ↑ The reign ended after David II returned to Scotland.
  10. ↑ The reign began with the capture of David II by the English and was finally annulled by the Scottish Parliament at his instigation from captivity.