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| Royal Barony of Cluny | |
|---|---|
| Creation date | August 31, 1625 |
| First holder | Alexander Gordon |
| Present holder | Cosmo Alexander Linzee Gordon |
| Seat(s) | Cluny Castle |
Baron of Cluny is a title of nobility in the baronage of Scotland associated with Cluny Castle in Aberdeenshire, Scotland. [1] [2] [3]
The title Baron of Cluny was first established with the Gordon Baronies in Aberdeenshire, on August 31, 1625 for Alexander Gordon, the son of Thomas Gordon and Grizel Stewart. Prior to the establishment of the barony, the lands of Cluny had been granted by King Robert the Bruce to his sister Mary's husband, Alexander Fraser, before 1325. The estate later passed through several hands, including Adam Gordon of Huntly and the Earls of Huntly, before being inherited by John Gordon, a younger son of the 3rd Earl of Huntly. His son, Sir Thomas Gordon, built Cluny Castle in 1604, replacing an earlier structure. [3] [4] [5] [6]
Alexander Gordon, the first Baron, represented Aberdeenshire in the Parliament of Scotland from 1612 to 1617. Upon his death, the title was acquired by his son John Gordon in 1648. [7] [8] Financial difficulties led to the transfer of ownership of the estate and title in 1636, but by 1680, it had passed to Robert Gordon of the Gordonstoun branch. [4] [5] [6]
Following the Jacobite rising of 1745, the Gordon family suffered financial hardships, leading to the transfer of the estate and title to another branch of the family in 1753. It was acquired by John Gordon (1695–1769), an Edinburgh merchant and factor to the 3rd Duke of Gordon. Upon his death, his son Cosmo Gordon (1736–1800) inherited the title in 1769. [4] [5] [6]
The historic caput baroniae of Cluny was not originally the castle but the Gray Stane of Cluny, sometimes referred to as the "justice stone". A charter dated 1408 mandates that the barony's vassals attend the three head courts of the year "at the Gray Stane of Cluny". [9] The medieval caput thus appears to have been an outdoor judicial assembly point where dues were rendered and justice administered.
Antiquaries of the Spalding Club later recorded that “the Gray Stane of Cluny was the spot where the vassals of the barony of Cluny paid their suit,” noting that this was unusual in Scotland, where most baronial courts were held within the great hall of a castle. [10] The Gray Stane therefore represents a rare survival of the older practice of open-air feudal justice in Scotland.
With the construction of Cluny Castle in 1604 by Sir Thomas Gordon, the caput baroniae transitioned to the new fortalice bringing baronial court proceedings indoors in line with the customary practice where judicial authority was exercised from a great hall in the castle. [11]
Cluny Castle, the ancestral seat of the Barons of Cluny, was originally constructed as a Z-plan castle in 1604 by Sir Thomas Gordon. Located in Aberdeenshire, Scotland, the castle underwent expansions in 1820 under Colonel John Gordon, with designs by the architect John Smith. A private chapel was later added in 1870. [3]
In 2010, Cosmo Alexander Linzee Gordon inherited Cluny Castle and became the youngest Baron of Cluny at the age of 18. He is also the first Baron of Cluny who opened Cluny Castle to the public in 2017 and has transformed it into a venue for public events, including weddings and corporate functions. [1] [12] [13] [14]
The status of Scottish feudal baronies changed significantly after the Abolition of Feudal Tenure, etc. (Scotland) Act 2000, which redefined baronies as incorporeal heritable titles, no longer tied to land ownership. Despite these changes, the title of Baron of Cluny remains a significant cultural and historical emblem for the Gordon family.[ clarification needed ][ citation needed ]