Robert Sutherland, 6th Earl of Sutherland

Last updated

Robert Sutherland, 6th Earl of Sutherland
Arms of de Moravia of Sutherland (ancient).svg
Earl of Sutherland Coat of Arms
BornUnknown
Died1444
Dunrobin Castle, Sutherland, Scotland
AllegianceScotland
Relations William de Moravia, 5th Earl of Sutherland (father)
Margaret Stewart (wife)
John Sutherland, 7th Earl of Sutherland (son)

Robert Sutherland, [1] [2] (died 1444) was the 6th Earl of Sutherland and chief of the Clan Sutherland, a Scottish clan of the Scottish Highlands.

Contents

Early life

Robert Sutherland, 6th Earl of Sutherland was the son of William de Moravia, 5th Earl of Sutherland and Joanna, daughter of Sir John Menteith, [3] the surname Sutherland having been fully adopted from the Earldom. [1] According to 17th century historian Sir Robert Gordon, 1st Baronet, William, 5th Earl of Sutherland had been succeeded by his son, Earl John of Sutherland, who in turn was succeeded by his son Nicolas, Earl of Sutherland, who in turn was succeeded by Robert, Earl of Sutherland. [4] However, according to 19th century historian William Fraser, upon later investigation it was found that there was no John or Nicolas, Earls of Sutherland in between and that Robert was the son of William, 5th Earl of Sutherland. [3]

Earl of Sutherland

Dunrobin Castle as it appeared in about 1813, before later improvements. The first authentic record of the castle is dated 1401 during the time of Robert Sutherland, 6th Earl of Sutherland Dunrobin Castle c.1813.jpg
Dunrobin Castle as it appeared in about 1813, before later improvements. The first authentic record of the castle is dated 1401 during the time of Robert Sutherland, 6th Earl of Sutherland

In 1389, Robert is styled Earl of Sutherland when he was a witness to a ecclesiastical decree that was pronounced against Alexander Stewart, Earl of Buchan, who was otherwise known as the Wolf of Badenoch, in regard to his wife Euphemia I, Countess of Ross. [3]

According to Jean Froissart's Chronicles , the Earl of Sutherland attended the meeting of Scottish nobles and their followers at Southdean in the Forest of Jedburgh and which resulted in the Battle of Otterburn in 1388. The Scots intended to take advantage of disputes between the English king and his nobles by making a raid into England on a large scale, partly in retaliation for the English invasion of Richard II of England that had taken place three years before. The Scots divided their force into two unequal parts: the smaller was under James Douglas, 2nd Earl of Douglas which marched to Newcastle upon Tyne and ravaged Durham almost all the way to Yorkshire. On their return the Battle of Otterburn was fought where Douglas was slain, but the Scots defeated the English. Meanwhile, the larger force of Scots under Robert Stewart, Earl of Fife and Archibald Douglas, Lord of Galloway, had entered England by the Western Marches and marched towards Carlisle. It was this larger force that the Earl of Sutherland was part of, but their actions have not been recorded. [3]

On 2 November 1389, the Earl of Sutherland was a witness to a decree made against the Earl of Buchan for him to live with and not mistreat his wife who he had left for a woman named Mariota filia Athyn. The decree was pronounced at the Church of the Friars preachers of Inverness. The next record of Robert, Earl of Sutherland is in 1401 when he granted to his brother Kenneth of Sutherland, and his male heirs, the lands of Drummoy, Torrish and Backies, giving pasture in the Glen to all the inhabitants of Backies. The earl reserved for himself and his heirs the mill of Dunrobin with the running water and fish, except for the fish called "Pellokis" which alone the grantee should be allowed to carry home, with no question from the earl or his heirs. This charter was dated at Dunrobin Castle and is the first authentic record of that castle. [3] Sir Robert Gordon stated that Dunrobin Castle was founded by an earlier Robert, Earl of Sutherland in about 1100 and that it was named after him: "Doun-Robin signefeth the mote or hill of Robert". [4] However, William Fraser stated that this was an "imaginary" Robert, Earl of Sutherland who Gordon had written about. [3]

Henry Sutherland of Torboll, younger son of Nicholas Sutherland, 1st of Duffus, received from Robert, 6th Earl of Sutherland, the £40 lands of Torboll which Nicholas Sutherland had previously resigned to the earl. [5]

Robert, 6th Earl of Sutherland held the earldom for seventy years. [3] According to Gordon, during Robert's chiefship, his clan led by Angus Moray of Aberscross fought against the Clan Mackay at the Battle of Drumnacoub. [4] This battle is also mentioned by the historians George Buchanan (1506-1582) [6] [7] and the 18th century John Pinkerton who quoted the 15th century chronicler, Walter Bower. [8] [7] According to Gordon, Angus Du Mackay, 7th of Strathnaver was at enmity with his cousins Neil Neilson Mackay and Morgan Neilson Mackay. Angus Murray of Aberscross who was a supporter of the Earl of Sutherland, offered his two daughters in marriage to Neil Neilson Mackay and Morgan Neilson Mackay if they were to take the Mackay lands of Strathnaver from Angus Du Mackay. The Earl of Sutherland gave Neil and Morgan the support of all his forces. In the battle, Neil and Morgan were both killed as was their father-in-law Angus Murray. Angus Du Mackay of Strathnaver was also killed but his lands were retained by his sons Neil and John. [4]

Family

Robert, 6th Earl of Sutherland is said to have died in 1442, and Fraser states that he was certainly dead in 1444 when his son John is designated Earl of Sutherland. Robert married Margaret Stewart, daughter of Alexander Stewart, Earl of Buchan (the Wolf of Badenoch) and had three sons: [3]

  1. John Sutherland, 7th Earl of Sutherland, heir and successor.
  2. Alexander Sutherland of Dunbeath, according to a 1982 study by the Association for Promotion of Scholarship in Genealogy, the 18th-century discovery by Lord Hailes of the 15th century testament of Alexander Sutherland of Dunbeath, shows that he was the second son of Robert Sutherland, 6th Earl of Sutherland. Alexander Sutherland of Dunbeath left two legitimate daughters: Marjory, who married as the second wife to William Sinclair, 1st Earl of Caithness and Mariota (or Marion) who married William Calder, son of William Calder the Thane of Calder or Thane of Cawdor. Alexander Sutherland of Dunbeath also left five illegitimate sons and three illegitimate daughters: Alexander Sutherland who was the Archdeacon of Caithness, Robert Sutherland, Nicholas Sutherland, Edward Sutherland, John Sutherland, Eleanor Sutherland, Catherine Sutherland and Jonet Sutherland. [9]
  3. Robert Sutherland, who according to Gordon led the forces that defeated the forces of John of Islay, Earl of Ross at the Battle of Skibo and Strathfleet in 1455, having been sent to do so by his elder brother, John, 7th Earl of Sutherland. [10] According to Gordon, this Robert Sutherland also led a company of Sutherland men on the side of the Clan Mackay at the Battle of Aldy Charrish in the 1480s against the Clan Ross. [4] However, 19th-20th century historian Angus Mackay disputes Sutherland's presence at the battle stating that it would be unlikely that the Earl of Sutherland at the time would have assisted against the Rosses as he was married to a daughter of the Ross chief of Balnagowan, and also that the feudal superiority of the Sutherlands over the Mackays "nowhere existed save in his own fertile imagination". [11] Fraser also adds that if Robert Sutherland was present at this battle then he must have been a very old man. [3] James Fraser of Wardlaw wrote the Wardlaw Manuscript in about 1674 and it states that Robert Sutherland was actually killed at the Battle of Aldy Charrish. [12]
  4. Alexander Sutherland, listed by Fraser as of whom nothing more is known other than he may have been the ancestor of Alexander Sutherland of Dilred (or Dirlot) who was killed in 1499. [3]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Earl of Sutherland</span> Scottish peerage title

Earl of Sutherland is a title in the Peerage of Scotland. It was created circa 1230 for William de Moravia and is the premier earldom in the Peerage of Scotland. The earl or countess of Sutherland is also the chief of Clan Sutherland.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Clan Mackay</span> Highland Scottish clan

Clan Mackay is an ancient and once-powerful Highland Scottish clan from the far North of the Scottish Highlands, but with roots in the old Kingdom of Moray.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Clan Sutherland</span> Highland Scottish clan

Clan Sutherland also known as House of Sutherland is a Highland Scottish clan whose traditional territory is the shire of Sutherland in the far north of Scotland. The chief of the clan was also the powerful Earl of Sutherland, however in the early 16th century this title passed through marriage to a younger son of the chief of Clan Gordon. The current chief is Alistair Sutherland who holds the title Earl of Sutherland.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Battle of Tarbat</span> Scottish clan battle fought in the 1480s on the Tarbat peninsula, in Easter Ross

The Battle of Tarbat was a Scottish clan battle fought in the 1480s on the Tarbat peninsula, in Easter Ross. The Clan Ross cornered a raiding party of Clan Mackay near the village of Portmahomack and put many of them to the sword. The survivors sought sanctuary in the nearby church but the Rosses set fire to it, killing all inside. The Mackays took revenge for this outrage in the subsequent Battle of Aldy Charrish.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Battle of Aldy Charrish</span> Scottish clan battle that took place on 11 July 1487

The Battle of Aldy Charrish was a Scottish clan battle that took place on 11 July 1487. The Clan Mackay and possibly the Clan Sutherland defeated the Clan Ross and their allies in the Scottish Highlands, probably on the south side of Strathoykel.

The Battle of Torran Dubh also known as the Battle of Torran-dow or the Battle of Torran Du was a Scottish clan battle that was fought in 1517 in Sutherland, in the Scottish Highlands.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">William de Moravia, 5th Earl of Sutherland</span> Scottish noble

William de Moravia was the 5th Earl of Sutherland and chief of the Clan Sutherland, a Scottish clan of the Scottish Highlands. William, 5th Earl of Sutherland was a loyal supporter of David II of Scotland in the wars against England.

Angus Du Mackay, 7th of Strathnaver was the seventh chief of the Clan Mackay, a Highland Scottish clan. He is recorded in the 15th-century Scottish chronicle, Scotichronicon, as Enneas-en-Imprissi meaning Angus the Absolute due to his power of commanding 4000 men.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Battle of Alltachuilain</span>

The Battle of Alltachuilain (or Ald-Quhillin was a Scottish clan battle that took place in 1518 or 1519 in the parish of Loth, county of Sutherland, Scotland. It was fought between factions of the Clan Sutherland in a dispute over the Earldom of Sutherland.

Alexander Gordon, Master of Sutherland (c.1505-1530), Scottish magnate, made Earl of Sutherland in 1527.

The Murrays of Aberscross were a minor noble Scottish family who were seated at Aberscross Castle, in the county of Sutherland, Scotland. The Murrays in Sutherland are recorded specifically as a clan in two acts of the Scottish Parliament of the 16th century.

Iye Du Mackay, 12th of Strathnaver, was the chief of the Clan Mackay, a Highland Scottish clan, from 1550 to 1572.

The Sutherlands of Kilphedder (Killipheder) were a minor noble Scottish family and a branch of the ancient Clan Sutherland, a Highland Scottish clan. They were seated at Killipheder, in the county of Sutherland, Scotland.

Donald Mackay, 5th of Strathnaver, was the fifth chief of the ancient Clan Mackay, a Scottish clan of the Scottish Highlands.

Iye Roy Mackay, 10th of Strathnaver, was the tenth chief of the ancient Clan Mackay, a Scottish clan of the Scottish Highlands.

John Mackay, 11th of Strathnaver, was the eleventh chief of the ancient Clan Mackay, a Scottish clan of the Scottish Highlands.

Donald Mackay, 11th of Strathnaver, was the eleventh chief of the ancient Clan Mackay, a Scottish clan of the Scottish Highlands.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">George Sinclair, 5th Earl of Caithness</span>

George Sinclair was a Scottish nobleman, the 5th Earl of Caithness and chief of the Clan Sinclair, a Scottish clan based in northern Scotland.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Elizabeth Sutherland, 10th Countess of Sutherland</span>

Elizabeth Sutherland, was the 10th Countess of Sutherland having succeeded to the Earldom of Sutherland after her brother John Sutherland, 9th Earl of Sutherland died in 1514.

Alexander Gordon, 12th Earl of Sutherland was a Scottish landowner.

References

  1. 1 2 Greenway, D.E; Pryde, E.B; Roy, S. Porter, eds. (1996). Handbook of British Chronology. Cambridge University Press. p. 521. ISBN   9780521563505 . Retrieved 16 January 2021.
  2. Wier, Alison (1999). Britain's Royal Families: The Complete Genealogy. London. p. 221.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Fraser, Sir William (1892). The Sutherland Book. Vol. 1. Edinburgh: s.n. pp.  48-56. Retrieved 23 January 2021.
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 Gordon, Robert (1813) [Printed from original manuscript 1580 – 1656]. A Genealogical History of the Earldom of Sutherland. Edinburgh: Printed by George Ramsay and Co. for Archibald Constable and Company Edinburgh; and White, Cochrance and Co. London. pp.  59-70. Retrieved 17 January 2021.
  5. Paul, James Balfour (1906). The Scots Peerage; Founded on Wood's Edition of Sir Robert Douglas's Peerage of Scotland; Containing an Historical and Genealogical Account of the Nobility of that Kingdom. Vol. III. Edinburgh: David Douglas. pp.  191-192. Retrieved 28 August 2021.
  6. Buchanan, George (1827) [Printed from original latin manuscript of 1579]. History of Scotland. Vol. 2. Glasgow and Edinburgh: Archibald Fullarton and Blackie and Son. p.  94 . Retrieved 28 January 2021. Republished in 1827 in English by James Aikman
  7. 1 2 Mackay, Robert (1829). History of The House and Clan of The Name Mackay. Edinburgh: Printed for the author by Andrew Jack & Co. p.  66 . Retrieved 28 January 2021.
  8. Pinkerton, John (1797). The History of Scotland. Vol. 1. The Poultry, London: Charles Dilly. p.  125 . Retrieved 28 January 2021. Quoting: Bower, Walter (1385-1449). Scotichronicon , p. 491.
  9. MacEwen, Andrew B. W (1982). "The Family Connections of Alexander Sutherland of Dunbeath" (PDF). The Genealogist . New York: Association for Promotion of Scholarship in Genealogy: 139, and 144–145. Retrieved 4 September 2021.
  10. Gordon, Robert (1813). p. 74.
  11. Mackay, Angus (1906). The Book of Mackay. Edinburgh: N. Macleod. pp.  70-71. Retrieved 28 January 2021.
  12. Fraser, James (1905) [Edited from original manuscript (c.1674) with notes and introduction, by William Mackay]. Chronicles of the Frasers: the Wardlaw manuscript entitled 'Polichronicon seu policratica temporum, or, The true genealogy of the Frasers', 916–1674. Inverness: Printed at the University Press by T. and A. Constable for the Scottish History Society. pp.  114–115. Retrieved 16 September 2022.
Peerage of Scotland
Preceded by Earl of Sutherland
c. 1370 – 1444
Succeeded by