Guardian of Scotland

TheGuardians of Scotlandwereregentswho governed theKingdom of Scotlandfrom 1286 until 1292 and from 1296 until 1306. During the many years of minority in Scotland's subsequent history, there were many guardians of Scotland and the post was a significant constitutional feature in the course of development forpolitics in the country.

Great Seal appointed for the Government of the Realm after death of King Alexander III.

Guardians of Scotland during the First Interregnum 1286–1292

The First Interregnum began upon the death ofAlexander III of Scotlandin 1286. Alexander's only surviving descendant wasMargaret, Maid of Norway,who was a young child and living in Norway where her fatherEric IIwas king. She was finally sent to Scotland in 1290, but she died before arriving in Scotland. The next king of Scots was not determined until completion ofan arbitrationin 1292.

The following persons served as guardians during the First Interregnum:

• William Fraser,Bishop of St Andrews;
• Robert Wishart,Bishop of Glasgow;
• John Comyn II of Badenoch;
• James Stewart, 5th High Steward of Scotland;
• Alexander Comyn, Earl of Buchan;(until his death in 1289)
• Donnchadh III, Earl of Fife(until his death in 1288)

In a letter (written inOld French) from theScots Parliamentof 1290, sitting atBirgham,confirming theTreaty of Salisbury,the guardians of Scotland are listed as:

"... Guillaume de Seint Andreu et Robert de Glasgu evesques, Johan Comyn et James Seneschal de Escoce, gardeins du reaume de Escoce..."

English translation: "William [Fraser] of St Andrews and Robert [Wishart] of Glasgow bishops, John Comyn and James the Steward of Scotland, guardians of the kingdom of Scotland".

• Bryan FitzAlan, Lord FitzAlan(13 June 1291 –????)

Guardians of Scotland during the Second Interregnum 1296–1306

Main article:First War of Scottish Independence

Guardians of the Kingdom of Scotland
Guardian (Time in office)
SirWilliam Wallace (1297–1298)
SirRobert the Bruce (1298–1300)	John Comyn III (1298–1301)	—
		William de Lamberton (1299–1301)
SirIngram de Umfraville (1300–1301)
SirJohn de Soules (1301–1304)

Guardians during the minority and reign of David II

The Guardians during the minority and reign ofDavid IIwere:

• Sir Thomas Randolph, 1st Earl of Moray(1329–1332), appointed by the Act of Settlement of 1318;
• Donald, Earl of Mar(1332, for ten days);
• Sir Andrew Moray of Bothwell(1332 until captured by the English at Roxburgh Bridge in October);
• Sir Archibald Douglas(1332 until killed at the Battle of Halidon Hill in July 1333);
• Sir Andrew Moray of Bothwellfor the second time (1335–1338, when he died following a brief illness);
• Robert the Steward,nephew (older in years) to David and future king of Scotland. Robert was guardian on four occasions, sometimes jointly, and latterly twice during the eleven years of the king's enforced absence as a prisoner inEnglandafter theBattle of Neville's Cross(1346–1357). He used these years to build a large power base in the country, especially north of theForth.

Guardians during the reign of Robert II

Guardians during the infirmity ofKing Robert II

• John Stewart, Earl of Carrick(November 1384 – December 1388);
• Robert Stewart, Earl of Fife(December 1388 – 1390).

See also

• Competitors for the crown of Scotland
• List of regents in Scotland
• History of Scotland
• Politics of Scotland

Sources

• Mack, James Logan (1926); The Border Line, Pub. Oliver & Boyd, pp. 317–322.
• McNaught, Duncan (1912); Kilmaurs Parish and Burgh, Pub. A.Gardner, p. 9.

External links

• Cast of the seal of the Guardians of Scotland (NAS reference RH17/1/17)Archived2010-02-13 at theWayback MachineandSaint Andrew seals Scotland's independence;at theNational Archives of Scotland
• Seal impression (cast), of Guardians of Scotland;at theNational Museums of Scotland