Clan Erskine
Clan Erskine | |||
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Arascain ( "air an sgian" - upon the knife) | |||
![]() Crest:On a chapeau Gules furred Ermine a hand holding up a skene in pale Argent, hilted and pommelled or. | |||
Motto | Je Pense Plus (I think more)[1] | ||
Profile | |||
Region | Lowlands | ||
Chief | |||
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James Thorne Erskine, | |||
The 14thEarl of Marand the 16thEarl of Kellie | |||
Historic seat | Alloa Tower | ||
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Clan Erskineis aScottish clanof theScottish Lowlands.[2]
History[edit]
Origins of Clan Erskine[edit]
The surnameErskinewas originally derived from the lands ofErskine,which is an area to the south of theRiver ClydeinRenfrew.[2]The name is believed to be ancient orOld Britishforgreen rising ground.[2]
As early as the reign ofAlexander II of Scotland,Henry de Erskine was proprietor of the barony.[2]In about 1226 Henry was a witness to a charter by theEarl of Lennoxof the patronage and tithes ofRosneathtoPaisley Abbey.[2]
Wars of Scottish Independence[edit]
John de Irskyn was amongst the Scottish nobles who submitted toEdward I of Englandand appears on theRagman Rollsof 1296.[2]His son, another Sir John de Irskyn had three daughters.[2]The eldest daughter marriedThomas Bruce,the brother of kingRobert the Bruce.[2]Sir John de Irskyn's second daughter married Walter, theHigh Steward of Scotland.[2]
14th century[edit]
The Erskines were staunch supporters of theClan Bruce.[2]Sir Robert de Erskine was an illustrious and renowned figure of his time.[2]David II of Scotlandappointed him keeper of the strategicStirling Castle.[2]In 1350 Sir Robert Erskine was appointed asChamberlain of Scotlandand justicar north of theForth.[2]Erskine was also one of the nobles who established the succession to the throne ofRobert II of Scotland,who was a grandson of the great Robert the Bruce and the first monarch of theStewartdynasty in 1371.[2]
15th and 16th centuries[edit]
In the mid 15th century whenAlexander Stewart,Earl of Mardied the Clan Erskine chief claimed the title, which was one of the greatCeltictitles.[2]Stewart had claimed the title through his wife, theCountess of Mar.Sir Robert Erskine, who had been createdLord Erskineclaimed the title through his descent from the Countess of Mar.[2]Erskine's claim was refused by the king who said that the title belonged to the crown because the last male holder had been a Stewart.[2]However the Erskines became guardians to the youngJames IV of Scotlanddespite this dispute with the king.[2]Five successive generations of Erskines were guardians of the royals.[2]
In 1497 Alexander Erskine, third Lord Erskine constructedAlloa Tower,a massive tower that would be the seat of the clan chiefs for the next three hundred years.[2]The third Lord Erskine's son was killed in 1513 at theBattle of Flodden.[2]John Erskine, fifth Lord Erskine was guardian and tutor ofJames V of Scotland.[2]
Mary, Queen of Scotshad spent the first five years of her life around Alloa and Stirling Castle. She later bestowed uponthe sixth Lord Erskinethe title ofEarl of Mar.[2]Erskine was descended from Elyne, daughter ofGratney, 7th Earl of Mar.[3]Although the Erskine chiefs are Earls of Mar and Kellie there is a separate Countess of Mar (chief ofClan Mar), who is a member of the Council of the Chiefs.[2]
Theseventh Lord Erskinetook part in theRaid of Ruthvenin 1582, in which the youngJames VI of Scotlandwas placed in the hands of an extremist faction of Protestant nobility for nearly a year.[2]As a result, Erskine was exiled but was later restored to royal favour and in 1616 was madeLord High Treasurer of Scotland.[2]
17th century & Civil War[edit]
In 1615 Chief John Erskine, 20th Earl of Mar was appointed governor ofEdinburgh Castle.[3]He supportedCharles I.[3]Lord Erskine fought for the royalists at theBattle of Kilsythin 1645.[3]The family estates were forfeited for their support of the royalists but were later restored byCharles IIin 1660.[3]
18th century and Jacobite risings[edit]
John Erskine, Earl of Marwas known asbobbing Johndue to his change of political allegiance in accordance with the needs of survival that was not unknown to the Scottish nobility.[2]He had been a supporter of theUnion,however when he attended court inLondonin 1714 he was not offered the post of Secretary of State for Scotland, which he considered to be an insult.[2]He returned to his ancestral lands and raised the standard of James VIII (The Old Pretender), and called out his own clansmen and all loyal supporters of theHouse of Stuart.[2]Erskine had soon gathered an army of over ten thousand clansmen.[2]The earl led his army of Jacobites at theBattle of Sheriffmuiragainst theDuke of Argyll,which was fought on 13 November 1715.[2]The battle was inconclusive although Argyll claimed victory.[2]The Jacobite rising was a failure and Erskine, Earl of Mar fled toFrance.[2]His title and lands were forfeited and in 1724 were purchased by another branch of the family.[2]The earl had received the Jacobite title of Mar but this was abandoned in 1824 when the Erskines were restored to the earldom of Mar.[2]The earldom of Kellie became united with the earldom of Mar in 1835.[2]Kellie had originally been bestowed in 1619 on a younger son of the chiefly line.[2]
Clan Chief[edit]
The current Chief of Clan Erskine isJames Erskine, 14th Earl of Marwho descends from theEarls of Mar, seventh Creation (1565) (as deemed by the House of Lords in 1875).He is chief of the name and arms of Erskine.[4]
TheClan Marnow has a separate chief,Margaret of Mar, 31st Countess of Mar,who descends from theEarls of Mar, first creation (1404) (as deemed by Act of Parliament in 1885).She is chief of the name and arms of Mar.[5]
Tartan[edit]
Tartan image | Notes |
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Areskyntartan,as published in 1842 inVestiarium Scoticum. |
Clan Castles[edit]
- Alloa Towerwas the main seat of the chief of Clan Erskine.
- TheHouse of Dunand the Dun Estate was home to the Clan Erskine family from 1375 until 1980, but archaeological evidence shows that people have lived here for at least 9,000 years. John Erskine of Dun was a key figure in theScottish Reformation.
- Corgarff Castlewas acquired byJohn Erskine, 19th Earl of Marin 1626.
- Kellie Castlewas purchased by SirThomas Erskinein 1613.
- Dryburgh Abbeywas given to theEarl of Marby KingJames VI of Scotlandin 1544.
- Dirleton Castle
- Braemar Castle
- Rosslyn Castle
- Dunimarle Castle,near Culross, Fife, was built by the Erskine family in the 18th century.
- Kildrummy Castlewas the seat of the original Earls of Mar. It was abandoned after the failed Jacobite Uprisings in 1716.
Representations in popular culture[edit]
- Elizabeth Peters' 1976 romantic suspense novel,Legend in Green Velvet,prominently featured a (fictional) member of Clan Erskine, as well as the castle and Clan history.
See also[edit]
References[edit]
- ^[1]scotclans. Retrieved 17 October 2018.
- ^abcdefghijklmnopqrstuvwxyzaaabacadaeafagahaiajakWay, George and Squire, Romily.Collins Scottish Clan & Family Encyclopedia.(Foreword by The Rt Hon. The Earl of Elgin KT, Convenor, TheStanding Council of Scottish Chiefs). Published in 1994. Pages 132 - 133.
- ^abcdeWay, George and Squire, Romily. Collins Scottish Clan & Family Encyclopedia. (Foreword by The Rt Hon. The Earl of Elgin KT, Convenor, The Standing Council of Scottish Chiefs). Published in 1994. Pages 266 - 267.
- ^Search for Chief of Clan ErskineArchived26 July 2011 at theWayback Machineclanchiefs.org. Retrieved 11 August 2013.
- ^Search for Chief of Clan MarArchived26 July 2011 at theWayback Machineclanchiefs.org. Retrieved 11 August 2013.
External links[edit]
- https://web.archive.org/web/20060813124422/http:// scotclans /clans/Erskine/history.html
- http:// electricscotland /webclans/dtog/erskine2.html
Family tree[edit]
Family tree of Clan Erskine.
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