Euphemia de Ross (1329–1386), a member of

Clan Ross Clan Ross ( gd, Clann Anndrais ) is a Highland Scottish clan. The original chiefs of the clan were the original Earls of Ross. History Origins The first recorded chief of the Clan Ross was "Fearcher Mac an t-Sagirt" which in English meant ...

, was Queen of Scots as the second wife of

Robert II of Scotland Robert II (2 March 1316 – 19 April 1390) was King of Scots from 1371 to his death in 1390. The son of Walter Stewart, 6th High Steward of Scotland, and Marjorie, daughter of King Robert the Bruce, he was the first monarch of the House of St ...

Life

Euphemia was a daughter of Hugh, Earl of Ross, and Margaret de Graham, Hugh's second wife and daughter of Sir John de Graham of Abercorn. She first married

John Randolph, 3rd Earl of Moray John Randolph, 3rd Earl of Moray (died 17 October 1346) was an important figure in the reign of David II of Scotland, and was for a time joint Regent of Scotland. Family He was son of the famous Thomas Randolph, 1st Earl of Moray, a companion-i ...

, but the marriage was childless. Her husband died in 1346, and she remained a widow for nine years. On 2 May 1355, Euphemia married Robert Stewart, sole son of

Walter Stewart, 6th High Steward of Scotland Walter Stewart (G. W. S. Barrow, ‘Stewart family (per. c.1110–c.1350)’, ''Oxford Dictionary of National Biography'', Oxford University Press, 2004.9 April 1327) was the 6th Hereditary High Steward of Scotland and was the father of King Rob ...

and

Marjorie Bruce Marjorie Bruce or Marjorie de Brus (c. 12961316 or 1317) was the eldest daughter of Robert the Bruce, King of Scots, and the only child born of his first marriage with Isabella of Mar. Marjorie's marriage to Walter, High Steward of Scotland, ga ...

. Marjorie was a daughter of Robert I of Scotland (Robert The Bruce), and his first wife, Isabella of Mar. Over a decade earlier, her second husband, Robert, had been joint Regent of Scotland with her first husband. It appears that there was an obstacle of affinity to this second marriage, and a papal dispensation by Pope Innocent VI was required for it to be recognized by the

Catholic Church The Catholic Church, also known as the Roman Catholic Church, is the largest Christian church, with 1.3 billion baptized Catholics worldwide . It is among the world's oldest and largest international institutions, and has played a ...

. The affinity was due to her first husband, John Randolph, Earl of Moray, having been a second cousin of Robert Stewart. There also was a blood relationship, as the dispensation referenced their being related in the fourth degree of consanguinity, but this relationship has as yet not been identified. The children of Robert's first marriage to

Elizabeth Mure Elizabeth Mure (est. born 2 March 1320 - died before May 1355), a member of Clan Muir, was the first wife of Robert, High Steward of Scotland, and Guardian of Scotland (1338–1341 and from October 1346), who later became King Robert II of Scotl ...

were considered illegitimate by some due to reasons of

consanguinity Consanguinity ("blood relation", from Latin '' consanguinitas'') is the characteristic of having a kinship with another person (being descended from a common ancestor). Many jurisdictions have laws prohibiting people who are related by blood fr ...

. Both sets of children from each marriage considered themselves rightful heirs to the throne, which constituted considerable future conflict. Euphemia and Robert were parents to four children, and grandparents to many grandchildren: *

David Stewart, 1st Earl of Caithness David (; , "beloved one") (traditional spelling), , ''Dāwūd''; grc-koi, Δαυΐδ, Dauíd; la, Davidus, David; gez , ዳዊት, ''Dawit''; xcl, Դաւիթ, ''Dawitʿ''; cu, Давíдъ, ''Davidŭ''; possibly meaning "beloved one". w ...

(b. 1357 - d. bef. 1389), married Euphemia Lindsay, daughter of Sir Alexander Lindsay of Glenesk, of

Clan Lindsay Clan Lindsay is a Scottish clan of the Scottish Lowlands. History Origins of the clan The Lindsays were prominent in both England and Scotland from the late 11th century. The name most likely derives from the region of Lindsey in England (the ...

Euphemia Stewart, Countess of Strathearn Euphemia Stewart, Countess of Strathearn (died c. 1434) was a medieval Scottish noblewoman, the daughter of David Stewart, Earl Palatine of Strathearn and Caithness. She succeeded to both her father's titles after his death between 1385 and 1389 ...

(died c. 1434), married Patrick Graham,

Earl of Strathearn Earl or Mormaer of Strathearn is a title of Scottish nobility, referring to the region of Strathearn in southern Perthshire. Of unknown origin, the mormaers are attested for the first time in a document perhaps dating to 1115. The first known mo ...

(d. 10 August 1413), of

Clan Graham Clan Graham (''Greumaich nan Cearc'' ) is a Scottish clan who had territories in both the Scottish Highlands and Lowlands, with one main branch Montrose, and various cadet branches. The chief of the clan rose to become the Marquess and later ...

, and had issue. * Walter Stewart, 1st Earl of Atholl (b. 1360 – d. 1437), married Margaret Barclay, Lady of Brechin, of

Clan Barclay Clan Barclay () is a Scottish clan of the Scottish Lowlands. History Origins of the clan Since the eighteenth century, Barclay historians, noted for their low level in medieval scholarship, have assumed the Scottish family Barclay (de Berch ...

:*Alan Stewart, 4th Earl of Caithness (d. 1431) :*David Stewart, Master of Atholl (d. bef. 1437) * Elizabeth Stewart, married

David Lindsay, 1st Earl of Crawford David Lindsay, 1st Earl of Crawford (c. 13601407) was a Scottish peer who was created Earl of Crawford in 1398. Life Crawford was the son of Sir Alexander Lindsay of Glenesk and Katherine Stirling. Succeeding his father in 1381, he was known u ...

(c. 1360 – 1407), of

:*Gerard Lindsay (d. before 1421) :*Ingram Lindsay, Bishop of Aberdeen (d. 1458) :*Marjorie Lindsay, married Sir William Douglas of

Clan Douglas Clan Douglas is an ancient clan or noble house from the Scottish Lowlands. Taking their name from Douglas in Lanarkshire, their leaders gained vast territories throughout the Borders, Angus, Lothian, Moray, and also in France and Sweden. ...

:*Alexander Lindsay, 2nd Earl of Crawford (c. 1387–1438) :*David Lindsay, Lord of Newdosk (1407–?); he later became a priest :*Elizabeth Lindsay; she married Sir Robert Keith of

Clan Keith Clan Keith is a Highland and Lowland Scottish clan, whose Chief historically held the hereditary title of Marischal, then Great Marischal, then Earl Marischal of Scotland.Way, George and Squire, Romily. (1994). ''Collins Scottish Clan & Family E ...

:*Elizabeth Lindsay (1407–?); married Robert Erskine, 1st Lord Erskine, of

Clan Erskine Clan Erskine is a Scottish clan of the Scottish Lowlands.Way, 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). Publishe ...

; she may have been confused with her sister of the same name, and it is possible that they were one and the same person. :*Isabella Lindsay (1407–?), married Sir John Maxwell of Pollok, of

Clan Maxwell Clan Maxwell is a Scottish clan of the Scottish Lowlands and is recognized as such by the Lord Lyon King of Arms.Way, George and Squire, Romily. ''Collins Scottish Clan & Family Encyclopedia''. (Foreword by The Rt Hon. The Earl of Elgin KT, Conv ...

, and had issue. *Egidia Stewart, married Sir William Douglas of Nithsdale (c. 1370 – 1391), the illegitimate son of Archibald the Grim, 3rd Earl of Douglas, of

:*Egidia Douglas, "Fair Maid of Nithsdale", married firstly to

Henry Sinclair, 2nd Earl of Orkney Henry II Sinclair, Earl of Orkney (c. 1375 – 1420) was the Jarl (Earl) of Orkney, Baron of Roslin and Pantler of Scotland. According to Roland Saint-Clair writing in the late 19th century, Henry Sinclair was also the first of his family to ...

(d. 1422), of

Clan Sinclair Clan Sinclair ( gd, Clann na Ceàrda ) is a Highland Scottish clan which holds the lands of Caithness, the Orkney Islands, and the Lothians. The chiefs of the clan were the Barons of Roslin and later the Earls of Orkney and Earls of Caithness. Th ...

, and married secondly to Sir Alasdair Stewart (executed 1425), son of Murdoch Stewart, 2nd Duke of Albany. :*Sir William Douglas, Knt., Lord of Nithsdale (died c.1419) Robert II succeeded his childless maternal uncle

David II of Scotland David II (5 March 1324 – 22 February 1371) was King of Scots from 1329 until his death in 1371. Upon the death of his father, Robert the Bruce, David succeeded to the throne at the age of five, and was crowned at Scone in November 1331, beco ...

in 1371. Euphemia was then queen for about fifteen years, until her death in 1386.

References

{{House of Stewart (Scotland) Ross Scottish royal consorts 14th-century Scottish people 14th-century Scottish women Caithness Clan Ross House of Stuart 14th-century births