Arms of John Stewart, 1st Earl of Angus (d

John Stewart, 1st Earl of Angus, Lord of Bonkyl, ''

jure uxoris ''Jure uxoris'' (a Latin phrase meaning "by right of (his) wife"), citing . describes a title of nobility used by a man because his wife holds the office or title '' suo jure'' ("in her own right"). Similarly, the husband of an heiress could beco ...

'' Lord of Abernethy (died 9 December 1331) was a medieval Scottish nobleman. Stewart was the son of Sir

Alexander Stewart of Bonkyll Alexander Stewart of Bonkyll (c.1271 – 1319) was a Scottish nobleman. He was the eldest son of Sir John Stewart (d. 1298), and the father of John Stewart, 1st Earl of Angus. Family Alexander was the first cousin of Walter the Steward, father ...

, great-grandson of

Alexander Stewart, 4th High Steward of Scotland Alexander Stewart (about 1220-1282), known as Alexander of Dundonald, was a Scottish magnate who in 1241 succeeded his father as hereditary High Steward of Scotland. Origins He was the son of Walter Stewart, 3rd High Steward of Scotland. Care ...

, and Jean Fitz James, daughter of Alexander Fitz James. Sir Alexander died around 1319, and Stewart inherited his father's estates in

Berwickshire Berwickshire ( gd, Siorrachd Bhearaig) is a historic county, registration county and lieutenancy area in south-eastern Scotland, on the English border. Berwickshire County Council existed from 1890 until 1975, when the area became part of th ...

, centered upon the barony of Bonkyll and

Preston Preston is a place name, surname and given name that may refer to: Places England *Preston, Lancashire, an urban settlement **The City of Preston, Lancashire, a borough and non-metropolitan district which contains the settlement **County Boro ...

. In 1328, he married Margaret de Abernethy, heiress to the Lordship of Abernethy. Her father Sir

Alexander de Abernethy Alexander de Abernethy (after 1271 – c. 1315) was a Scottish baron. He was a son of Hugh de Abernethy and Maria de Ergadia. Alexander was a descendant of abbots of Abernethy; his great-grandfather Laurence, great-grandson of Gillemichael, Ea ...

was the last of the Gaelic lords of Abernethy, descendants of

Gille Míchéil, Earl of Fife ''Gillie'' or ''ghillie'' is an ancient Gaelic term for a person who acts as a servant or attendant on a fishing, hunting, deer stalking or hawking expedition, primarily in the Scottish Highlands or on a river such as the River Spey. In origin ...

. Stewart assumed his wife's titles, and was further ennobled by

Robert I of Scotland Robert I (11 July 1274 – 7 June 1329), popularly known as Robert the Bruce (Scottish Gaelic: ''Raibeart an Bruis''), was King of Scots from 1306 to his death in 1329. One of the most renowned warriors of his generation, Robert eventuall ...

in 1329, being created

Earl of Angus The Mormaer or Earl of Angus was the ruler of the medieval Scottish province of Angus. The title, in the Peerage of Scotland, is held by the Duke of Hamilton, and is used as a courtesy title for the eldest son of the Duke's eldest son. Histor ...

. The Earldom of Angus had been forfeited by the previous holder, Robert de Umfreville, before 1314, for choosing the losing side during the

Wars of Scottish Independence The Wars of Scottish Independence were a series of military campaigns fought between the Kingdom of Scotland and the Kingdom of England in the late 13th and early 14th centuries. The First War (1296–1328) began with the English invasion of ...

, although he continued to style himself Earl until his death in 1325. It is through John Stewart's granddaughter,

Margaret Margaret is a female first name, derived via French () and Latin () from grc, μαργαρίτης () meaning "pearl". The Greek is borrowed from Persian. Margaret has been an English name since the 11th century, and remained popular through ...

's illicit relationship with William Douglas, 1st Earl of Douglas, that the Earldom of Angus, Lordship of Abernethy, and the ''

comitatus ''Comitatus'' was in ancient times the Latin term for an armed escort or retinue. The term is used especially in the context of Germanic warrior culture for a warband tied to a leader by an oath of fealty and describes the relations between a lo ...

'' associated with it passed on to the Douglases in the person of George Douglas (the first ''Red'' Douglas). This close connection of the Douglas Earls of Angus with the House of Stewart was to have large implications for the latter's future struggles with the Black Douglases. Stewart was knighted on 24 November 1331 on the coronation of King David II, but died just two weeks later. He was succeeded by his son

Thomas Stewart, 2nd Earl of Angus Thomas Stewart, 2nd Earl of Angus (b.b.1331-1361) was a medieval Scottish nobleman. He was the son of John Stewart of Bonkyll and Margaret de Abernethy. Stewart was an infant when his father died and inherited his estates and titles in Berwicks ...

References

, - John Stewart, 1st Earl of Angus Year of birth missing 1331 deaths

John John is a common English name and surname: * John (given name) * John (surname) John may also refer to: New Testament Works * Gospel of John, a title often shortened to John * First Epistle of John, often shortened to 1 John * Secon ...

14th-century Scottish earls People from Berwickshire Scottish knights {{Scotland-earl-stub

See also

References