Alexander Gordon, 12th Earl Of Sutherland
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Alexander Gordon, 12th Earl of Sutherland (died 1594) was a Scottish landowner.


Early life

He was the son of
John Gordon, 11th Earl of Sutherland 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 * Second Ep ...
and his second wife Lady Helen Stewart, daughter of John Stewart, 3rd Earl of Lennox and widow of William Hay, 6th Earl of Erroll. When he was about fifteen years old in 1567, his father and step mother were poisoned at Helmsdale Castle by Isobel Sinclair, the wife of Gordon of Gartly. Isobel Sinclair's own son also died, but the fifteen-year-old heir of Sutherland, Alexander Gordon was unharmed. He was made to marry the daughter of
George Sinclair, 4th Earl of Caithness George Sinclair (died 1582) was a Scottish nobleman, the 4th Earl of Caithness and chief of the Clan Sinclair, a Scottish clan of the Scottish Highlands. Early life He was the son of John Sinclair, 3rd Earl of Caithness and Elizabeth, daughter ...
, Barbara Sinclair, who was more than twice his age.


Feud with the Earls of Caithness

In 1569, he escaped from the Sinclair family to
Huntly Castle Huntly Castle is a ruined castle north of Huntly, Scotland, Huntly in Aberdeenshire, Scotland, where the rivers River Deveron, Deveron and River Bogie, Bogie meet. It was the ancestral home of the chief of Clan Gordon, Earl of Huntly. There hav ...
. He started proceedings to divorce Barbara Sinclair. She died in 1573, and he married Jean Gordon, the former wife of the
Earl of Bothwell Earl of Bothwell was a title that was created twice in the Peerage of Scotland. It was first created for Patrick Hepburn in 1488, and was forfeited in 1567. Subsequently, the earldom was recreated for the 4th Earl's nephew and heir of line, F ...
, who had also been living at Huntly. In 1570, the Battle of Torran-Roy had taken place between the forces of George Sinclair, 4th Earl of Caithness and Alexander Gordon, 12th Earl of Sutherland. Caithness was initially defeated by Sutherland's
vassals A vassal or liege subject is a person regarded as having a mutual obligation to a lord or monarch, in the context of the feudal system in medieval Europe. While the subordinate party is called a vassal, the dominant party is called a suzerai ...
the Murrays of Aberscross, but he returned to besiege the Murrays at
Dornoch Dornoch (; ; ) is a town, seaside resort, parish and former royal burgh in the county of Sutherland in the Highlands of Scotland. It lies on the north shore of the Dornoch Firth, near to where it opens into the Moray Firth to the east. ...
after which several of them were beheaded. According to historian Robert Mackay, quoting 17th-century historian
Sir Robert Gordon, 1st Baronet Sir Robert Gordon of Gordonstoun (14 May 1580 – 1656) was a Scottish politician and courtier, known as the historian of the noble house of Sutherland. Early life Born at Dunrobin Castle, Golspie, Sutherland, on 14 May 1580, he was the fourt ...
, in 1585 a meeting took place at
Elgin Elgin may refer to: Places Canada * Elgin County, Ontario * Elgin Settlement, a 19th-century community for freed slaves located in present-day North Buxton and South Buxton, Ontario * Elgin, a village in Rideau Lakes, Ontario * Elgin, Manit ...
,
Scotland Scotland is a Countries of the United Kingdom, country that is part of the United Kingdom. It contains nearly one-third of the United Kingdom's land area, consisting of the northern part of the island of Great Britain and more than 790 adjac ...
between
George Gordon, 1st Marquess of Huntly George Gordon, 1st Marquess of Huntly (156213 June 1636) was a Scottish nobleman who took a leading role in the political and military life of Scotland in the late 16th century, and around the time of the Union of the Crowns. Biography The son ...
, Alexander Gordon, 12th Earl of Sutherland, George Sinclair, 5th Earl of Caithness and
Huistean Du Mackay, 13th of Strathnaver Huistean Du Mackay (Hugh Mackay), 13th of Strathnaver (d. 1614), was the thirteenth chief of Clan Mackay, a Highland Scottish clan. Early life Huistean Mackay was the eldest son from the second marriage of his father, Iye Du Mackay, 12th of Strat ...
. The purpose of the meeting, according to Robert Mackay, was to repair relations which had become damaged between the Earl of Sutherland, Earl of Caithness and Huistean Du Mackay (Hugh Mackay), due to actions by the
Clan Gunn Clan Gunn () is a Scottish Highlands, Highland Scottish clan associated with lands in northeastern Scotland, including Caithness, Sutherland and, arguably, the Orkney Isles. Clan Gunn is one of the oldest Scottish Clans, being descended from t ...
and Hugh Mackay in
Assynt Assynt ( or ) is a sparsely populated area in the south-west of Sutherland, lying north of Ullapool on the west coast of Scotland. Assynt is known for its landscape and its remarkable mountains, which have led to the area, along with neighbour ...
, both having gone there on the orders of the Earl of Caithness. However, historian Angus Mackay does not state that Hugh Mackay attended this meeting and that the purpose of the meeting was to break up the confederacy between Hugh Mackay and the Earl of Caithness. According to historian Robert Mackay, it was decided at the meeting that the Clan Gunn should be "made away", because they were judged to be the principal authors of these "troubles and commotions", but that both Hugh Mackay and George Sinclair, Earl of Caithness were unwilling to attack their old allies the Clan Gunn and therefore departed from the meeting at Elgin. In consequence, in 1586, George Gordon, Marquess of Huntly came north to Sutherland, the lands of his cousin, Alexander Gordon, 12th Earl of Sutherland. He sent a message to both Hugh Mackay and George Sinclair, Earl of Caithness to meet him at Sutherland's seat of
Dunrobin Castle Dunrobin Castle is a stately home in Sutherland, in the Highland area of Scotland, that serves as the family seat of the Earl of Sutherland, Chief of Clan Sutherland. It is located north of Golspie and approximately south of Brora, overlo ...
. According to historian Robert Mackay, the Earl of Caithness met with the Gordons of Huntly and Sutherland but Mackay did not and was therefore denounced as a rebel. However, according to historian Angus Mackay, Hugh Mackay did attend this second meeting but refused the proposals of the Gordons of Huntly and Sutherland that the Gunns should be destroyed. However, the Earl of Caithness did indeed agree with the Gordons that the Gunns should be destroyed. Robert Mackay also states that the Earl of Caithness agreed with Gordon's proposals at this second meeting to attack the Gunns. According to historian Robert Mackay, Sinclair, Earl of Caithness sent his men under the command of Henry Sinclair to attack the Gunns. In the subsequent Battle of Allt Camhna, the Gunns having been joined by the Mackays, defeated the Sinclairs and killed their leader Henry Sinclair, who was "cousin" of the Earl of Caithness. According to Sir Robert Gordon (who himself was a son of Alexander Gordon, 12th Earl of Sutherland) in 1590, George, 5th Earl of Caithness having been at
feud A feud , also known in more extreme cases as a blood feud, vendetta, faida, clan war, gang war, private war, or mob war, is a long-running argument or fight, often between social groups of people, especially family, families or clans. Feuds begin ...
for a few years with Alexander Gordon, 12th Earl of Sutherland, invaded
Sutherland Sutherland () is a Counties of Scotland, historic county, registration county and lieutenancy areas of Scotland, lieutenancy area in the Scottish Highlands, Highlands of Scotland. The name dates from the Scandinavian Scotland, Viking era when t ...
but was defeated at the Battle of Clynetradwell.


Later life

Sutherland and his wife lived at
Dunrobin Castle Dunrobin Castle is a stately home in Sutherland, in the Highland area of Scotland, that serves as the family seat of the Earl of Sutherland, Chief of Clan Sutherland. It is located north of Golspie and approximately south of Brora, overlo ...
. Jean Gordon took on the business of the Sutherland estates, becoming the
factor Factor (Latin, ) may refer to: Commerce * Factor (agent), a person who acts for, notably a mercantile and colonial agent * Factor (Scotland), a person or firm managing a Scottish estate * Factors of production, such a factor is a resource used ...
, and rents and dues were paid to her. With her husband, she audited the accounts of their chamberlain Alexander Ewinson at Dunrobin. Gordon evidently had poor health and in 1580 he transferred rights of the Sutherland earldom to his young son and heir
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 * Second E ...
. He died in 1594. In 1599 his widow Jean Gordon married Alexander Ogilvie of Boyne, former husband of
Mary Beaton Mary Beaton (about 1543–1597), or Bethune as she wrote her family name, was a Scottish courtier. She is remembered in history as one of the four girls who were companions of Mary, Queen of Scots from childhood, known as The Queen's Maries or ...
.


Family

Alexander Gordon and Barbara Sinclair had no children. The children of Alexander Gordon and Jean Gordon included: # Jane Gordon, who married Huistean Du MacKay of Strathnaver and Farr (1562–1614), in December 1589. His first wife Elizabeth was Barbara Sinclair's sister. #
John Gordon, 13th Earl of Sutherland John Gordon, 13th Earl of Sutherland (1576–1615) was a Scottish landowner and courtier. He was the son of Alexander Gordon, 12th Earl of Sutherland and Jean Gordon, daughter of George Gordon, 4th Earl of Huntly. He spent two years in France a ...
(1575–1615), who married Agnes Elphinstone (died 1617) on 5 February 1600 in Edinburgh. She was a daughter of
Lord Elphinstone Lord Elphinstone is a title in the Peerage of Scotland created by King James IV in 1510. History The title of Lord Elphinstone was granted by King James IV in 1510 to Sir Alexander Elphinstone of Elphinstone, who was killed at the Battle ...
, and in a double wedding, her sister Jean Elphinstone married Arthur, Master of Forbes. As wedding gifts,
James VI James may refer to: People * James (given name) * James (surname) * James (musician), aka Faruq Mahfuz Anam James, (born 1964), Bollywood musician * James, brother of Jesus * King James (disambiguation), various kings named James * Prince Ja ...
gave the brides suites of gold and pearl accessories comprising, a necklace, a belt, and back and fore "garnishings" for their hair, which cost £1,333-6s–8d Scots. Robert Pitcairn, ''Criminal Trials in Scotland'', vol. 2 (Edinburgh, 1833), p. 238
''Letters to King James the Sixth from the Queen, Prince Henry, Prince Charles etc'' (Edinburgh, 1835), p. lxxv–lxxvi.
/ref> #
Robert Gordon of Gordonstoun Sir Robert Gordon of Gordonstoun (14 May 1580 – 1656) was a Scottish politician and courtier, known as the historian of the noble house of Sutherland. Early life Born at Dunrobin Castle, Golspie, Sutherland, on 14 May 1580, he was the fourth ...
(1580–1654), who married Louise Lucie Gordon, a former companion of Princess Elizabeth, and daughter of John Gordon and Geneviève Petau de Maulette in 1613 # Mary Gordon (1582–1605), who married David Ross of Balnagowan in 1598 # Alexander Gordon of Navisdale


References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Sutherland, Alexander Gordon, Earl of 1594 deaths Nobility from Highland (council area) 16th-century Scottish people 12
Alexander Alexander () is a male name of Greek origin. The most prominent bearer of the name is Alexander the Great, the king of the Ancient Greek kingdom of Macedonia who created one of the largest empires in ancient history. Variants listed here ar ...