Alexander Stewart (c. 1210 – 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.

Career

He fought on the

Seventh Crusade The Seventh Crusade (1248–1254) was the first of the two Crusades led by Louis IX of France. Also known as the Crusade of Louis IX to the Holy Land, it aimed to reclaim the Holy Land by attacking Egypt, the main seat of Muslim power in the Nea ...

under King

Louis IX of France Louis IX (25 April 1214 – 25 August 1270), also known as Saint Louis, was King of France from 1226 until his death in 1270. He is widely recognized as the most distinguished of the Direct Capetians. Following the death of his father, Louis VI ...

, during which his younger brother John was killed at

Damietta Damietta ( ' ) is a harbor, port city and the capital of the Damietta Governorate in Egypt. It is located at the Damietta branch, an eastern distributary of the Nile Delta, from the Mediterranean Sea, and about north of Cairo. It was a Cath ...

in Egypt in 1249. He also seems to have made a pilgrimage to

Santiago de Compostela Santiago de Compostela, simply Santiago, or Compostela, in the province of Province of A Coruña, A Coruña, is the capital of the autonomous communities of Spain, autonomous community of Galicia (Spain), Galicia, in northwestern Spain. The city ...

in Spain and in honour of the saint baptised his eldest surviving son James, a name rare before then in Scotland. In 1255 he appears as one of the Regents of Scotland during the minority of King Alexander III. He commanded the Scottish army at

Largs Largs () is a town on the Firth of Clyde in North Ayrshire, Scotland, about from Glasgow. The original name means "the slopes" (''An Leargaidh'') in Scottish Gaelic. A popular seaside resort with a pier, the town markets itself on its histor ...

in October 1263, successfully defending Scotland against attempted invasion by King

Haakon IV of Norway Haakon IV Haakonsson ( – 16 December 1263; ; ), sometimes called Haakon the Old in contrast to his namesake son, was King of Norway from 1217 to 1263. His reign lasted for 46 years, longer than any Norwegian king since Harald Fairhair. Haak ...

. It appears to have been in his time that the Stewarts acquired the lordship of the Cowal Peninsula, with their castle at

Dunoon Dunoon (; ) is the main town on the Cowal peninsula in Argyll and Bute, Scotland. It is located on the western shore of the upper Firth of Clyde, to the south of the Holy Loch and to the north of Innellan. As well as forming part of the cou ...

. He is recorded as playing a prominent part in affairs during the reign of Alexander, being referred to as ''senescallus Scotie'' (steward of Scotland) instead of the older ''dapifer regis Scotie'' (steward of the king of Scotland), so indicating that he held a major office of state that was significant nationally rather than just being a courtier in the royal household. He died in 1282, and was succeeded by his son James.

Family

His wife is said to have been named Jean, and they had four documented children: *

James Stewart, 5th High Steward of Scotland James Stewart (c. 1260 – 16 July 1309) was the 5th Hereditary High Steward of Scotland and a Guardian of Scotland during the First Interregnum (1286–1292). Origins He was the eldest surviving son of Alexander Stewart, 4th High Stewar ...

*Sir John Stewart of Bonkyll *Elizabeth Stewart, who married Sir William le Hardi, Lord of Douglas. *Hawise Stewart, who married John de Soules

References

Bibliography

* Lauder-Frost, Gregory, F.S.A.Scot., "East Anglian Stewarts" in The Scottish Genealogist, Dec.2004, vol.LI, no.4., pps:151-161. * * * Nisbet, Alexander, 1722. Vol.1,p. 48; and appendix, page 149. *Burke, Messrs.,

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 ...

and John Bernard, ''The Royal Families of England, Scotland, and Wales, and Their Descendants'' &c., volume 2, London, 1851, p. xlii. *Anderson, William, "The Scottish Nation", Edinburgh, 1867, vol.vii, p. 200. *Mackenzie, A. M., MA., D.Litt., ''The Rise of the Stewarts'', London, 1935, pp. 13–14. *The Marquis de Ruvigny & Raineval, ''The Jacobite Peerage'' &c., London & Edinburgh (1904), 1974 reprint, p. 8n. Agnatic ancestor of British kings. {{DEFAULTSORT:Stewart, Alexander, 4th High Steward of Scotland 1210s births 1283 deaths Nobility from South Ayrshire

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 ...

Christians of the Seventh Crusade Lord high stewards of Scotland 13th-century Scottish nobility