Published in Scotland Magazine Issue 15 on 18/7/2004.

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The most royal of families (Stewarts)

In the latest in our series on the great clans of Scotland James Irvine Robertson looks at the Stewarts

The historic House of Stewart takes its name from the medieval office of hereditary Great Steward of Scotland, a title which is still held by their descendant in the female line, H.R.H. Prince Charles.

Before they came to Britain 1,000 ago, members of the family were noble Bretons, hereditary Stewards of Dol who were descended from the Counts of Dol and Dinan, a branch of the ancient dark-age ruling dynasty of Brittany.

Their origins stretch far back into the very roots of European history and it is fitting that the family gave the first kings to a united Great Britain. There have been 14 Stewart monarchs. The family have held and often still hold 10 dukedoms in England, four in Scotland, six in France, 10 in Spain and one in Italy. They have produced three cardinals, two British prime ministers and have held 14 Scottish earldoms.

No other family in Europe has achieved such eminence in so many countries.

Such a cornucopia of great men and women, many of whom had and have great estates, makes selecting a chief of the name, which can be spelt in at least 35 different ways, rather delicate.

Some would say the Queen, others the main-line descendants of the royal Stuarts, currently a Bavarian aristocrat; still others the Earl of Galloway who was the next male in line when James V sired Mary Queen of Scots as his heir.

Several divisions of the family obtained land in the Highlands – the Earls of Moray with their great castle at Doune, the Marquesses of Bute who still own most.....

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By James Irvine Robertson

Section : Scottish Clans

Page number : 40