Dukes of Albany (1398)
1st Duke of Albany, Robert Stewart, b.c.1340, a.1398, d.1420
The Dukedom of Albany was created for Robert Stewart, a younger brother
of Robert III (whose given name was actually John), and third son of Robert II
of Scotland and Elizabeth Mure, daughter of Sir Adam Mure of Rowallan. He was
one of a large family of children from this liaison, who were all legitimised
by their parents’ marriage in 1349. In 1361 Robert married Margaret Graham,
Countess of Menteith, and he became Earl of Menteith
de uxoris. His other older brother Walter Stewart (b.1336-1347, d.1362) married Isabella Macduff, Countess of Fife at
the same time, but died shortly afterwards, and the Countess, having no
children, resigned the earldom to the Crown. When his father became King in
1371, Robert was then also made Earl of Fife, the title
he was known as for most of his life. Late in his reign, Robert II became
infirm, and his two sons John, Earl of Carrick (later Robert III) and Robert
acted as Regents, with Fife, the dominant partner, being made High Chamberlain.
He led several successful expeditions into England at this time. In 1389 John
had a bad accident, from which he never fully recovered, and although he became
King the following year, it was Fife who continued to be the power behind the
throne as Guardian of the Realm. In 1394 he obtained the title of Earl of Buchan following the ex-communication of his younger brother
Alexander Stewart, a title he later resigned in favour of his son John. In 1398
he obtained for himself the title of 1st Duke of Albany at the same
time as his nephew David, John’s son and heir, was made 1st Duke of
Rothesay, this being the first usage of the rank of duke to appear in Scotland.
At this time, with David’s coming of age, he was made Lieutenant of Scotland by
his father. The power started to shift away from Albany, and there was a
serious rift between the two. David, however, was an unstable character,
accused of bigamy after marrying a daughter of Archibald Douglas, 3rd
Earl of Douglas, while still married to a daughter of
George, 10th Earl of Dunbar, an action that
also alienated Dunbar, who then joined in an invasion of Scotland backed by
Henry IV of England. As a result of this and various other misjudgements,
Rothesay became increasingly unpopular, finally having the Lieutenancy removed
in 1402. Albany acted decisively, arresting David and imprisoning him at
Falkland Palace, where he later died (or was killed) in mysterious
circumstances in 1402, leaving Albany in charge. When Robert III died in 1406,
Albany made himself Earl of Atholl, a title that had previously belonged to Rothesay,
and continued to rule as Regent for David’s younger brother James, who by then
had been taken prisoner by the English. James was not to be released until
1424, with Albany unsurprisingly making little effort to obtain said release.
Albany’s rule was unpopular, but was backed by the strength of the Black Earls
of Douglas and a ruthless streak which led to several
of his most effective political opponents being murdered.
2nd Duke of Albany, Murdoch Stewart,
b.1362, a.1420, d.1425
Son of the 1st Duke and Margaret Graham, Countess of Menteith. Under his father’s influence he was made
Justiciar of the North in 1389, and worked closely with his father in expanding
the Stewart hegemony in the north. In 1402, partly as a response to the English
invasion so unfortunately caused by Prince David, the Scots invaded England,
but were defeated at the Battle of Homildon Hill, where Murdoch was captured.
He was held prisoner until 1415, when he was finally exchanged for Henry Percy,
2nd Earl of Northumberland. When his father died, he took over the
Regency until the return of James I. His rule was as unpopular as that of his
father, but backed by the power of the Stewart earldoms of Mar and Buchan. When
James was finally returned in 1424, Murdoch was removed from power, though as
Earl of Fife he performed the Coronation at Scone. After the death’s of his
brother John, Earl of Buchan, and of Archibald Douglas, 4th Earl of
Douglas, while fighting for the French against England at the Battle of
Verneuil, Murdoch’s position became substantially weakened, and in 1425 he was
arrested along with his sons and various other supporters. An hastily arranged
Parliament found them guilty of treason and they were executed by beheading
outside Stirling Castle, attainted and all titles forfeit.
Dukes of Albany (c.1455)
1st Duke of Albany, Alexander Stewart,
b.c.1454, a.1455-1458, d.1485
Son of King James II and Marie of Gueldres. As younger brother to the
heir, he was given the titles 1st Duke of Albany, Earl of March and
Lord of Annandale. When James III came to the throne, Albany was appointed Lord
High Admiral and Warden of the Marches, but his clandestine actions in the
border areas threatened the recent truce with England, and his earldom was
seized, whereupon he fled to France in 1479, where he was well received.
However, Louis XI would not aid him against his brother the King, and so he
made a pact with Edward IV of England, promising to hold Scotland as an English
province. He then joined Edward’s heir, Richard, Duke of Gloucester, at the
head of a large army, which took Berwick, the last time it changed hands, and
then moved on to Edinburgh. James III was taken prisoner and held in Edinburgh
castle. Gloucester then headed back to England, leaving Albany to form a
government with those nobles willing to support him. However, the King retained
some influence and Albany was encouraged to reconcile himself with his brother,
obtaining the title of Earl of Mar and Garioch. Control swung back and forward
between the brothers until Edward IV’s death, after which Albany’s position
weakened, and he fled back to England. Another invasion attempt in 1484, aided
by the exiled James Douglas, 9th Earl of Douglas,
was turned back at the Battle of Lochmaben, looked-for support amongst the
Douglas and March lands not forthcoming and Gloucester, now Richard III of
England, also not willing to participate. A final return to Scotland in 1485
resulted in him being imprisoned in Edinburgh Castle, from where he managed to
escape and flee to France, where he was killed at a jousting tournament.
2nd Duke of Albany, John Stewart,
b.1481-1484, a.1485, d.1536
Son of the 1st Duke and his second wife Anne de la Tour d’Auvergne
(b.?, d.1512), daughter of Bertrand VI, Comte d’Auvergne. His father had
several sons by his first wife, Catherine Sinclair, daughter of William
Sinclair, 3rd Earl of Orkney, but that
marriage was dissolved and the offspring illegitimated, allowing him to inherit
the titles, and throughout his life he was considered to be the
heir-presumptive (that is, heir provided that no direct heir is born in the
meantime), behind both James IV and James V while in their minority. He was
raised in France but was called upon in 1514 to act as Regent for James V,
though in opposition to Archibald Douglas, 6th Earl of Angus, who had married the King’s mother, now Dowager
Queen Margaret. Before long he had outmanoeuvred Margaret, who was forced to
flee to England, and come to an amicable agreement with Angus. Although often
absent in France from 1517, Albany managed to retain the Regency due to
factional infighting. When he returned to Scotland in 1521, Margaret now sided
with him, and against her husband, from whom she now wanted a divorce, and
Angus was taken back to France by Albany under a charge of treason. When the
King’s minority came to an end in 1524, however, Margaret seized power with the
help of Albany’s cousin, James Hamilton, 1st Earl of Arran. Albany returned to France, where he was welcomed at
court. During the Italian Wars he led a section of the French Army of Francis I
against the Spanish and Papal forces. He died at Mirefleur Castle in the
Auvergne, and his titles became extinct.
Dukes of Albany (1509)
1st Duke of Albany, Arthur Stewart, b.1509, a.1509, d.1510
He was the second legitimate son of James IV and Lady Margaret Tudor,
daughter of Henry VII of England, and since his older brother had already died,
he automatically became heir to the throne and Duke of Rothesay. He was given
the additional title of Duke of Albany at birth, since it was at the time
considered forfeited by Alexander Stewart mentioned above. He died in infancy
and John Stewart resumed his position as heir-presumptive and Duke of Albany.
Dukes of Albany (1541)
1st Duke of Albany, Arthur Stewart, b.1541, a.1541, d.1541
He was the second son of James V and Mary of Guise. He died in infancy.
Dukes of Albany (1565)
1st Duke of Albany, Henry Stuart, b.1545,
a.1565, d.1567
Son of Matthew Stuart, 4th Earl of Lennox
and Lady Margaret Douglas (b.1515, d.1578), daughter of Archibald Douglas, 6th
Earl of Angus. He was otherwise known as Lord Darnley
and was Mary Queen of Scots’ second husband, and father to King James VI. For
more detail please refer to the Ross page.
2nd Duke of Albany, James Stuart, b.1566,
a.1567, d.1625
Son of the 1st Duke and Mary, Queen of Scots, he became King
James VI shortly after succeeding to his father’s titles, which automatically
became extinct when merged with the Crown.
Dukes of Albany (1604)
1st Duke of Albany, Charles Stuart, b.1600, a.1604, d.1649
He was the second son of James VI and Anne Oldenburg, Princess of
Denmark, born at Dunfermline Palace, and such a poorly child when young that he
was left behind in Scotland when his father travelled to London to become King
of Great Britain. His health gradually improving as he grew, he was eventually
considered strong enough to go to London himself, where he lived in the shadow
of his older brother, Henry Stuart, Prince of Wales. Henry died in 1612,
however, leaving Charles as the heir-apparent, and he eventually succeeded his
father as King in 1625.
Dukes of Albany (1660)
1st Duke of Albany, James Stuart, b.1633, a.1660, d.1701
He was the second son of Charles I and Henriette de Bourbon, Princess of
France, born at St James’ Palace in London. He was created 1st Duke of York in
the Peerage of England in 1644 but was forced into exile with his brother
Charles. At the Restoration in 1660 he was created 1st Duke of
Albany in the Peerage of Scotland and 1st Duc de Normandie in the
Peerage of France. A keen soldier and seaman, he fought in various engagements
in England and Europe and also served as Lord High Admiral of England from 1660
to 1673 and from 1683 to 1685 and of Scotland from 1673 to 1688. In 1685 he
succeeded his brother as King. When he fled in the face of William of Orange’s
invasion in 1688, he was considered by Parliament to have abdicated his
position as King of Great Britain, deposed as King of England, and was later
considered declared as having forfeited as King of Scotland by the Scottish
parliament the following year.
Dukes of Albany (1716)
1st Duke of Albany, Ernst August Hanover, b.1674, a.1716,
d.1728
He was the youngest son of Ernst August Kurfurst von Hannover, Herzog
(that is, Duke) of Braunschweig-Luneberg and of Hannover, and Prinzessin Sophie
Dorothea von der Pfalz, daughter of Friedrich V, King of Bohemia. He had
already installed as Prince Bishop of Osnabruck (once an ancient Catholic
diocese but by then a powerful political entity because of it’s strategic
significance) and he was created 1st Duke of York and 1st
Duke of Albany in the Peerage of Great Britain and 1st Earl of
Ulster in the Peerage of Ireland shortly after his oldest brother became King
George I of Great Britain. He had no children and the title became extinct once
more.
Dukes of Albany (1760)
1st Duke of Albany, Edward Augustus Hanover, b.1739, a.1760,
d.1767
He was a younger son of Frederick Louis Hanover, Prince of Wales, and
Prinzessin Auguste von Sachsen-Gotha-Altenburg, daughter of Friedrich II,
Herzog von Sachsen-Gotha-Altenburg, and so brother to King George III. He was
briefly heir-presumptive until the birth of his brother’s first child. He was
also created 1st Duke of York and 1st Duke of Albany in
the Peerage of Great Britain and 1st Earl of Ulster in the Peerage
of Ireland. He served in the Royal Navy and in 1766 reached the rank of Admiral
of the Blue. He was also invested as a Knight of the Garter in 1752 and as a
Fellow of the Royal Society in 1760. He also died with no children.
Dukes of Albany (1784)
1st Duke of Albany, Frederick Augustus Hanover, b.1763,
a.1784, d.1827
He was the second son of George III and Herzogin Sophie Charlotte von
Mecklenburg-Strelitz, daughter of Grossherzog Karl Ludwig Friedrich von
Mecklenburg-Strelitz, and so brother to King George IV. He was invested as
Prince-Bishop of Osnabruck in 1764 by his father, and held this title until
obtaining his British titles of 1st Duke of York and 1st
Duke of Albany in the Peerage of Great Britain and 1st Earl of
Ulster in the Peerage of Ireland in 1784 at the age of 21. He served in the British
Army and reached the rank of Field Marshal in 1795 and was Commander-in-Chief
of all Forces in Britain and Irland from 1801 to 1809. He was invested as a
Knight of the Bath in 1767, a Knight of the Garter in 1771, a Knight Grand
Cross of the Order of the Bath in 1815 and a Knight Grand Cross of the
Hanoverian Order, also in 1815. He is immortalised as the “Grand Old Duke of
York” in folklore, but was at the time considered to be a very able soldier,
introducing military discipline and removing the Army from political influence.
He also founded the Royal Military College at Sandhurst.
Dukes of Albany (1881)
1st Duke of Albany, Leopold George Duncan Albert Saxe-Coburg-Gotha
(b.1853, a.1881, d.1884
He was fourth son and eighth child of Queen Victoria and Prince-Consort
Albert, Prince of Saxe-Coburg-Gotha. He received a Knighthood in the Order of
the Garter in 1869 and the Order of the Thistle in 1871 and then went to study
at Christ Church College Oxford. He was made a Privy Counsellor in 1874 and was
invested as a Knight Grand Cross in the Order of the Hospital of St John of
Jerusalem in 1877 and in the Order of St Michael and St George in 1880. He was
created 1st Duke of Albany in 1881, together with the titles of 1st
Earl of Clarence and 1st Baron Arklow, all in the Peerage of the United
Kingdom. Plagued by haemophilia, he died after falling and injuring his knee
while staying at Cannes in France.
2nd Duke of Albany, Charles Edward George Albert Leopold
Saxe-Coburg-Gotha, b.1884, a.1884, d.1954
Son of the 1st Duke and Helene Frederike Auguste, Prinzessin zu
Waldeck und Pyrmont. Born after the death of his father, he succeeded his uncle
as Herzog von Sachsen-Coburg und Gotha in 1900 and remained as head of the
House of Saxe-Coburg-Gotha until his death. He was invested as a Knight Grand
Cross of the Royal Victorian Order in 1900 and a Knight of the Garter in 1902. He
was subsequently struck off the register of Knights of the Garter in 1915 after
taking the side of the German Empire during the First World War, and had all of
his English titles removed by an Order in Council in 1919. He later joined the
Nazi Party and reached the rank of Obergruppenfuhrer in the Brownshirts. In
1936 he was sent by Hitler to Britain to improve Anglo-German relations and
pursue a possible alliance between the countries with Edward VIII. After Edward’s
abdication, the duke welcomed the former king and his wife in an official tour
of Germany in 1937. After the war he was heavily fined by the allies and lost
the Gotha part of his lands to the Soviet occupation.
Last updated: 11/03/2011