Christina Stewart, 4th Countess of Buchan
Encyclopedia
Christina Stewart, Countess of Buchan in her own right, succeeded her grandfather, John Stewart, 3rd Earl of Buchan
, in 1551. In that year she was, as heir to her father, enfeoffed
in the lands, jurisdictions, and offices enumerated in her grandfather's charter of 1547. She was only three years of age at her mother's death, and was placed under the guardianship of Margaret Erskine, wife of Sir Robert Douglas of Lochleven.
In January 1549/50, though Christina was only a young child, a contract of marriage was arranged between her and James Stewart, afterwards Earl of Moray and Regent, the son of Lady Douglas by King James V
, which gave him possession of her lands. Notwithstanding this he married another lady, and Christina was married to Moray's uterine half-brother, Robert Douglas, second son of Sir Robert Douglas of Lochleven. In his wife's right Robert Douglas became 5th Earl of Buchan
and Sheriff of Banff.
In 1574 they obtained a charter of the family estates, heritable offices, and the Earlshill in conjunct fee, with remainder to the heirs-male of the marriage, heirsfemale, heirs of the body of the Countess, and finally, to the nearest lawful heirs of the Earl. Her husband, as Earl of Buchan, took a prominent part in the political movements made in the minority of James VI, and he supported the Regent Moray in opposition to the “Loyalists,” who favored Mary, Queen of Scots. After the Regent's assassination in 1570, he was one of the four lords to whom the government of the country was committed in name of the King.
They had one son and three daughters:
The Earl of Buchan died at Mills of Drum, near Aberdeen, 18 August, and the Countess at Aberdeen 20 September 1580.
John Stewart, 3rd Earl of Buchan
John Stewart, 3rd Earl of Buchan, son and heir of Alexander, succeeded to the Earldom in 1505. He was retoured heir to his father in the Earldom and Earlshill in 1519; until then he retained the style of Master of Buchan which he had held in his father's lifetime...
, in 1551. In that year she was, as heir to her father, enfeoffed
Fiefdom
A fee was the central element of feudalism and consisted of heritable lands granted under one of several varieties of feudal tenure by an overlord to a vassal who held it in fealty in return for a form of feudal allegiance and service, usually given by the...
in the lands, jurisdictions, and offices enumerated in her grandfather's charter of 1547. She was only three years of age at her mother's death, and was placed under the guardianship of Margaret Erskine, wife of Sir Robert Douglas of Lochleven.
In January 1549/50, though Christina was only a young child, a contract of marriage was arranged between her and James Stewart, afterwards Earl of Moray and Regent, the son of Lady Douglas by King James V
James V of Scotland
James V was King of Scots from 9 September 1513 until his death, which followed the Scottish defeat at the Battle of Solway Moss...
, which gave him possession of her lands. Notwithstanding this he married another lady, and Christina was married to Moray's uterine half-brother, Robert Douglas, second son of Sir Robert Douglas of Lochleven. In his wife's right Robert Douglas became 5th Earl of Buchan
Earl of Buchan
The Mormaer or Earl of Buchan was originally the provincial ruler of the medieval province of Buchan. Buchan was the first Mormaerdom in the High Medieval Kingdom of the Scots to pass into the hands of a non-Scottish family in the male line. The earldom had three lines in its history, not counting...
and Sheriff of Banff.
In 1574 they obtained a charter of the family estates, heritable offices, and the Earlshill in conjunct fee, with remainder to the heirs-male of the marriage, heirsfemale, heirs of the body of the Countess, and finally, to the nearest lawful heirs of the Earl. Her husband, as Earl of Buchan, took a prominent part in the political movements made in the minority of James VI, and he supported the Regent Moray in opposition to the “Loyalists,” who favored Mary, Queen of Scots. After the Regent's assassination in 1570, he was one of the four lords to whom the government of the country was committed in name of the King.
They had one son and three daughters:
- James Douglas, 6th Earl of Buchan.
- Christian, married to Richard Douglas, brother of William Douglas of Whittinghame.
- Mariota, married to Alexander Irvine of Drum.
- Elizabeth, married, in 1592, to Andrew Fraser of Muchals, and had issue.
The Earl of Buchan died at Mills of Drum, near Aberdeen, 18 August, and the Countess at Aberdeen 20 September 1580.