Isabella, Countess of Fife
Encyclopedia
Isabella of Fife was Countess of Fife
from 1363 until she resigned the title in 1371. She was the daughter of Donnchadh IV, Earl of Fife, by his wife Mary de Monthermer
(herself the daughter of Joan of Acre
and Ralph Monthermer
).
In 1332 she and her mother had been captured at Perth by supporters of King David II of Scotland
. She was sent as a ward to Northumberland
, where she married her guardian Sir William Felton. William Felton was styled "Lord of Fife" in right of his wife, and died on 21 September 1358. Their children were:
Because her father had forfeited the earldom, David II granted Fife to Sir William Ramsay of Colluthie (near Cupar, Fife) in 1358, ignoring Isabel's own claim. She was not recognized as Countess until 1363. She had married for a second time to Walter Stewart, a son of King Robert II of Scotland
, before June 1361. He died the following year, and she married again in January 1363 to Thomas Byset. He died by April 1366, and she married for a fourth and final time to John de Dunbar, who died before 1371. She had no children by her later three marriages.
Isabel resigned the earldom of Fife on 30 March 1371 to Robert Stewart, 1st Duke of Albany
. She died shortly after 12 August 1389 and was buried next to Walter Stewart.
Earl of Fife
The Earl of Fife or Mormaer of Fife referred to the Gaelic comital lordship of Fife which existed in Scotland until the early 15th century....
from 1363 until she resigned the title in 1371. She was the daughter of Donnchadh IV, Earl of Fife, by his wife Mary de Monthermer
Mary de Monthermer
Mary de Monthermer, Countess of Fife was an English noblewoman. She was a daughter of Ralph de Monthermer, 1st Baron Monthermer and his wife Joan of Acre. Other sources have her being born in 1298.-Family and early life:...
(herself the daughter of Joan of Acre
Joan of Acre
Joan of Acre was an English princess, a daughter of the King Edward I of England and queen Eleanor of Castile...
and Ralph Monthermer
Ralph de Monthermer, 1st Baron Monthermer
Ralph de Monthermer, 1st Baron Monthermer, Earl of Hertford, Earl of Gloucester, Earl of Atholl -Biography:Ralph was a knight in the household of Joan of Acre, daughter of King Edward I of England. After the death of Joan's husband Gilbert de Clare, 6th Earl of Hertford in 1295, Ralph and Joan...
).
In 1332 she and her mother had been captured at Perth by supporters of King David II of Scotland
David II of Scotland
David II was King of Scots from 7 June 1329 until his death.-Early life:...
. She was sent as a ward to Northumberland
Northumberland
Northumberland is the northernmost ceremonial county and a unitary district in North East England. For Eurostat purposes Northumberland is a NUTS 3 region and is one of three boroughs or unitary districts that comprise the "Northumberland and Tyne and Wear" NUTS 2 region...
, where she married her guardian Sir William Felton. William Felton was styled "Lord of Fife" in right of his wife, and died on 21 September 1358. Their children were:
- John Felton (1340–1396)
- Duncan Felton, a priest, died after 1385.
- Joan Felton (died before 1384), married Walter Faucomberge
Because her father had forfeited the earldom, David II granted Fife to Sir William Ramsay of Colluthie (near Cupar, Fife) in 1358, ignoring Isabel's own claim. She was not recognized as Countess until 1363. She had married for a second time to Walter Stewart, a son of King Robert II of Scotland
Robert II of Scotland
Robert II became King of Scots in 1371 as the first monarch of the House of Stewart. He was the son of Walter Stewart, hereditary High Steward of Scotland and of Marjorie Bruce, daughter of Robert I and of his first wife Isabella of Mar...
, before June 1361. He died the following year, and she married again in January 1363 to Thomas Byset. He died by April 1366, and she married for a fourth and final time to John de Dunbar, who died before 1371. She had no children by her later three marriages.
Isabel resigned the earldom of Fife on 30 March 1371 to Robert Stewart, 1st Duke of Albany
Robert Stewart, 1st Duke of Albany
Robert Stewart, Duke of Albany , a member of the Scottish royal house, served as Regent to three different Scottish monarchs...
. She died shortly after 12 August 1389 and was buried next to Walter Stewart.
Ancestry
Sources
- Gray, Thomas. Scalacronica (pub.1911)