Lord High Constable of Scotland
| Lord High Constable of Scotland | |
|---|---|
.svg) | |
| Style | The Earl of Errol, Lord High Constable of Scotland |
| Succession | Hereditary |
The Lord High Constable is a hereditary, now ceremonial, office of
James VI's move to England, the jurisdiction
of the Lord High Constable was defined in terms of the "resident place" appointed for the Council.
The Constable historically also commanded the
Act of Union 1707
. The office, nonetheless, continues as a ceremonial one.
The office became hereditary in the 12th Century and was held by the
Comyn family, but they ended up on the wrong side in the Wars of Scottish Independence. Since then it has been held by the Hays of Erroll, later Earls of Erroll. The first was Gilbert Hay, who was given the office by Robert the Bruce, followed by David Hay
.
The Constable and the Duke of Hamilton (as Lord of Abernethy) may sit as assessors to the Lord Lyon King of Arms. The Earl of Erroll, Lord High Constable, is one of four peers entitled to appoint a private pursuivant, with the title of Slains Pursuivant of Arms.[1]
In 1952, the
coronation of Queen Elizabeth II. The present holder (2021) is Merlin Hay, 24th Earl of Erroll
.
Hundred Years War
During the
John Stewart, 2nd Earl of Buchan, who latterly was also created Constable of France
.
Constables (incomplete)
- c. 1114-c. 1138, Edward Siwardsson to King David I
- 1138-1162, Hugh de Morville, to King David I (father of Hugh de Morville, Lord of Westmorland an assassin of Thomas Becket)
- 1162-1189, Richard de Morville, his son, to King Malcolm IV
- 1189-1200, Lochlann of Galloway, his son-in-law, husband of Richard de Morville's daughter Helena, Constable to King William the Lion.
- 1200-1234, Alan of Galloway (son of Helena de Morville), to King Alexander II
- 1234-1265, Roger de Quincy, 2nd Earl of Winchester (married to a daughter of Alan of Galloway)
- c. 1265-c. 1286, Sir Leonard Leslie, to King Alexander III
- 1275–1289, Alexander Comyn, Earl of Buchan.[2]
- 1289-?, John Comyn, Earl of Buchan
- 1311, David II Strathbogie, Earl of Atholl, forfeited.
- 1309-1333, Gilbert de la Hay from 1309, made Heritable Constable in 1314 by Robert the Bruce, following the Battle of Bannockburn.[1]
- 1333, Henry de Beaumont, to Edward Balliol.
- 1333-1346, David de la Hay, grandson of Gilbert de la Hay
- 1346-1406, Thomas de la Hay, son of David de la Hay
- 1406-1437, William de la Hay, son of Thomas de la Hay
- see Earl of Erroll for subsequent holders of the office
See also
- Great Officer of State
- Lord High Constable of England
External links
- Hansard of the role of Lord High Constable in reformed House of Lords
- Historic Earls and Earldoms of Scotland: Chapter IV - Earldom and Earls of Erroll
Notes
- ^ ISBN 0-304-36201-8
- ^ Foedera p.228.
References
- Scott, Sir John, of Scotstarvet, Director of Chancery, The Staggering State of the Scots Statesmen, 1st edition, 1754, p.189-190.
- Burke's Peerage and Gentry
- Stair Memorial Encyclopaedia of the Laws of Scotland