History of the Stewarts | Family Lines
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ALEXANDER Stewart
Duke of Albany
ALEXANDER STEWART, second son of JAMES II, King of Scotland, born about 1454, styled Earl of March and Lord of Annandale in 1455, and before 1458 DUKE OF ALBANY . Alexander was the second surviving son of King James II of Scotland and his wife, Mary of Gueldres. Created Duke of Albany before 1458, Alexander also received the earldom of March, and lordships of Annandale and the Isle of Man.
In 1479 he and his brother, the Earl of Mar were arrested by their brother, King James III. The Earl died in prison, but the Duke escaped to France. In 1482, he briefly invaded Scotland with Richard of Gloucester. Returning about 1483 he was created Earl of Mar and Garioch , but that year this title was forfeited, as he had placed his castle of Dunbar in the hands of the English. The next year, he invaded Scotland again but was defeated near Lochmaben in 1484, and Albany fled for the last time, again to France, where he was killed shortly afterwards in a duel with the duke of Orléans in Paris, by a splinter from the latter´s lance.
In an Act of Parliament after his death he is referred to as "Duke_of_Albany,_ Earl_of_March,_Mar_and_Garioch,_Lord_of_Annandale_and_Man" (S.).
Albany´s first wife was Lady Katherine, daughter of William Sinclair, 3rd Earl of Orkney, who bore him three sons and a daughter. This marriage was dissolved in 1478, and its issue was regarded as illegitimate. Their children included:
(a) Alexander, Moray, declared illegitimate, who became Bishop of and died 1534, leaving four sons :
(1) Patrick.
(2) Alexander of Pitcairnie, Archdeacon of Lothian.
(3) Alexander (second) of Pitcairnie.
(4) John.
By his second wife, Anne de la Tour d´Auvergne, he had a son
(b) John Stewart, styled Duke of Albany. Appointed Regent of Scotland 1515. He married, and married Anne´s
niece, also Anne de La Tour d´Auvergne. Died without legitimate issue 1536.
Arms of John, Duke of Albany, on Seals, same as his father
Arms: of Alexander, Duke of Albany, on Seal, 1473.-I. Scotland. A lion rampant within a bordure charged with eight roses (Dunbar or March). 3. Three legs armed and spurred and conjoined at the thighs in ftss (Man). 4. A saltire and chief (Annandale). SUPPORTERS: Two bears muzzled, collared and chained
