Earl of Strathearn

Earldom of Strathearn
Or, two chevronels gules
Creation date	12th century?
Peerage	Peerage of Scotland Peerage of the United Kingdom
First holder	Malise
Present holder	Prince William
Heir apparent	Prince George of Cambridge

Earl or Mormaer of Strathearn is a title of Scottish nobility, referring to the region of Strathearn in southern Perthshire. Of unknown origin, the mormaers are attested for the first time in a document perhaps dating to 1115. The first known mormaer, Malise I, is mentioned by Ailred of Rievaulx as leading native Scots in the company of King David at the Battle of the Standard, 1138. The last ruler of the Strathearn line was Malise, also Earl of Caithness and Orkney, who had his earldom forfeited by King Edward Balliol. In 1344 it was regranted by King David to Maurice de Moravia, a royal favourite who had a vague claim to the earldom as Malise's nephew and also stepfather.

Strathearn has since been used as a peerage title for James Stewart, an illegitimate son of King James V of Scotland, who was created Lord Abernethy and Strathearn and Earl of Moray in 1562. In 1631, William Graham, 7th Earl of Menteith was confirmed in this dignity as heir of line of Euphemia Stewart, Countess of Strathearn (d. 1415), but was forced to settle for the less prestigious title of the Earl of Airth in 1633.

It has also been granted to members of the royal family in the titles of Duke of Cumberland and Strathearn (created 1766, extinct 1790), Duke of Kent and Strathearn (created 1799, extinct 1820) and Duke of Connaught and Strathearn (created 1874, extinct 1943).

On 29 April 2011, the title was recreated when Queen Elizabeth II conferred the title on Prince William of Wales.^[1][2] As a result, on marriage his wife Catherine became Countess of Strathearn.^[3][4] He generally uses this title in Scotland.

Ancient Earls of Strathearn

Prince William, Earl of Strathearn (pictured in 2010)

Royal banner of the Earl of Strathearn

• Malise I (fl. 1138)
• Ferteth (fl. 1160)
• Gille-Brigte or Gilbert (1171–1223)
• Robert (1223–1245)
• Malise II (1245–1271)
• Malise III (1271–1317)
• Malise IV (1317–1329)
• Malise V (1330–1334) (d. 1350 as Earl of Caithness)

Earls of Strathearn, Moray line beginning 1344

• Maurice de Moravia, Earl of Strathearn (d.1346)

Earls of Strathearn, Stewart/Graham line beginning 1357

• Robert Stewart, Earl of Strathearn (1316–1390) (passed to son after becoming King Robert II in 1371)
• David Stewart, Earl of Strathearn (1355–1390)
• Euphemia Stewart, Countess of Strathearn (d.1415)
  • m. Patrick Graham
• Malise Graham, Earl of Strathearn (1410–after 1427), deprived of the peerage before 1427
• Walter Stewart, Earl of Strathearn (d. 1437)

Earls of Strathearn, Mountbatten-Windsor line beginning 2011

• Prince William, Duke of Cambridge, Earl of Strathearn, Baron Carrickfergus (born 1982)

References

1. "Titles announced for Prince William and Catherine Middleton" (Press release). Clarence House. 29 April 2011. Retrieved 2 August 2013.
2. Beckford, Martin (29 April 2011). "Royal wedding: Prince William and Kate Middleton become Duke and Duchess of Cambridge". The Telegraph. Retrieved 1 August 2013. Buckingham Palace said in a statement published at 8am on Friday: 'The Queen has today been pleased to confer a Dukedom on Prince William of Wales. 'His titles will be Duke of Cambridge, Earl of Strathearn and Baron Carrickfergus. 'Prince William thus becomes His Royal Highness The Duke of Cambridge and Miss Catherine Middleton on marriage will become Her Royal Highness The Duchess of Cambridge.'
3. "Media pack for the birth of the first child of The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge" (PDF). Kensington Palace. July 2013. Retrieved 8 August 2013. On the occasion of his marriage, The Queen conferred a Dukedom on Prince William of Wales. The Duke received the titles of Duke of Cambridge, Earl of Strathearn and Baron Carrickfergus. As a result Miss Catherine Middleton became Her Royal Highness The Duchess of Cambridge, Countess of Strathearn and Lady Carrickfergus.
4. Rayner, Gordon (2 August 2013). "Duchess Kate: Princess of the United Kingdom (but you can call me mummy)". The Daily Telegraph. Although she has never used the name, the Duchess is entitled to refer to herself as Princess William of Wales, as well as being Countess of Strathearn and Lady Carrickfergus.

Bibliography

• Neville, Cynthia J., Native Lordship in Medieval Scotland: the Earldoms of Strathearn and Lennox, c. 1140–1365, Dublin: Four Courts Press, 2005 ISBN 1-85182-890-7
  • --do.--The Earls of Strathearn from the twelfth to the mid fourteenth century, with an edition of their written acts. 2 vols. 1983. Ph.D. thesis, University of Aberdeen. (http://digitool.abdn.ac.uk:80/webclient/Deliv...&pid=130786)