William III, Earl of Ross

Uilleam (or William) III of Ross was the fourth successor of Ferchar mac in tSagairt, as Mormaer of Ross (1333/6-1370).

Uilleam came into his inheritance at a torrid time, his father Aodh dying at the Battle of Halidon Hill. Uilleam temporarily lost many of his lands. However, he returned from Norway in 1336 and regained them. Uilleam cultivated the friendship of the Stewarts, and was rewarded by being appointed Justiciar of Scotia. Uilleam's reign was marked by continued strife with his encroaching neighbour Raghnall Mac Ruaidhrí. In 1346, Uilleam killed Raghnall with eight of his men at the nunnery of Elcho.

Uilleam married Màiri, the daughter of Aonghas Óg MacDomhnaill. They had an heir, Uilleam, but he died in 1357. Uilleam's lands were forfeited by King David II in 1370. Uilleam died in 1372, and the Mormaerdom was given to his daughter Euphemia with her husband Sir Walter Leslie, thus ending the dynasty started a century and a half earlier by the great Ferchar. The dominions eventually passed to the MacDonald Lords of the Isles.

Bibliography

Roberts, John L., Lost Kingdoms: Celtic Scotland in the Middle Ages, (Edinburgh, 1997)

External links

Genealogy Page
Great Clan Ross (N/B Unfortunately, much info depends on this unreliable site)

Preceded by Aodh	Mormaer of Ross 1333/6-1370/2	Succeeded by Euphemia m. Walter Leslie

Mormaers, earls and dukes of Ross

Earls or Mormaers of Ross	MacHeth mormaers Ferchar William I William II Hugh William III Euphemia I ¹ Alexander Leslie Euphemia II (Leslie) ² John Stewart Mariota Leslie ³ Alexander of Islay John of Islay James Stewart

Dukes of Ross	James Stewart Henry Stuart James Stuart Charles Stuart

¹ Married Walter Leslie; ² In 1415 Robert, Duke of Albany persuaded her to resign the earldom to his own son; ³ Married Donald, Lord of Isles, who opposed Albany's title in her favour.

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