Scottish Clan Highlight: Clan Stewart
We’d like to take this moment to recognize our Honor Clan for 2023: Clan Stewart. The Stewarts are a prominent Scottish clan with a rich and complex history. Tracing their origins back to the 11th century, they are well known for playing a significant role in Scottish politics. The name Stewart/Stuart originates from the word “steward”, someone who is given power and influence by a monarch to rule in their name.
It was first applied to Walter fitz Alan (1106–1177), who became the High Steward of Scotland during the reign of David I. Walter’s grandson (also named Walter) later married Princess Marjorie, the daughter of Robert the Bruce. Their son, Robert Stewart, became King Robert II – the first Stewart monarch of Scotland. This marked the beginning of the Stewart dynasty's close association with the Scottish throne.
In 1603, James VI of Scotland ascended to the English throne and was named James I of England, uniting the crowns of Scotland and England. This marked a significant turning point for the Stewarts, as they became the ruling dynasty for both nations. His grandson James VII of Scotland/James II of England however would be overthrown in 1688 due to his conversion to Catholicism.
This would start a series of rebellions among the Scots during the 17th and 18th centuries known as the “Jacobite uprisings”, which aimed to overthrow the Hanoverian monarchy and place the House of Stuarts back on the throne. The term Jacobite comes from the latin for James, “Jacobus.”
Following the defeat of the Jacobite forces at the Battle of Culloden in 1746, the Stewarts' influence and power significantly declined. The clan's lands were forfeited, and many Stewarts were forced into exile. However, some members of the clan managed to rebuild their fortunes and gain prominence through various endeavors, such as politics, business, and the military. Today, Clan Stewart is one of Scotland's most well-known clans, having spread across the entire world. For more information, visit The Stewart Society at www.stewartsociety.org.
