Clan Mar

One of the seven ancient provinces or kingdoms of Scotland that was ruled by a Mormaer, which was an ancient Pictish equivalent of an Earl, was the Mormaerdom of Mar.[2] The territory of the Earldom of Mar was in Aberdeenshire, between the River Dee and the River Don.[2]

Donald, Mormaer of Mar fought alongside the High King of Ireland, Brian Boru, against the Viking invaders at the Battle of Clontarf in 1014.[2] In a charter of 1114, erecting Scone Abbey, Rothri, Mormaer of Mar is named and is given the Latin title Comes which equates to the modern rank of Earl.[2]

Sometime before 1152 Morggán (or Morgund) witnessed a charter to Dunfermline Abbey.[2] Uilleam (William) was one of the Regents of Scotland and in 1264 he was the Great Chamberlain of the Realm.[2] William's son was Domhnall (Donald) I who was knighted at Scone in September 1270 by Alexander III of Scotland.[2] Donald witnessed the contract of marriage between Eric II of Norway and Margaret of Scotland.[2] Donald also acknowledged Eric's daughter, Margaret, Maid of Norway as the lawful heir to the throne.[2] However, Margaret died in Orkney en route to claim her kingdom.[2]

The ruins of Kildrummy Castle which was the seat of early chiefs of Clan Mar. It is believed to have been built during the lordships of Uilleam (William) and Domhnall (Donald) I.[3]

The Earls of Mar supported Robert the Bruce's claim to the throne.[2] Donald's eldest daughter was Isabella of Mar who was the first wife of Robert the Bruce.[2] Isabella's brother was Gartnait (Gratney) who married Bruce's sister, Christina Bruce.[2] Gratney was succeeded by his son, Domhnall (Donald) II.[2] This Donald was captured at the Battle of Methven in 1306.[2] He was then taken as a hostage to England and was not released until after the Scottish victory at the Battle of Bannockburn in 1314, when several other hostages including the wife, sister and daughter of Robert the Bruce were exchanged for the Earl of Hereford.[2] Mar was chosen as Regent of Scotland in 1332 but he only held the title for ten days.[2] On the eve of his election to the post, Edward Balliol marched with his English troops to Perth while Mar gathered his troops to confront the invaders.[2] In the dead of night the English fell upon the Scots army while they were asleep and totally routed them.[2] The Earl of Mar was among those who were killed.[2]

Donald's son, the next earl, Thomas, died without issue and the title passed to Margaret, Countess of Mar who was his sister.[2] From Margaret the title passed to her daughter, Isabel Douglas, Countess of Mar.[2] Isabella's second husband was Alexander Stewart, Earl of Mar, son of Alexander Stewart, Earl of Buchan, the feared Wolf of Badenoch.[2]

Isabel Douglas, Countess of Mar died without issue and the claim to the Earldom of Mar passed to Robert Erskine, 1st Lord Erskine who was descended from Elyne, daughter of Gartnait (Gratney).[2] Robert Erskine was recognized retrospectively as an Earl of Mar by an 1885 Act of Parliament.[2]

In 1615 Chief John Erskine was appointed governor of Edinburgh Castle.[2] He supported Charles I of England.[2] Lord Erskine fought for the royalists at the Battle of Kilsyth in 1645.[2] The family estates were forfeited for their support of the royalists but were later restored by Charles II of England in 1660.[2]

Chief John Erskine (known as "Bobbing John") supported the House of Stuart and the Jacobite cause during the uprisings.[2] He had his honours forfeited for supporting the Jacobite cause.[2] These honours were restored in 1824 by Act of parliament.[2]