Walter FitzAlan (
c. 1090 – 1177) was a twelfth-century Anglo-Norman baron who became a Scottish magnate and
Steward of Scotland.[note 1] He was a younger son of
Alan fitz Flaad and Avelina de Hesdin. In about 1136, Walter entered into the service of
David I, King of Scotland. He became the king's dapifer or
steward in about 1150, and served as such for three successive Scottish kings: David,
Malcolm IV and
William I. In time, the stewardship became hereditarily held by Walter's descendants.
Walter started his career as a minor English baron. Upon arriving in Scotland, however, he received a substantial grant of lands from his Scottish sovereigns. These included the western provincial lordships of: Mearns,
Strathgryfe,
Renfrew and
North Kyle. The
caput of Walter's holdings is uncertain, although there is reason to suspect it was either
Dundonald Castle or
Renfrew Castle. Walter was a benefactor of several religious houses, and was the founder of
Paisley Priory.
There is reason to suspect that Walter took part in the
Siege of Lisbon against the
Moors in 1147. He probably assisted Malcolm in the series of Scottish invasions of
Galloway in 1160, which resulted in the downfall of
Fergus, Lord of Galloway. Walter and the other colonial lords settled in western Scotland were probably intended to protect the Scottish realm from external threats located in regions such as Galloway and the
Isles. In 1164,
Somairle mac Gilla Brigte, King of the Isles invaded Scotland and was defeated near Renfrew. It is possible that the commander of the local Scottish forces was Walter himself.
Walter was married to Eschina de Londres, an apparent member of the Londres/London family. There is reason to suspect that she was also matrilineally descended from a family native to southern Scotland. If correct, this could explain why Walter was granted the lands of Mow. Alternately, it is possible that Eschina's rights to Mow merely stemmed from her marriage to Walter. Eschina and Walter were the parents of
Alan, Walter's successor. The couple may have also been the parents of a Christina, a woman who married into the
Brus and
Dunbar families. Walter was an ancestor of the
Stewart family, from which descended the royal
Stewart/Stuart dynasty. He died in 1177.
Walter appears to have arrived in Scotland in about 1136, during the reign of
David I, King of Scotland.[28] Following Henry's death in 1135, the Fitz Alans evidently sided with David in his support of the
contested English royal claims of Henry's daughter,
Matilda.[29] Certainly, both William and Walter witnessed acts of Matilda in 1141.[30] In any event, the date of Walter's introduction into Scotland may be marked by the original part of the so-called "foundation charter" of
Melrose Abbey, which records Walter as a witness.[31]
Walter served as David's dapifer or senescallus (steward).[32] He served in this capacity for three successive Scottish kings: David,
Malcolm IV and
William I.[33][note 4] Walter is increasingly attested by royal charters from about 1150,[36] and it is possible that it was at about this time that David granted him the stewardship to be held heritably.[37] As the king's steward, Walter would have been responsible for the day-to-day running of the king's household.[38] Whilst the
chamberlain was responsible for the king's sleeping compartments, the steward oversaw the king's hall.[39] It is possible that David sought to replace the Gaelic office of rannaire ("food-divider") with that of the steward.[40] This office certainly appears to have been a precursor to the stewardship.[41][note 5] Walter's ancestors were stewards to the Breton lords of Dol.[46] In fact, his elder brother, Jordan, inherited this stewardship from their father,[47] and held this office at the time of Walter's own establishment in Scotland. As such, it is probable that Walter possessed a degree of experience in the profession.[40]
Walter lived during a period in history when Scottish monarchs sought to attract men to their kingdom by promising them gifts of land. To such kings, royal authority depended upon their ability to give away territories in the peripheries of the realm.[50] Although the twelfth-century Scottish monarchs did not create any new
earldoms for the incoming
Anglo-Norman magnates, they did grant them provincial lordships. The most important of these mid-century colonial establishments were:
Annandale for
Robert de Brus; Upper
Eskdale and Ewesdale for
Robert Avenel;
Lauderdale and
Cunningham for
Hugh de Morville;
Liddesdale for
Ranulf de Sules; and Mearns,
Strathgryfe,
Renfrew and
North Kyle for Walter himself.[51][note 6] As a result of their tenure in high office, and their dominating regional influence, these provincial lords were equal to the native Scottish earls in all but rank.[56]
In 1161×1162, Malcolm confirmed Walter's stewardship, and confirmed David's grants of Renfrew,
Paisley,
Pollock, "Talahret",
Cathcart, Dripps, Mearns,
Eaglesham,
Lochwinnoch and
Innerwick. He also granted Walter West
Partick,
Inchinnan,
Stenton, Hassenden,
Legerwood and
Birkenside, as well as a toft with twenty acres in every
burgh and
demesne in the realm. For this grant, Walter owed his sovereign the service of five
knights.[58] The grant of lodgings in every important royal settlement would have only been entrusted to people particularly close to the king, and to those who were expected to travel with him.[59] The impressive list of twenty-nine eminent men who attested this transaction appears to be evidence that the proceedings took place in a public setting before the royal court.[60]
At some point during his career, Walter received North Kyle[61] from either David or Malcolm.[62][note 7] Also in 1161×1162—perhaps on the same date as Malcolm's aforesaid charter to Walter[64]—the king granted Walter the lands of Mow for the service of one knight.[65] There is reason to suspect that David's original grant of lands to Walter took place in 1136. Certainly in 1139×1146, Walter witnessed a charter of David to the cathedral of
Glasgow in which the king invested the cathedral with assets from
Carrick, Cunningham, Strathgryfe and
Kyle.[66][note 8] In 1165, Walter is stated to have held lands worth two
knight's fees in Shropshire.[68] As such, the vast majority of his holdings were located north of the
Anglo-Scottish border.[69]
Walter founded
Paisley Priory in about 1163.[74] This religious house was initially established at Renfrew—at King's Inch near
Renfrew Castle—before removing to Paisley within a few years.[75][note 10] The fact that Walter made this a
Cluniac monastery could be evidence that he was personally devoted to the Cluniac
Wenlock Priory in Shropshire.[82] Alternately, the decision to associate Wenlock with his foundation at Renfrew could have stemmed from a devotion to the cult of Wenlock's patron saint:
St Milburga.[40][note 11]
Walter's priory at Paisley was dedicated in part to
St James the Greater.[88] This, coupled with the fact that Walter did not witness any of David's acts during a span of time in 1143×1145, could be evidence that Walter undertook a
pilgrimage to the shrine of St James the Greater at
Santiago de Compostela.[37][note 12] In the spring of 1147, Scots joined an Anglo-Flemish fleet in
Dartmouth, and set off to join the
Second Crusade.[96] The presence of Scots in this multi-ethnic fighting force is specifically attested by the twelfth-century texts De expugnatione Lyxbonensi and Gesta Friderici imperatoris.[97] In June, this fleet of
Englishmen,
Flemings,
Normans,
Rhinelanders and Scots arrived at
Lisbon, and joined the
King of Portugal's months-long
siege of the city.[98] Some of the adventurers who participated in the expedition—a fifty-ship detachment of Rhinelanders—clearly visited Santiago de Compostela.[99] It is possible that Walter was one of the Scots who took part in the Lisbon expedition.[37]
Renfrew may well have served as the
caput of the Strathgryfe group of holdings held by Walter,[100] and could have been the main caput of all his holdings.[101][note 13] The fact that he chose Paisley to serve as a
priory does not necessarily mean that Renfrew was his principal caput. There is reason to suspect that North Kyle served as Walter's power centre. For example, Walter granted this religious house a
tithe from all his lands except North Kyle. The fact that he granted away only one piece of land in North Kyle—as opposed to his extensive donations elsewhere—suggests that North Kyle was his largest block of his own demesne.[104] As such, the archaeological evidence of a twelfth-century
motte at Dundonald could indicate that Walter constructed
Dundonald Castle, an earth and timber fortress, as his principal caput.[105][note 14]
The uneven distribution of Walter's grants to Paisley Priory seems to have been a result of the fact that he had subinfeudated most of Strathgryfe by the time of its establishment.[107] Walter's extensive territories consisted of regions inhabited by native speakers of English,
Cumbric and
Gaelic.[108] From the years spanning 1160–1241, there are roughly one hundred vassals, tenants and dependants of Walter and his succeeding son and grandson.[109] A considerable number of these dependants were drawn from the vicinity of the Fitz Alan lands in Shropshire.[110] The latter region was largely
Welsh-speaking at the time, and it is possible that these languages were then mutually intelligible with
Breton, Cumbric. If so, it could indicate that Walter and his dependents were purposely settled in the west to take advantage of this linguistic affiliation. As such, it may have been hoped that such incoming settlers would possess a degree of legitimacy from the natives as fellow
Britons.[111]
Eschina de Londres
Image a
Image b
Nineteenth-century depictions of Walter's
seal (image a) and counter-seal (image b). The front of the seal displays a mounted
knight with a
shield,
lance and
pennon. The counter-seal shows a warrior, holding with a spear or staff in his right hand, leaning against a pillar.[112][note 15]
Walter was married to Eschina de Londres (fl. 1177×1198).[117] It is likely that the king—either David or Malcolm—arranged the union.[118] Eschina is variously accorded locative names such as de Londres and de Molle.[119] The former name appears to indicate that her father was a member of the Londres (or London) family.[120] One possibility is that this man was Richard de London.[121] The various forms of Eschina's locative surname de Molle could indicate that she was a maternal granddaughter and heir of a previous Lord of Mow: a certain Uhtred, son of Liulf.[122][note 16] Uhtred is known to have granted the church of Mow to
Kelso Abbey during David's reign.[124]
If Eschina indeed possessed an inherited claim to Mow, it is possible that Walter's grant of this territory was given from the king in the context of Walter's marriage to her.[126] The fact that Uhtred seems to have had a son and a brother could be evidence that the king had overridden the inheritance rights of Uhtred's male heirs.[127] On the other hand, an alternate possibility is that Eschina only possessed rights to Mow as a result of her marriage to Walter.[128]
Walter was Eschina's first husband.[121] She survived Walter, and her second husband was probably Henry de Cormunnock,[129] by whom she had two daughters: Cecilia[130] and Maud.[127] Eschina's grant to Paisley Priory records that her daughter, Margaret, was buried there.[131] A daughter of Walter may have been Christina, a widow of
William de Brus, Lord of Annandale, and second wife of
Patrick I, Earl of Dunbar.[132] Christina's kinship with Walter's family could account for the Dunbars' later possession of Birkenside.[133]
Galloway
Walter witnessed an act by Malcolm at
Les Andelys in
Normandy. This charter appears to reveal that Walter was one of the Scottish barons who accompanied the king on the English campaign against the French at Toulouse in 1159. This record is the only known act of the king on
the Continent.[134] Malcolm returned to Scotland in 1160, having spent months campaigning in the service of the English. Upon his return, the king was forced to confront an attempted coup at Perth.[135] Having successfully dealt with this considerable number of disaffected magnates, the twelfth- to thirteenth-century Chronicle of Holyrood and Chronicle of Melrose reveal that Malcolm launched three military expeditions into Galloway.[136] Although the names of the king's accomplices are unrecorded, Walter was probably among them.[137]
The circumstances surrounding these invasions are unclear;[138] what is clear, however, is that
Fergus, Lord of Galloway submitted to the Scots before the end of the year.[139] Specifically, according to the thirteenth-century Gesta Annalia I, once the Scots subdued the Gallovidians, the conquerors forced Fergus to retire to
Holyrood Abbey, and hand over his son,
Uhtred, as a royal hostage.[140] On one hand, Fergus himself may have precipitated Malcolm's Gallovian campaign, by raiding the territory between the rivers
Urr and
Nith.[141] The fact that the Chronicle of Holyrood describes Malcolm's Gallovidian opponents as "federate enemies", and makes no mention of his sons, suggests that Fergus was supported by other accomplices.[142] In fact, Malcolm may have encountered an alliance between Fergus and
Somairle mac Gilla Brigte, King of the Isles.[143]
The various depictions of Somairle's forces—stated to have been drawn from
Argyll,
Dublin and the
Isles—appear to reflect the remarkable reach of power that this man possessed at his peak.[158] According to the Chronicle of Melrose, Somairle landed at Renfrew, and was
defeated and slain by the people of the district.[159][note 18] This stated location of Renfrew could be evidence that the target of Somairle's strike was Walter.[162] Nevertheless, the leadership of the Scottish forces is uncertain.[163] It is conceivable that the commander was one of the three principal men of the region:
Herbert, Bishop of Glasgow,[164]Baldwin, Sheriff of Lanark/Clydesdale,[165] and Walter himself.[166] Whilst there is reason to suspect that Somairle focused his offensive upon Walter's lordship at Renfrew,[167] it is also possible that Hebert, as Malcolm's agent in the west, was the intended target.[168] Certainly, Carmen de Morte Sumerledi associates Herbert with the victory,[169] and makes no mention of Walter or any Scottish royal forces.[170] On the other hand, Baldwin's nearby lands of
Inverkip and
Houston were passed by Somairle's naval forces, suggesting that it was either Baldwin or his followers who engaged and overcame the invaders.[163][note 19]
Exactly why Somairle struck out at the Scots is unknown.[173] This man's rise to power appears to coincide with an apparent weakening of Scottish royal authority in Argyll.[174] Although David may well have regarded Argyll as a Scottish tributary, Somairle's ensuing career clearly reveals that the latter regarded himself a fully independent ruler.[175] Somairle's first attestation by a contemporary source occurs in 1153,[176] when the Chronicle of Holyrood reports that he backed the cause of his nepotes, the Meic Máel Coluim, in an unsuccessful coup after David's death.[177] These nepotes—possibly nephews or grandsons of Somairle—were the sons of
Máel Coluim mac Alasdair, a claimant to the Scottish throne, descended from an elder brother of David,
Alexander I, King of Scotland.[178] Four years later Somairle launched his final invasion of Scotland, and it is possible that it was conducted in the context of another attempt to support Máel Coluim's claim to the Scottish throne.[179]
Another possibility is that Somairle was attempting to secure a swathe of territory that had only recently been secured by the Scottish Crown.[179] Although there is no record of Somairle before 1153, his family was evidently involved in an earlier insurrection by Máel Coluim against David that ended with Máel Coluim's capture and imprisonment in 1134.[174][note 20] An aftereffect of this failed insurgency may be perceptible in a Scottish royal charter issued at
Cadzow in about 1136.[67] This source records the Scottish Crown's claim to cáin in Carrick, Kyle, Cunningham and Strathgryfe.[183] Historically, this region appears to have once formed part of the territory dominated by the
Gall Gaidheil,[184] a people of mixed Scandinavian and Gaelic ethnicity.[185] One possibility is that these lands had formerly comprised part of a Gall Gaidheil realm before the Scottish Crown overcame Máel Coluim and his supporters.[67] The Cadzow charter is one of several that mark the earliest record of Fergus.[186] This man's attestation could indicate that while Somairle's family may have suffered marginalisation as a result of Máel Coluim's defeat and David's consolidation of the region, Fergus and his family could have conversely profited at this time as supporters of David's cause.[67] The record of Fergus amongst the Scottish elite at Cadzow is certainly evidence of the increasing reach of David's royal authority in the 1130s.[187]
Another figure first attested by these charters is Walter,[67] who may have been granted the lands of Strathgryfe, Renfrew, Mearns and North Kyle on the occasion of David's grant of cáin.[190] One explanation for Somairle's invasion is that he may have been compelled to counter a threat that Walter[191]—and other recently
enfeoffed Scottish magnates—posed to his authority.[192] A catalyst of this collision of competing spheres of influence may have been the vacuum left by the assassination of Somairle's father-in-law,
Óláfr Guðrøðarson, King of the Isles, in 1153. Although the political uncertainty following Óláfr's elimination would have certainly posed a threat to the Scots, the concurrent build-up of Scottish power along the western seaboard—particularly exemplified by Walter's expansive territorial grants in the region—meant that the Scots were also positioned to capitalise upon the situation.[193] In fact, there is reason to suspect that, during Malcolm's reign—and perhaps with Malcolm's consent—Walter began to extend his own authority into the
Firth of Clyde, the islands of the Clyde, the southern shores of
Cowal and the fringes of Argyll.[194][note 22]
The allotment of Scottish fiefs along the western seaboard suggests that these lands were settled in the context of defending the Scottish realm from external threats located in Galloway and the Isles.[199] It was probably in this context that substantial western lordships were granted to Hugh de Morville, Robert de Brus and Walter.[200] As such, the mid-part of the twelfth century saw a steady consolidation of Scottish power along the western seaboard by some of the realm's greatest magnates—men who could well have encroached into Somairle's sphere of influence.[201][note 23]
The remarkably poor health of Malcolm—a man who went on to die before reaching the age of twenty-five—combined with the rising power of Somairle along Scotland's western seaboard, could account for Malcolm's confirmation Walter's stewardship and lands in 1161×1162. As such, Walter may have sought written confirmation of his rights in light of the external threats that faced the Scottish Crown.[203] In fact, one possibility is that the king's serious illness was a specific impetus for Somairle's campaign. Somairle may have intended to seize upon Malcolm's poor health to strike out at the Scots and limit the western spread of their influence.[204]
Death and successors
Walter served as steward until his death[205] in 1177.[206] Before his demise, Walter retired to Melrose Abbey, and died there a
lay member of the monastery.[207] He was buried at Paisley.[208] Walter's son and successor,
Alan, does not appear to have equalled Walter's consistent attendance of the royal court.[209][note 24]
It was during the tenure of Walter's great-grandson,
Alexander Stewart, Steward of Scotland, that the title of dapifer regis Scotie ("steward of the king of Scotland") came to be replaced by the style senescallus Scotie ("steward of Scotland").[11][note 25] It was also during this generation that forms of the surname Stewart began to be borne by Walter's descendants.[214] Specifically, his like-named great-grandson,
Walter Stewart, Earl of Menteith, is the first such descendant known to have adopted senescallus as a
surname without having possessed the office of steward.[11][note 26] Walter was the founder of the
Stewart family,[217] from which descended the royal
Stewart dynasty.[218][note 27]
Notes
^Since the 1990s, academics have accorded Walter various
patronyms in English secondary sources: Walter Fitz Alan,[2]Walter fitz Alan,[3]Walter Fitzalan,[4]Walter fitzAlan,[5] and Walter FitzAlan.[6] Likewise, since the 1990s, academics have accorded Walter various occupational names in English secondary sources: Walter Stewart,[7]Walter the Steward,[8] and Walter the Stewart.[9]
^In the fourteenth century, during the reign of Walter's royal descendant
Robert II, King of Scotland (died 1390), the Scottish historian
John Barbour (died 1395) composed a now non-existent history of the ruling
Stewart dynasty to glorify and promote the authority of this family.[13] There is reason to suspect that, within this account, Barbour traced the king's descent to the ancient
kings of Britain descended from
Brutus.[14] In the sixteenth century, the Scottish historian
Hector Boece claimed that Walter's father was a certain
Fleance, son of Banquho. According to Boece, Fleance was driven from Scotland into exile in Wales, where he had a liaison with a Welsh princess, a woman who came to be Walter's mother. Upon reaching manhood in Wales, Boece's account relates that Walter journeyed to his paternal homeland.[15] Two authorities who certainly had access to Barbour's account were the Scottish historians
Andrew Wyntoun[16] and
Walter Bower. Although neither of these men ever made note of a figure named Banquho,[17] and Fleance is first specifically noted by Boece's account,[18] it is clear that the now-lost account of Barbour did indeed accord the Stewarts a Welsh ancestry,[19] and it is possible that Barbour traced the family's descent from the British kings through Fleance's Welsh wife.[20] In any case, Fleance appears to represent Walter's historical grandfather, Flaald. There is no evidence that this man married into a native Welsh family.[21]
^These three sons of Alan and Avelina appear to have had a half-brother, a certain
Simon, descended from Avelina and her second husband.[23]
^Walter's family originated from Dol in Brittany. Another family that appears to have originated from this region were the Biduns, and a member of this family,[34] a certain Walter de Bidun, became David's chancellor.[35]
^A rannaire active during David's reign was a certain
Alguine mac Arcuil.[42] According to the twelfth-century Vita Ailredi, an unnamed steward of David was highly jealous of the future
St Ailred who apparently also acted as a steward (economus and dapifer) to the king.[43] One possibility is that the unnamed vociferous opponent of St Ailred was Walter himself. Alternately, the steward in question could well have been either Alguine[36] or his son.[44] In any case, Alguine appears to have succeeded by his son, Gilla Andréis, who appears on record as a rannaire during Malcolm's reign.[45]
^Whereas Walter became the king's steward, Hugh became the
constable,[52] and Ranulf became the
butler.[53] Whilst the steward was responsible for the king's household, the constable was in command of the king's
knights, and the butler was in charge of the king's wine.[54] Following Hugh's death in 1162, Walter seems to have been the most important
lay member of the king's household.[55]
^This northern half of
Kyle came to be variously known as "Kyle Stewart" or "Walter's Kyle".[63]
^This charter is one of several that mark the first appearance of Walter in contemporary sources.[67]
^Although William confirmed this grant, Walter still owed the king service for the lands.[71]
^In a charter of his to Paisley Priory in 1165×1173, Walter specifically made note of the land where the monks first lived at Paisley.[76] A charter of Malcolm to Paisley Priory in 1163×1165 mentions a priory at King's Inch from where the Paisley monks relocated.[77] A
papal bull of
Pope Alexander III, dating to 1173, states that the monks lived near the mill of Renfrew before removing to Paisley.[78] The charter of 1165×1173 notes that Walter possessed a hall near the priory.[79] One possibility is that this hall is identical to the Blackhall (Nigram Aulam), an apparent hunting lodge in the Paisley area, possessed by later descendants of Walter.[80] The existing structure at
Blackhall evidently dates to the sixteenth century. This site has not been excavated, and it is unknown what structures may have existed there in the twelfth and thirteenth centuries.[81]
^Like the priory of Wenlock, Paisley Priory was dedicated in part to St Milburga.[83] It was also dedicated in part to
St Mirin,[84] who could have been locally associated with Paisely.[85] The priory of Paisley became an
abbey in 1219.[86] Whilst the foundation charter of Paisley Priory declares that the house was established "to the honour of God", after its relocation to Paisley it was stated to have been made "to
God and
St Mary and the church of
St James and St Mirin and St Milburga of Paisley".[87]
^In Scotland, devotion to St James appears to have been peculiar to Walter's family.[89] The personal name James was virtually unknown there in about 1100.[90] However, it became popular within the family in later generations.[91] A thirteenth-century family member who bore the name was
James Stewart, Steward of Scotland,[92] whose father,
Alexander Stewart, Steward of Scotland, also appears to have undertaken a pilgrimage to Santiago de Compostela.[93] Whilst it is possible that James was bestowed this name on account of his father's pilgrimage,[94] the name could have also stemmed from the family's earlier dedication to the saint.[95]
^Renfrew was made a burgh during David's reign.[102] The first notice of
Renfrew Castle occurs in 1163×1165.[103]
^The castle was probably the family's caput in North Kyle.[106]
^Walter's seal is non-
heraldic.[113] It was attached to a charter of his to
Melrose Abbey concerning the lands of
Mauchline.[114] The legend on the seal's front face reads: "SIGILLVM·WALTERI·FILII·ALANI DAPIFERI·REG".[115] Whilst the earliest-known seal of his son is also non-heraldic, a later one bears the earliest depiction of the heraldic
fesschequy borne by the
Stewart family.[116]
^In a grant to Paisley Abbey, Eschina is styled "lady of Mow".[123]
^Comprising some four sets,[145] the pieces are thought to have been crafted in Norway in the twelfth and thirteenth centuries.[146]
^At a later date, Somairle's son,
Ragnall, and the latter's wife, Fonia, are reported to have made donations to Paisley Priory.[160] The circumstances surrounding these gifts are uncertain. The fact that the monks of Paisley were originally based at King's Inch, could mean that they tended to the body of Somairle in the immediate aftermath of his defeat and death.[161]
^In the eighteenth century, the battle was locally alleged to have been marked by a particular stone-topped mound. By the end of the nineteenth century, no trace of the mound could be found.[171]
^On at least two occasions that may date before 1134, David temporarily based himself at
Irvine in Cunningham, a strategic coastal site from where Scottish forces may have conducted seaborne military operations against Malcolm's western allies.[180] The twelfth-century Relatio de Standardo reveals that David received English military assistance against Máel Coluim. This source specifies that a force against Máel Coluim was
mustered at
Carlisle, and notes successful naval campaigns conducted against David's enemies, which suggests that Máel Coluim's support was indeed centred in Scotland's western coastal periphery.[181] By the mid-1130s, David had not only succeeded in securing Máel Coluim, but also appears to have gained recognition of his overlordship of Argyll.[182]
^The Scandinavian connections of leading members of the Isles may have been reflected in their military armament, and could have resembled that depicted upon such gaming pieces.[189]
^The first of Walter's family to hold lordship over
Bute may have been his son,
Alan.[195] By about 1200,[196] during the latter's career, the family certainly seems to have gained control of the island.[197] By the latter half of the thirteenth century, the family certainly held authority over Cowal.[198]
^The catalyst for the establishment of castles along the River Clyde could well have been the potential threat posed by Somairle.[202]
^Whilst Walter witnessed seventy-four and fifty-four royal acts during the respective reigns of Malcolm and William, Alan witnessed forty-seven during William's reign.[210]
^Alexander's father (Walter's like-named grandson)
Walter fitz Alan II, Steward of Scotland is styled dapifer regis Scotie in his earliest acts,[211] and senescallus in at least one later act.[212] This new terminology appears to correspond to the evolution of the office: from steward of the king's household to the steward of the realm.[213]
^The surname Stewart is specifically derived from the
Middle Englishstiward, which in turn stems from the
Old Englishstigweard ("household guardian").[215] These terms were equivalents of the Middle English/
Old Frenchseneschal, seneshal.[216]
^Until the generation of Walter's great-grandson, his branch of the Fitz Alan family alternated between the names Alan and Walter.[219] The former name is of Breton origin,[220] and its popularity in Scotland is mostly due to the Stewart family.[221] Walter's succeeding great-grandson, like many other men of his generation, was apparently named after
Alexander II, King of Scotland.[222]
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