William Sinclair, 1st Earl of Caithness

2025-10-23T19:52:26Z

72.253.180.207:

{{short description|Norwegian-Scottish nobleman}}
{{Redirect|William St. Clair|other uses|William Saint-Clair (disambiguation){{!}}William Saint-Clair}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2021}}
{{Infobox noble|type
| name = William Sinclair
| title = [[Earl of Orkney#Scottish Jarls under the Norwegian Crown|Earl (Jarl) of Orkney]] [[Earl of Caithness]] [[Lord Sinclair]] [[Baron of Roslin]]
| image = [[File:Arms of the Earl of Orkney.svg|100px]] [[File:Arms of the Earl of Caithness.svg|100px]] [[File:Arms of Lord Sinclair.svg|100px]] [[File:Blason Henri Ier Sinclair.svg|100px]]
| caption = Earl of Orkney, Earl of Caithness, Lord Sinclair and Baron of Roslin Coats of Arms
| predecessor = [[Henry II Sinclair, Earl of Orkney]]
| successor = [[William Sinclair, 2nd Earl of Caithness]] [[William Sinclair, 3rd Lord Sinclair]] [[Oliver St Clair, 12th Baron of Roslin]]
| noble family = [[Clan Sinclair]]
| father = Henry Sinclair, 2nd Earl of Orkney
| mother = Egidia Douglas
| death_date = {{Circa|1480}}
}}
'''William Sinclair''' (1410–1480), '''1st [[Earl of Caithness]]''' (1455–1476), '''last [[Earl of Orkney#Scottish Earls under the Norwegian Crown|Earl (Jarl) of Orkney]]''' (1434–1470 [[de facto]], –1472 [[de jure]]), '''2nd [[Lord Sinclair]]''' and '''11th [[Baron of Roslin]]''' was a [[Norway|Norwegian]] and [[Scotland|Scottish]] [[Peerage of Scotland|nobleman]] and the builder of [[Rosslyn Chapel]], in [[Midlothian]].<ref name="Saint-Clair">{{cite book |last=Saint-Clair |first=Roland William |year=1898 |title=The Saint-Clairs of the Isles; being a history of the sea-kings of Orkney and their Scottish successors of the sirname of Sinclair |url=https://archive.org/details/saintclairsofisl00sain/page/n9/mode/2up |location=[[Shortland Street, Auckland]], New Zealand |publisher=H. Brett |pages=[https://archive.org/details/saintclairsofisl00sain/page/112/mode/2up 112]-126 and [https://archive.org/details/saintclairsofisl00sain/page/186/mode/2up 186] |access-date=6 February 2021}}</ref>

In ''[[The Scots Peerage]]'' by [[James Balfour Paul]] he is designated as the 1st Lord Sinclair,<ref name="Peerage2">{{cite book |last=Paul |first=James Balfour |author-link=James Balfour Paul |year=1910 |title=The Scots Peerage; Founded on Wood's Edition of Sir Robert Douglas's Peerage of Scotland; Containing an Historical and Genealogical Account of the Nobility of that Kingdom |url=https://archive.org/details/scotspeeragefoun07paul/page/n5/mode/2up |volume=VII |location=Edinburgh |publisher=[[David Douglas (publisher)|David Douglas]] |pages=[https://archive.org/details/scotspeeragefoun07paul/page/n595/mode/2up 569] |access-date=June 6, 2021}}</ref> but historian Roland Saint-Clair designates him the 2nd Lord Sinclair in reference to his father, [[Henry II Sinclair, Earl of Orkney]], being the first person recorded as Lord Sinclair by public records.<ref name="Saint-Clair2">{{cite book |last=Saint-Clair |first=Roland |year=1898 |title=The Saint-Clairs of the Isles; being a history of the Sea-kings of Orkney and their Scottish successors of the sirname of Sinclair |url=https://archive.org/details/saintclairsofisl00sain/page/n9/mode/2up |location=[[Shortland Street, Auckland]], New Zealand |publisher=H. Brett |page=[https://archive.org/details/saintclairsofisl00sain/page/296/mode/2up 297] |access-date=June 12, 2021}}</ref>

==Early life==

He was the son of [[Henry II Sinclair, Earl of Orkney]] and Egidia Douglas, daughter of [[Sir William Douglas of Nithsdale]] and maternal granddaughter of [[Robert II of Scotland]]. He was also the grandson of [[Henry I Sinclair, Earl of Orkney]].<ref name="PeerageOrkneySinclair">{{cite book |last=Paul |first=James Balfour |author-link=James Balfour Paul |year=1909 |title=The Scots Peerage : Founded on Wood's ed. of Sir Robert Douglas's Peerage of Scotland; containing an historical and genealogical account of the nobility of that kingdom |url=https://archive.org/details/scotspeeragefoun06paul/page/n5/mode/2up |volume=VI |location=Edinburgh |publisher=[[David Douglas (publisher)|David Douglas]] |page=[https://archive.org/details/scotspeeragefoun06paul/page/568/mode/2up 568]-571 |access-date=June 12, 2021}}</ref>

His father Henry, who had been a [[de facto]] Earl of Orkney, died in 1420; William travelled to [[Copenhagen]] in 1422 to establish his claim to the Earldom, but David Menzies was appointed instead, to rule as William's guardian until he came of age. In 1424, William succeeded in wresting de facto control of the earldom from his guardian, but it was not until 1434 that he was acknowledged as Earl of Orkney by [[Eric of Pomerania|King Eric VII of Denmark, Norway and Sweden]], sovereign of Orkney.<ref>{{cite book |last=Thomson |first=William P.L |year=2008 |title=The New History of Orkney |location=[[Edinburgh]] |publisher=Birlinn |pages=174–179 |isbn=9781841586960}}</ref><ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Grohse |first1=Ian Peter |last2=Magnussen |first2=Stefan |date=2022 |title=The Earldom of Orkney, the Duchy of Schleswig and the Kalmar Union in 1434 |url=https://doi.org/10.1080/03468755.2022.2138533 |journal=Scandinavian Journal of History |volume=48 |issue=2 |pages=137–156 |doi=10.1080/03468755.2022.2138533 |s2cid=253327161 |issn=0346-8755|hdl=10037/28535 |hdl-access=free }}</ref>

==Earl of Orkney==
[[File:Rosslyn Chapel scotland.jpg|thumb|left|250px|[[Rosslyn Chapel]] that was founded by William Sinclair, Baron of Roslin, Lord Sinclair, Earl of Orkney and later 1st Earl of Caithness]]
On succeeding to the Earldom of Orkney, William had barely been in possession of it for a year when he was one of five earls selected to be among twenty hostages, proposed on 31 May 1421, for the redemption of [[James I of Scotland]]. When that redemption could not be obtained, he was then placed on the list of nobles who received a passport to visit James I, who was then a prisoner in [[England]]. The earl received a safe conduct for himself and twenty-four persons. James I returned to Scotland in 1424 and he was met at [[Durham, England|Durham]] by the Earl of Orkney as well as the Earls of [[Earl of Lennox|Lennox]], [[Earl of Wigtown|Wigtown]], [[Earl of Moray|Moray]], [[Earl of Crawford|Crawford]], [[Earl of March|March]], [[Earl of Angus|Angus]] and [[Earl of Strathearn|Stratherne]].<ref name="Saint-Clair"/>

In 1423, David Menzies of Wemyss, chief of the [[Clan Menzies]] and uncle of William, was entrusted by King Eric with the administration of the [[Orkney|Isles]], and the [[Bishop of Orkney]] subscribed to this obligation as surety. However, due to disorder during the reign of Menzies, the government of the earldom was reinstated to the Bishop for seven years until the young Earl William could formally receive his investiture. However, the young William had taken the title of earl before receiving his investiture as he is styled as Earl of Orkney in 1426 at the assize in [[Stirling]], and again in 1428 when he was present at [[Edinburgh]] dealing with a complaint made by his mother regarding the spoilation of her [[Nithsdale]] possessions.<ref name="Saint-Clair"/>

In 1434, William crossed over to [[Denmark]] and King Eric granted investiture to him for the Earldom of Orkney. Earl William was also to hold [[Kirkwall Castle]] for the king and his successors. In the same year James I of Scotland's daughter, [[Margaret Stewart, Dauphine of France|Margaret]], was betrothed to [[Louis XI|Louis, Dauphin of France]] and [[Charles VII of France]] then arranged for Margaret to be escorted back to [[France]]. The King of Scotland ordered that all should be ready by 20 June, and William, Earl of Orkney had forty-six ships in readiness to transport Margaret and her train. The fleet that carried her to her future kingdom was commanded by the Earl of Orkney.<ref name="Saint-Clair"/>

In 1446, the Earl of Orkney laid the foundation stone of the [[Collegiate Church]] of [[St Matthew]], commonly referred to as [[Rosslyn Chapel]].<ref>{{cite book |last1=Cowan |first1=Ian B |last2=Easson |first2=David E |year=1976 |title=Medieval Religious Houses |isbn=0582120691 |page=[https://archive.org/details/medievalreligiou0000cowa/page/225 225] |url=https://archive.org/details/medievalreligiou0000cowa/page/225 }}</ref> In the same year the Earl of Orkney was called to the Norwegian [[Riksråd]] to take the oath of [[Christopher of Bavaria]] who was the successor of King Eric of Denmark, Norway and Sweden.<ref name="Saint-Clair"/>

After the death of childless King Christopher of Norway in 1448, Earl William was mentioned as a possible candidate for the vacant throne, as the Earl of Orkney was the highest ranking nobleman in Norway. However, there are no indications that he pursued this claim.<ref>{{cite book |last=Hamre |first=Lars |year=1968 |title=Norsk historie frå omlag år 1400 |location=[[Oslo]] |publisher=[[Universitetsforlaget]] |page=128}}</ref> The same year the Earl of Orkney appears obtaining the patronage of the chapel of [[Saint Duthac]] in [[Kirkwall]].<ref name="Saint-Clair"/>
[[File:Midlothian, UK - panoramio (42).jpg|thumb|right|250px|[[Roslin Castle]], seat of William Sinclair, Baron of Roslin, Lord Sinclair, Earl of Orkney and later 1st Earl of Caithness]]
In 1454–55, the Earls of Orkney and Angus laid siege to [[Abercorn Castle]] with 6,000 men because Lord Hamilton was in league with the rebel [[Earl of Douglas]]. Hamilton was taken by the royal camp and the Earl of Orkney kept him in honourable captivity in [[Roslin Castle]] for a few days until he defected from the House of Douglas.<ref name="Saint-Clair"/>

On 15 November 1456, the earl's father-in-law, Alexander Sutherland of [[Dunbeath Castle|Dunbeath]], made his will in the earl's presence at Roslin Castle. The earl had married Sutherland's daughter Marjory, by Sutherland's wife Mariota, daughter of [[Donald of Islay, Lord of the Isles]].<ref name="Saint-Clair"/>

[[James II of Scotland]] died in 1460 and the Earl of Orkney was elected as one of six Governors for the government during the minority of the young [[James III of Scotland]].<ref name="Saint-Clair"/>

In 1468, James III of Scotland married [[Margaret of Denmark, Queen of Scotland|Margaret]], daughter of [[Christian I of Norway]], Sweden and Denmark. Christian was unable to immediately provide a dowry. Instead, he promised that dowry would be provided at a later date, pledging the territory of the Jarldom of Orkney as security for his promise. The sovereignty of Orkney therefore transferred from Norway to Scotland.<ref name="Saint-Clair"/> In 1470, James III offered William the [[Ravenscraig Castle|castle and lands of Ravenscraig]] in [[Fife]],<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.undiscoveredscotland.co.uk/kirkcaldy/ravenscraigcastle/index.html |title=Ravenscraig Castle |website=undiscoveredscotland.co.uk |access-date=1 December 2019}}</ref> in return for William [[quitclaim]]ing his rights in Orkney and Shetland, an offer William accepted.<ref name="Saint-Clair"/>

The Norse jarldom technically remained in existence, but William now only had authority over the mainland parts - Caithness and Sutherland. In 1472, it having become clear that the dowry was unlikely to be paid, James declared the Jarldom's territory to be forfeit to [[Scottish monarchy|the Scottish Crown]], to which it was annexed by an [[act of the Parliament of Scotland]]{{which|date=November 2024}} on 20 February. William now wielded his authority under the king of Scotland, rather than of Norway.<ref name="Saint-Clair"/><ref name="Burke">{{cite book |last=Burke |first=Bernard |author-link=Bernard Burke |year=1869 |title=Genealogical and Heraldic Dictionary of the Peerage and Baronetage of the British Empire |url=https://archive.org/details/genealogicalhera00inburk/page/n5/mode/2up |location=London |publisher=[[Harrison and Sons|Harrison]] |page=[https://archive.org/details/genealogicalhera00inburk/page/1016/mode/2up 1016] |access-date=June 14, 2021}}</ref>

==Earl of Caithness==

Exchanging his inherited lordship of Nithsdale for lands in Caithness, William was granted the hereditary title [[Earl of Caithness]] in 1455.<ref name="Peerage">{{cite book |last=Paul |first=James Balfour |author-link=James Balfour Paul |year=1905 |title=The Scots Peerage : Founded on Wood's ed. of Sir Robert Douglas's Peerage of Scotland; containing an historical and genealogical account of the nobility of that kingdom |url=https://archive.org/details/scotspeeragefoun02pauluoft/page/n5/mode/2up |volume=II |location=Edinburgh |publisher=[[David Douglas (publisher)|David Douglas]] |page=[https://archive.org/details/scotspeeragefoun02pauluoft/page/332/mode/2up 332]-337 |access-date=7 February 2021}}</ref><ref name="Burke"/> He resigned the Earldom in favour of his second son from his second marriage, [[William Sinclair, 2nd Earl of Caithness|William]], in 1476.<ref name="Saint-Clair"/>

William, Earl of Orkney died before 3 July 1480.<ref name="Saint-Clair"/>

==Family==
[[File:Rosslyn or Roslin Castle.jpg|thumb|350px|Rosslyn or [[Roslin Castle]], seat of the Sinclairs who were Barons of Roslin, reconstruction image]]
William Sinclair was married three times: firstly to Lady Elizabeth Douglas, daughter of [[Archibald Douglas, 4th Earl of Douglas]]; secondly to Marjory Sutherland (married 1456), daughter of Alexander Sutherland of [[Dunbeath Castle|Dunbeath]]; and thirdly to Janet Yeman.<ref>{{cite book |last=Paul |first=James |author-link=James Balfour Paul |title=The Scots Peerage |volume=ii |pages=333–336}}</ref>

By Lady Elizabeth Douglas he had the following children:

#[[William Sinclair, 3rd Lord Sinclair]] who was reportedly disinherited by his father, only receiving [[Ravenscraig Castle]] in [[Fife]].
#Lady Catherine Sinclair, who married [[Alexander Stewart, Duke of Albany]].
#Elizabeth Sinclair, who married Andrew, Master of Rothes

By Marjory Sutherland he had the following children:

#[[Oliver St Clair, 12th Baron of Roslin]], who received the [[Barony of Roslin]].<ref name="Henderson"/>
#[[William Sinclair, 2nd Earl of Caithness]] (b. 1460 - d. 1513)<ref name="Henderson">{{cite book |last=Henderson |first=John W.S |year=1884 |title=Caithness Family History |url=https://archive.org/details/caithnessfamilyh00henduoft |location=[[Edinburgh]] |publisher=[[David Douglas (publisher)|David Douglas]] |pages=[https://archive.org/details/caithnessfamilyh00henduoft/page/n363 1]-4}}</ref>
#Alexander Sinclair ({{Circa|1454}})
#George Sinclair ({{Circa|1453}})
#Robert Sinclair (1447)
#Arthur Sinclair ({{Circa|1452}})
#Lady Eleanor Sinclair (b. 1457- d. 1518), who married [[John Stewart, 1st Earl of Atholl]].
#Lady Elizabeth Sinclair (b. {{Circa|1455}} - d. 1498), who married the Laird of [[Houston, Renfrewshire|Houston]].
#Lady Margaret Sinclair ({{Circa|1450}}), who married David Boswell of Balmuto.
#Lady Katherine Sinclair (b. 1440 - d. 1479)
#Lady Susan Sinclair ({{Circa|1451}})
#Lady Marjory Sinclair (1455–80), married Andrew Leslie, Master of Rothes. With Andrew she had issue including [[William Leslie, 3rd Earl of Rothes]]
#Lady Mariota Sinclair ({{Circa|1455}})
#Lady Euphemia Sinclair ({{Circa|1470}}), who married John Kincaid Laird of Warriston.

Illegitimate:
#Sir David Sinclair of Sumburgh, died 1507.<ref>{{cite book |last=Thomson |first=William P.L. |year=1987 |title=History of Orkney |publisher=Mercat Press |location=Edinburgh |pages=134–136 |isbn=978-0901824820}}</ref>

The earl's second son of his second marriage, William Sinclair, became the designated heir of the Earldom of Caithness, and continued that title. The Barony of [[Roslin, Midlothian|Roslin]] went to his first son by that marriage, Sir Oliver Sinclair.<ref name="Saint-Clair"/>

==References==
<references/>
*Charles Mosley, ''Burke's Peerage and Baronetage'', 107th edition.
*[[Sir James Balfour Paul]], ''[[The Scots Peerage]] : founded on Wood's ed. of Sir Robert Douglas's Peerage of Scotland; containing an historical and genealogical account of the nobility of that kingdom''. Edinburgh 1904. [https://archive.org/details/scotspeeragefoun02pauluoft]
{{S-start}}
{{s-reg|sct}}
{{succession box|title=[[Earl of Orkney|Jarl of Orkney]]|before=[[Henry Sinclair, 2nd Earl of Orkney|Henry Sinclair]]|after=Jarldom part-quitclaimed|after2=Territory seized by Scotland|years=1434–1470 (quitclaim); – 1472 (seizure)}}
{{s-new|creation}}
{{s-ttl|title=[[Earl of Caithness]]|years=1455–1476}}
{{s-aft|after=[[William Sinclair, 2nd Earl of Caithness|William Sinclair]]}}
{{succession box| title=[[Lord Sinclair]]| | before=[[Henry II Sinclair, Earl of Orkney|Henry Sinclair]]| after=[[William Sinclair, 3rd Lord Sinclair|William Sinclair]]| years=1420–1484}}
{{s-reg|sct-ba}}
{{succession box| title=[[Baron of Roslin]]| | before=[[Henry II Sinclair, Earl of Orkney|Henry Sinclair]]| after=[[Oliver St Clair, 12th Baron of Roslin|Oliver St Clair]]| years=1420–1484}}
{{s-mil}}
{{succession box| title=[[Lord High Admiral of Scotland]]| before=[[George Crichton, 1st Earl of Caithness]]| after=[[David Lindsay, 5th Earl of Crawford]]| years=}}
{{s-off}}
{{succession box| title=[[Lord Chancellor of Scotland]]| | before=[[William Crichton, 1st Lord Crichton]]| after=[[Andrew Stewart, 1st Lord Avandale]]| years=1454–1456}}
{{S-end}}

{{authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Caithness, William Sinclair, 1st Earl of}}
[[Category:1410 births]]
[[Category:1480 deaths]]
[[Category:Nobility from Midlothian]]
[[Category:15th-century Scottish peers]]
[[Category:Barons of Roslin|William]]
[[Category:Lords Sinclair|William]]
[[Category:Clan Sinclair|William]]
[[Category:Lord chancellors of Scotland]]
[[Category:Lord high admirals of Scotland]]
[[Category:15th-century Scottish architects]]
[[Category:Earls of Caithness|William]]
[[Category:Norwegian earls]]
[[Category:Scottish Roman Catholics]]
[[Category:Scottish sheriffs]]
[[Category:15th-century Scottish military personnel]]

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William Sinclair, 1st Earl of Caithness