| Notes |
- Sir Walter Stewart inherited the office of High Steward of Scotland upon the death of his father in 1309. Sir Walter was the sixth hereditary holder of the office. Sir Walter was a first-cousin to Elizabeth de Burgh, second wife of Robert The Bruce. Sir Walter distinguished himself in his loyalty to King Robert the Bruce in the Scottish Wars of Independence. Robert The Bruce rewarded Sir Walter with the hand of his daughter, Princess Marjorie Bruce, in marriage. (Marjorie was a daughter by King Robert's first wife, and no relation to Sir Walter Stewart.)
At the age of 21, Sir Walter Stewart fought against the English at the Battle of Bannockburn in 1314 where, according to some sources, together with Douglas, he commanded the left wing of the Scots' army. According to other sources, because of his youth and inexperience, he was merely the nominal leader of one of the Scottish schiltrons, while the effective leader was his cousin James Douglas, Lord of Douglas. For his services at Bannockburn, Walter was appointed Warden of the Western Marches and was rewarded with a grant of the lands of Largs, which had been forfeited by King John Balliol. In 1316 Walter Stewart donated those lands to Paisley Abbey.
Following the liberation of Queen Elizabeth de Burgh and Princess Marjorie Bruce from their long captivity in England, Sir Walter Stewart was sent to receive them at the border and conduct them back home. Sir Walter was likely chosen for this important task because of the high trust King Robert placed in him, but also because he was Elizabeth's cousin. Sir Walter later married Marjorie, receiving the Barony of Bathgate in Linlithgowshire as part of his wife's dowry.
During the absence of King Robert the Bruce in Ireland, Sir Walter Stewart and Sir James Douglas managed government affairs and spent much time defending the Scottish Borders. Upon the recapture of Berwick-upon-Tweed back from the English in 1318, Sir Walter took command of the town which subsequently, on 24 July 1319, was besieged by King Edward II of England. Several of the siege engines were destroyed by the Scots' garrison whereupon Sir Walter suddenly rushed in force from the walled town to drive off the enemy. In 1322, with Douglas and Thomas Randolph, he made an attempt to surprise the English king at Byland Abbey, near Malton in Yorkshire, but Edward escaped, pursued towards York by Sir Walter and 500 horsemen. (Wikipedia)
Sir Walter resided at Bathgate Castle in West Lothian, Scotland. The castle was the caput of the barony of Bathgate. The castle was part of the dowry of Marjorie Bruce, daughter of King Robert the Bruce, upon her marriage to Sir Walter Stewart, High Steward of Scotland in 1314. Sir Walter died there in 1327, and the castle appears to have been abandoned afterwards.
|
1293 - 1326 (33 years)
