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THE CAITHNESS SUCCESSION

Caithness, which included Sutherland till the death of the 24th Earl in 1231, is indisputablv the oldest comitial dignity in Britain, having existed for more than a millennium. The present Earl is heir-male of line of both Thorstein and Sigurd who acquired the Earldom in 871 by joint conquest from Constantine, King of the Scots.

THE EARLDOM OF CAITHNESS

ILLUSTRATION OF THE SUCCESSION FROM 871 TO THE PRESENT TIME

THE HOUSE OF ODIN, OR NORSE LINE
ORDEREARLSTITLE TO EARLDOMFromToREMARKS
1Thorstein the RedConquest871-Slain in Caithness
*2Sigurd the Sea kingConquest871882Slain in Caithness
*3GuthormSon of Sigurd882883Died issueless
*4DuncanBy right of wife--Married Groa, daughter of Thorstein
*5Thorfinn the SkullsplitterMarried Grelod, daughter of Groa910963nephew of Sigurd
*6ArnfinnSon of Thorfinn963967Murdered at Murkle, Caithness
*7Havard the Happy-963970Slain at Stennis, Orkney
*8Ljot-963976Slain in Caithness
*9Skuli-963974Fell in Caithness
*10Hlodver-963980Natural death
*11Sigurd II, the StoutSon of Hlodver9801014Fell at Clontarf
*12Thorfinn II the GreatSon of Sigurd II10141064Died natural death
*13Paul the ExileSon of Thorfinn II10641103Died in exile at Bergen
*14Erlend the ExileSon of Thorfinn II10641103Died in exile at Nidaros
*15Hakon the ImperiousSon of Paul11031122Died natural death
*16Harald the OratorSon of Hakon11221127Poisoned
*17Paul II, the SilentSon of Hakon11221136Deposed and spirited away
*18Erlend II, the YoungerSon of Harald11271156Slain in Damsay, Orkney
19Mac WilliamScottish Creation11291160See Dunfermline records
*20St.Rognvald the CrusaderSon of Gunnhild, daughter of 1411361158Slain in Caithness
22Harald III, the YoungerSon of Ingigerd, daughter of 2011761198Fell at Clairdon, Caithness
THE HOUSE OF ATHOLL, OR ROYAL SCOTTISH LINE
ORDEREARLSTITLE TO EARLDOMFromToREMARKS
*21Harald II, the WickedSon of Margaret, daughter of 1511391206Died natural death
*23DavidSon of Harald II12061214-
*24JohnSon of Harald II12061231Murdered at Thurso
THE ANGUS LINE
ORDEREARLSTITLE TO EARLDOMFromToREMARKS
*25Magnus of AngusKinsman of John12311239Sutherland now detached
*26GilbrideBrother of Magnus I1239--
*27Gilbride IISon of Gilbride I1256-Had a daughter Matilda
*28Magnus IISon of Gilbride II12561273-
*29Magnus IIISon of Magnus II12731284-
*30John IISon of Magnus II12841310-
*31Magnus IVSon of John II13101321-
-Henry de St.ClairBailivus13101321-
THE STRATHERNE LINE
ORDEREARLSTITLE TO EARLDOMFromToREMARKS
*32Malise I, Earl of StratherneHeir-at-law to Magnus IV13211333Fell at Halidon Hill
*33Malise IISon of Malise I13331344Died without male issue
34Alexander de la ArdSon of Matilda, elder daughter of 331375-Surrendered the dignity
-Isabella de Stratherne2nd daughter of Malise II-1405Survived Number 34
ALIEN EARLS
ORDEREARLSTITLE TO EARLDOMFromToREMARKS
35David II StuartScottish creation1375-Earl Palatine of Stratherne
36WalterScottish creation14241437Earl of Atholl
37AlanScottish creation14241431Son of Earl Walter
38George I, CrichtonScottish creation14501455Lord High Admiral of Scotland
THE SAINT-CLAIR LINE
ORDEREARLSTITLE TO EARLDOMFromToREMARKS
-William de St.Clairmarried Isabel de Stratherne1363-Ancestor of St.Clairs of the Isles
-Henry I Earl of OrkneySon of Isabella-1404Slain in Orkney during mother’s lifetime
-Henry IISon of Henry I1420-Rightful Earl of Caithness
39 / 1William ISon of Henry II14201476Rec Caithness 1455 abdicated 1476
-William Lord St.ClairDisinherited14811487Buried at Dunfermline
40 / 2William IISecond son of William I14761514Fell at Flodden
41 / 3John IIISon of William II15141529Slain in Orkney
42 / 4George IISon of John III15291582Ancestor of Olrig, Dunbeath, etc
43 / 5 George III, the WickedGrandson of George II15821643Ancestor of Keiss
44 / 6George IVGreat grandson of George III16431676-
45 / 7George V, of KeissGrandson of George III16751698Died issueless
46 / 8John IV of MurkleDescendant of George II16981705-
47 / 9Alexander IISon of John IV17051765Died without male issue
48 / 10William III of RattarDescendant of George II17651779-
49 / 11John VSon of William III17791789-
50 / 12James I, of MeyDescendant of George II17891823-
51 / 13Alexander IIISon of James I18231855-
52 / 14James IISon of Alexander III18551881-
53 / 15George VISon of James II18811889-
54 / 16James III of DurranDescendant of George II18891891-
55 / 17John VISon of James III1891-

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