Clan Lindsay
| Clan Lindsay | |||
|---|---|---|---|
 Crest: Issuing from an antique ducal coronet Or, the head, neck and wings of a swan proper according to Bain, the crest is a swan, proper, holding in its beak a key. or. | |||
| Motto | Endure Fort (Suffer bravely/ Endure boldly) | ||
| Profile | |||
| Region | Lowlands | ||
| District | Angus | ||
| Chief | |||
 | |||
| Robert Lindsay | |||
| 29th Earl of Crawford and 12th Earl of Balcarres | |||
| Seat | Balcarres House | ||
| Historic seat | Crawford Castle Edzell Castle | ||
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Clan Lindsay is a Lowland Scottish clan.[1]
History
Origins of the clan
The Lindsays were prominent in both England and Scotland from the late 11th century.[1] The name most likely derives from the region of Lindsey in England (the name of which comes from the Old English for "island of Lincoln") though it could also refer to the village of Limésy in Normandy.[2] Sir Walter de Lindissie accompanied David of Scotland, Earl of Huntingdon, to claim his throne.[1] Walter's great-grandson, Sir William de Lindsay, sat in the Parliament of 1164 and was later a justiciar.[1] William Lindsay held the lands of Ercildum, Crawford and Luffness. The chief's premier title was later Earl of Crawford.[1] Sir William Lindsay sat in Parliament as Baron of Luffness in East Lothian.[1] He probably had two wives, and through his wife Alienora de Limesi came David de Lindsay.[3]
Sir William Lindsay's son was Sir David de Lindsay who married a member of the royal family named Marjory.[1] David died in 1214 and was succeeded as Lord Crawford and High Justiciar of Lothian by his son who was also called David.[1] This David also inherited the English estates of Limesay and Wolveray.[1] One of his descendants was another Sir David Lindsay who was Chamberlain of Scotland in 1256.[1]
Wars of Scottish Independence
The aforementioned David Lindsay's grandson was yet another David whose seal was appended to the letter of 1320 to the Pope, asserting the independence of Scotland, that was more often known as the Declaration of Arbroath.[1] His second son, Sir James Lindsay, married Egidia, daughter of Walter Stewart, 6th High Steward of Scotland, and Marjory Bruce, daughter of Robert The Bruce and Isabella de Mar, and half-sister of Robert II of Scotland, son of Robert the Bruce and his second wife, Elizabeth de Burgh.[1]
14th, 15th and 16th centuries
In 1390, Sir David Lindsay famously took part in a tournament at London Bridge, in the presence of Richard II of England.[1] At the tournament Lindsay won the day and the admiration of the English king.[1] Lindsay was created Earl of Crawford on 21 April 1398.[1] In 1403, he was Lord High Admiral of Scotland and in 1406, he was sent as an ambassador to England.[1]
The Lindsays fought at the Battle of Arbroath in 1445.[4] In 1452, Alexander Lindsay, 4th Earl of Crawford, joined in a rebellion against James II of Scotland and fought at the Battle of Brechin where the royal forces were victorious.[1] Alexander Lindsay was attained for treason but was later pardoned.[1]
The fifth Earl of Crawford rose high in royal favour.[1] He was successively Lord High Admiral of Scotland, Master of the Royal Household, Lord Chamberlain and High Justiciary.[1] The sixth Earl of Crawford was killed at the Battle of Flodden in 1513, while on close attendance to King James IV.[1]
17th century and civil war
Ludovic Lindsay, 16th Earl of Crawford, learned his trade as a soldier on the Continent. He later fought for King Charles I during the civil war where he commanded a cavalry regiment at the Battle of Marston Moor.[1] He was later captured supporting James, Marquis of Montrose, at the Battle of Philiphaugh in 1645.[1] The earldom of Crawford was succeeded to by his kinsman John Lindsay, Earl of Lindsay.[1] The Crawford title remained with this branch of the family until it passed to the Earl of Balcarres in the 19th century, who were descended from a younger son of the ninth Earl of Crawford.[1] This branch of the family had been created Earls of Balcarres in 1650 for services during the civil war.[1]
18th century and Jacobite risings
The first Earl of Balcarres was made hereditary governor of Edinburgh Castle.[1] He was also made Secretary of State for Scotland and High Commissioner to the General Assembly.[1] His younger son was Colin Lindsay, 3rd Earl of Balcarres, who was a staunch Jacobite and fought during the Jacobite rising of 1715.[1] He only escaped being attained for treason through the intervention of the Duke of Marlborough who was a lifelong friend of his.[1] In 1739, John Lindsay, 20th Earl of Crawford, was made Lieutenant-Colonel of the newly formed 43rd Regiment of Foot ("Black Watch" regiment) that supported the British Government during the Jacobite rising of 1745 and had been formed from the ten Independent Highland Companies of "Black Watch".[5]
Gallery of arms
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Ancient arms of Lindsay and Limésy -
Traditional Lindsay arms -
Lindsay of Cumberland -
Lindsay, Duke of Montrose -
Lindsay, Earls of Crawford -
Lindsay of Balcarres -
Lindsay, Earl of Balcarres -
Lindsay of Balgawies -
Lindsay of Barnyards -
Lindsay of Blacksolme -
Lindsay of Bonhill -
Lindsay of Broadland -
Lindsay of Byres -
Lindsay of Cavill -
Lindsay of Covington -
Lindsay of Crossbasket -
Lindsay of Culsh -
Lindsay of Dowhill -
Lindsay of Dunrod -
Lindsay of Eaglescairnie -
Lindsay of Edzell -
Lindsay of Evelick -
Lindsay of Garnock -
Lindsay of Kilspindie -
Lindsay of Linbank -
Lindsay of Loughry -
Lindsay of Menmuir -
Lindsay of Mount -
Lindsay of Pitscandlie -
Lindsay of Pitscarlies and Cairn -
Lindsay of Pyctstone and Wormstone -
Lindsay of Rossie -
Lindsay of Spynie -
Lindsay of Virginia -
Lindsay of Wauchopdale -
Lindsay of Westville -
Lindsay of Wormistone
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Clan castles
- Balcarres House is the current seat of the Chief. It was built by John Lindsay of Balcarres in 1595.[6]
- Edzell Castle was the original castle of the Chief of Clan Lindsay which they acquired in 1357 and retained ownership until 1715.[6]
- Crawford Castle, to the north of the village of Crawford, South Lanarkshire, was from where the Earldom of Crawford was created and it was also known as Lindsay Tower.[6]
- Luffness Castle, East Lothian.[6]
- Lamberton Castle, Scottish Borders
- Wauchope Castle, Dumfries and Galloway.[6]
- Carsluith Castle.[6]
- Spynie Palace.[6]
- Lordscairnie Castle.[6]
- Byres Castle, East Lothian.
- Barnweill Castle, South Ayrshire.
- Craigie Castle, South Ayrshire.
- Lindsane
See also
References
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z aa ab ac ad ae af ag ah Way, George of Plean; Squire, Romilly of Rubislaw (1994). Collins Scottish Clan & Family Encyclopedia. Glasgow: HarperCollins (for the Standing Council of Scottish Chiefs). pp. 196–197. ISBN 0-00-470547-5.
- ^ "Last name: Lindsay". Surname Database. Retrieved 1 May 2015.
- ^ 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 by Paul, James Balfour, Sir, 1846–1931
- ^ Arbroath canmore.rcahms.gov.uk. Retrieved 23 July 2013.
- ^ Simpson, Peter. (1996). The Independent Highland Companies, 1603 – 1760. ISBN 0-85976-432-X. pp. 115 – 118.
- ^ a b c d e f g h Coventry, Martin (2008). Castles of the Clans: The Strongholds and Seats of 750 Scottish Families and Clans. Musselburgh: Goblinshead. pp. 332–336. ISBN 978-1-899874-36-1.
