Alexander Stewart, Duke of Albany
| Alexander | |
|---|---|
| Duke of Albany | |
| Successor | John Stewart |
| Born | c. 1454 |
| Died | 7 August 1485 (aged 31) Paris |
| Spouse | Lady Katherine Sinclair Anne de la Tour d'Auvergne |
| Issue |
Alexander, Bishop of Moray Andrew Stewart John, Duke of Albany Maud Stewart Margaret Stewart (illegitimate) |
| House | House of Stewart |
| Father | James II of Scotland |
| Mother | Mary of Guelders |
Alexander Stewart, Duke of Albany (c. 1454 – 7 August 1485), was the second surviving son of King James II of Scotland and his wife, Mary of Gueldres. He died in 1485 in a duel with the duke of Orléans, by a splinter from his lance.
Created Duke of Albany before 1458, Alexander also received the earldom of March, and lordships of Annandale and the Isle of Man. In 1460 he travelled to the continent, and to Guelders, the land of his maternal family. On his return in 1464 he was captured by the English. He was soon released, and as he matured began to take part in the government and defence of Scotland, being appointed in quick succession Lord High Admiral of Scotland and Warden of the Marches. Some of his actions on the marches aroused suspicion, suggesting sharp practice and a policy of border violence and truce breaking against England that contravened James III's 1474 marriage alliance.
In 1479, the seat of Albany's earldom of March was seized, although accounts of his imprisonment in Edinburgh Castle at this time appear to be misdated. Albany fled by sea to Paris where in September 1479 he was welcomed by King Louis XI, and received royal favour by his marriage to Anne de la Tour. Louis, however, would not assist him to attack his brother the king, and crossing to England he made a treaty with King Edward IV at Fotheringhay in June 1482.
By the Treaty of Fotheringhay, Albany promised to hold Scotland under English suzerainty in return for Edward's assistance and to deliver the southern shires into English possession. With the Duke of Gloucester, afterwards King Richard III, he marched at the head of one of the largest English armies to be assembled after the Wars of Independence—20,000 men—to Berwick, which was seized (the last time it would change hands between England and Scotland) and then, with a smaller force, to Edinburgh. Meanwhile James III was seized at Lauder Bridge as he marched to face the invasion, and was imprisoned in Edinburgh Castle. It has been suggested that there was a conspiracy between Albany and a group of magnates who had been excluded from power in the 1470s, including the king's Stewart half-uncles, the earls of Atholl, Buchan and the bishop-elect of Moray, although evidence is limited. Gloucester, meanwhile, seems to have been satisfied with the seizure of Berwick, and quit Edinburgh on 11 August. At that point the 'Lauder Lords' in Edinburgh Castle emerged and began working with Albany to form a new government. By early October Albany was acting lieutenant-general of the realm, had taken the earldom of Mar, and had re-acquired his former lands and offices.
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