Alexander Lindsay (abt. 1267 - abt. 1314)

Born about 1267 in Breneville, Ayrshire, Scotland

Ancestors

Descendants

Died about 1314 at about age 47 in Crawford, Clydesdale, Lanarkshire, Scotland

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Biography

Alexander Lindsay is a member of Clan Lindsay.

Parents and Early Years

Alexander was the son of Sir David de Lindsay and Margaret de Lindsay, thought to be the daughter of Walter de Lindsay, Lord of Lamburton.^[1] His father died in Egypt during the Crusade of St Louis, and Alexander (who was not yet of age) succeeded him in 1279.^[1] He became the ward of Sir John Comyn of Badenoch and Tynedale, whose mother Alicia may have been a Lindsay.^[2]

Political Activities

Alexander attended the parliament of Brigham in 1289 (as a baron)^[3] and later was knighted by King Edward I.^[1]In 1296 he joined with a number of other Scottish barons in swearing fealty to Edward I,^[4] but the following year he incurred the king's wrath by refusing to take part in Edward's military expedition to Flanders, which led to the king banishing him from Scotland for six months and all of his lands being forfeited.^[1]

Sir Alexander Lindsay was an early supporter of William Wallace, and after Wallace's death he became a staunch advocate for Robert Bruce. When Bruce was forced to flee into the mountains with a small group of friends after the devastating loss at Methven, it was the earl of Atholl (the king's brother) and Sir Alexander Lindsay who were entrusted to lead the queen, the Lady Marjorie (Bruce's daughter), and the other women in the party safely across the mountains by horseback to the shelter of Kildrummy Castle.^[5] He was captured at Kildrummy in September, but by the summer of 1308 he appears to have been freed and was once again participating in Bruce's military campaigns.^[6] In 1309 he was one of the signatories of a letter which was sent to Philippe IV of France from the parliament at St Andrews.^[6] His unwavering support of Robert Bruce was no doubt strengthened by his marriage...his wife was thought to have been closely related to James the Steward, who was a prominent supporter of King Robert.^[6]

Marriage and Children

The name of Sir Alexander de Lindsay's wife is not known with any certainty, although she is believed to have been a sister of James, Steward of Scotland.^[1][7] There were at least five children from this marriage:

• Sir David Lindsay, Lord of Crawford and Byres; m, Nov 1324 Mary Abernathy;^[8] d. bef. 13 Oct 1357^[9][6]
• Sir Alexander Lindsay, Knt.; imprisoned at Carlisle 1308-1314^[1]
• Reginald Lindsay; imprisoned at Carlisle 1308-1314^[1]
• William Lindsay, Rector of Ayr and Chamberlain of Scotland;^[10] d. Jan 1339^[10]
• Beatrix Lindsay; m(1) Sir Archibald Douglas;^[10] m(2) Sir Robert Erskine^[10]

Death

Sir Alexander Lindsay was present at the parliament of 1308^[1] and signed the letter to Philippe IV in 1309.^[6] There is almost no mention of him after 1309, and he is thought to have died sometime before 10 December 1314.^[6]

Research Notes

• The Lord Lyon does not believe that the name of Sir Alexander's wife can be reliably confirmed,^[1] and this position is universally upheld among historians, including the family historian, Lord Lindsay. Therefore, Beatrix Stewart is being detached as his spouse, and may be reattached at a later date if reliable sources are discovered to support that relationship. Stevens-17832 15:41, 13 September 2020 (UTC)

• There do not appear to be any sources which list a son named John for this Sir Alexander Lindsay. John de Lindsay, a profile which itself is unsourced, is also being detached from this profile until reliable sources can be found to document his parentage. Stevens-17832 22:28, 13 September 2020 (UTC)

Sources

1. ↑ ^{1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6 1.7 1.8} Paul, James Balfour. The Peerage of Scotland. Edinburgh: D. Douglas (1906), vol. 3, p. 9.
2. ↑ Cal. of Docs., ii.54, cited in: Paul, James Balfour. The Peerage of Scotland. Edinburgh: D. Douglas (1906), vol. 3, p. 9.
3. ↑ Acta Parl. Scot., I.85; Palgrave Docs.,284, cited in: Paul, James Balfour. The Peerage of Scotland. Edinburgh: D. Douglas (1906), vol. 3, p. 9.
4. ↑ Performance of Fealty and Homage to Edward I, Doc. 6/2/244 (IP, 162-3).
5. ↑ Barrow, G.W.S. Robert Bruce and the Community of the Realm of Scotland. Edinburgh: Edinburgh University Press (1965), p. 207-208.
6. ↑ ^{6.0 6.1 6.2 6.3 6.4 6.5} Oxford Dictionary of National Biography. Lindsay family of Barnweill, Crawford, and Glenesk. Published online 23 Sep 2004, available by subscription.
7. ↑ Moncreiffe, Sir Iain of that Ilk. The Highland Clans. London: Hutchinson Publishing Group (1967) rv. 1982, p. 112.
8. ↑ Papal Letters, ii.241, cited in: Paul, James Balfour. The Scots Peerage. Edinburgh: D. Douglas (1906), vol. 3, p. 10.
9. ↑ Paul, James Balfour. The Scots Peerage. Edinburgh: D. Douglas (1906), vol. 3, p. 11.
10. ↑ ^{10.0 10.1 10.2 10.3} Paul, James Balfour. The Scots Peerage. Edinburgh: D. Douglas (1906), vol. 3, p. 10.

See Also:

• Alexander Lindsay, Knight, PoMS no. 15326.

Acknowledgements

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