Duke of Albany
The Duke of Albany is a peerage title ocassionally bestowed on the youngers sons in the Scottish and later the British Royal Family, particularly the Houses of Stuart and Hanover. The dukedom of Albany was first bestowed in 1398 by King Robert III of Scotland on his brother, Robert Stewart. Albany was a territorial term representing the eastern part of the Scottish highlands, roughly the former Kingdom of the Picts. The 1398 creation of the title (along with the Dukedom of Rothesay the first Dukedom created in Scotland) was forfeited in 1425 due to the supposed treason of the second Duke. There were several other creations by various Stewart (or Stuart) kings of Scotland and later of Great Britain. The Hanoverian kings, George I, George II, and George III, each bestowed the title of "Duke of York and Albany" on junior members of their families (see Duke of York). In each case, the holder of the title died without a legitimate male heir. The last creation of a dukedom of Albany was in 1881.Duke of Albany in the Peerage of Scotland (1398 creation)
- Robert Stewart (c.1340-3 September 1406), third son of King Robert II of Scotland, created Earl of Menteith by right of his wife, Margaret, daughter of Sir John Graham, 28 February 1361; created Earl of Fife, between 4 December 1371 and 6 March 1371, following the resignation of his sister-in-law, Elizabeth; created 1st Duke of Albany, 28 April 1398.
- Murdoch Stewart, (1362-25 May 1425), son of Robert, 1st Duke of Albany; succeeded his father as 2nd Duke of Albany, Earl of Fife and Earl of Menteith, 20 September 1425; forfeited all peerages on 25 May 1425 and executed at Castle Hill, Sterling, the same day.
- Alexander Stewart (c. 1454-1485), second son of King James II of Scotland by his wife, Mary, daughter of Arnold, Duke of Gelderland; created Baron of Annandale and Earl of March, 1455; created 1st Duke of Albany, 1458
- John Stewart (1481-2 June 1536), son of Alexander, 1st Duke of Albany, by his second wife, Anne, daughter of Bertrand de lar Tuour, Count of Auvergene; styled Duke of Albany from 1505, formally restored to the dukedom in 1515; Regent of Scotland 1515-1524; died without a legitimate male heir.
- Charles Stewart (19 November 1600-30 January 1649), second son of King James I and VI of England, Scotland, and Ireland, by his wife, Anne, daughter of King Frederick II of Denmark and Norway; created Duke of Albany, Marquis of Ormond, and Duke of York, 1604; created Prince of Wales and Earl of Chester, 1616; succeeded his father as King of England, Scotland and Ireland (Great Britain) and all peerages merged in the Crown, 27 March 1625.
- James Stewart (14 October 1633-16 September 1701). Second son of King Charles I of England, Scotland, and Ireland, styled Duke of York from birth, and created Duke of York in 1644. He succeeded his brother, Charles II on the throne in 1685, and all his titles merged in the crown.
- Prince Leopold (7 April 1853-28 March 1884, seventh child and youngest son of Queen Victoria and Prince Albert; created Duke of Albany, Earl of Clarence, and Baron Arklow, 14 March 1884; married Princess Helena of Waldeck-Pyrmont and had two children.
- Prince Charles Edward (Karl Eduard), 19 July 1884-6 March 1954, posthumous son of Prince Leopold, 1st Duke of Albany; succeeded as 2nd Duke of Albany, Earl of Clarence, and Baron Arklow upon birth; succeeded his uncle Prince Alfred, Duke of Edinburgh as the reigining Duke of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha, 30 July 1900; abdicated, 14 November 1918; all British peerages suspended, 1919.
Related Terms
Duke, Duke of Cambridge, Duke of Clarence, Duke of Connaught, Duke of Cornwall, Duke of Cumberland, Duke of Gloucester, Duke of Edinburgh, Duke of Kent, Duke of Rothesay, Duke of Sussex, Duke of York, Prince of Wales
