Alexander Stewart, Earl of Buchan
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
- See also: Alexander Stewart, 2nd Earl of Buchan
| Alexander Stewart | |
 Stewart's sarcophagus-effigy at Dunkeld Cathedral, where he was buried. |
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| Born | Approx. 1343 |
|---|---|
| Died | July 24, 1394 |
| Other names | The Wolf of Badenoch |
| Title | Earl of Buchan Lord of Badenoch |
| Term | 1382 – 1394 |
| Predecessor | John Comyn (First Line) |
| Successor | John Stewart (Second Line) |
| Spouse | Eupheia Leslie |
| Children | Alexander Stewart |
Alexander Stewart, called the Wolf of Badenoch (1343 – July 24, 1394), was a Scottish prince and the first Earl of Buchan of the second creation of the title, from 1382 to his death. He was also Justiciar of the North, but not an effective one. Alexander was the son of King Robert II of Scotland by his first wife, Elizabeth Mure of Rowallan. His nickname was earned due to his notorious cruelty and rapacity.
Alexander was known to set the forest of Rothiemurchus on fire to drive out deer and boars so that they might be hunted more easily. He tried to divorce his childless wife, Euphemia Leslie, Countess of Ross, and when the Bishop of Moray reprimanded him for this, Alexander began a feud with the Bishop. On 17 June 1390 he took revenge on the Bishop by burning two monasteries, the cathedral and Royal Burgh of Elgin, along with the Maison Dieu Hospital and the parish church. His brother King Robert III of Scotland was outraged and ordered him to pay reparations for this crime.
He died in 1394, and was buried at the Cathedral of Dunkeld, Perthshire. His sarcophagus tomb, topped by an effigy in armour, is one of the few Scottish royal monuments to have survived from the Middle Ages. He left only an illegitimate son, Alexander Stewart, Earl of Mar.
