Earl of Moray
The title Earl of Moray, or Mormaer of Moray, was originally held by the rulers of the Province of Moray, which existed from the 10th century with varying degrees of independence from the Kingdom of Alba to the south. Until 1130 the status of Moray's rulers was ambiguous and they were described in some sources as "mormaers" (the Gaelic term for "Earl"), in others as "Kings of Moray", and in others as "Kings of Alba". The position was suppressed by David I of Scotland some time after his defeat of Óengus of Moray at the Battle of Stracathro in 1130, but was recreated as a feudal earldom by Robert the Bruce and granted to Thomas Randolph, 1st Earl of Moray in 1312.
| Earldom of Moray | |
|---|---|
| Quarterly: 1st & 4th, Or a lion rampant within a double tressure flory counterflory gules (Royal arms of Scotland) surrounded with a bordure compony argent and azure (Moray); 2nd, Or a fess chequy azure and argent (Stewart of Doune); 3rd, Or three cushions within a double tressure flory counterflory gules (Randolph) | |
| Creation date | 30 January 1562 (Fifth creation) |
| Created by | Mary, Queen of Scots (Fifth creation) |
| Peerage | Peerage of Scotland |
| First holder | James Stewart, 1st Earl of Moray (Fifth creation) |
| Present holder | John Douglas Stuart, 21st Earl of Moray |
| Heir apparent | James Stuart, Lord Doune |
| Remainder to | Heirs male of the 1st earl's body |
| Subsidiary titles | Lord Abernethy Lord Strathdearn Lord Doune Lord St Colme Baron Stuart of Castle Stuart |
| Status | Extant |
| Seat(s) | Doune Park Darnaway Castle |
| Former seat(s) | Castle Stuart Doune Castle |
| Motto | Salus per Christum redemptorem ("Salvation through Christ the Redeemer") |
The title has subsequently been created several times in the Peerage of Scotland. It has been held by Clan Stewart since the 16th century, when James Stewart, illegitimate son of James V, was granted the title.