James Stewart 5th High Steward of Scotland

  General Notes:

In 1286 he was chosen one of the six Regents of Scotland. He subsequently submitted to Edward I on July 9 1297 and was one of the auditors for the Competitor, Robert de Brus. However, during the Wars of Scottish Independence he joined Sir William Wallace. After Wallace's defeat at the Battle of Falkirk (1298) he gave his support to Robert the Bruce.

In 1302, with six other ambassadors, he was sent to solicit the aid of the French king against Edward, to whom he was once again compelled to swear fealty at Lanercost on October 23 1306. To render this oath as secure as possible, it was taken upon the two crosses of Scotland most esteemed for their sanctity, on the consecrated host, the holy gospels and certain relics of saints. He also agreed to submit to instant excommunication if he should break his allegiance to Edward. Convinced that his faith was to his country in spite of all, he once again took up the Scottish patriotic cause and died in the service of The Bruce in 1309.

James, 5th High Steward, was married to Cecilia, daughter of Patrick de Dunbar, 7th Earl of Dunbar & March, by whom he had a son and heir -

Walter, 6th High Steward (1293 - 1326) who married Robert the Bruce's daughter, Marjory.

He also had four other children:

Sir John, Knt., d. October 14 1318 at the battle of Dundalk.
Sir Andrew, "younger son"
Sir James Stewart, Knt., later of Durisdeer, Tutor to his nephew, the future King
Robert, in 1327.
Egidia Stewart, who married Sir Alexander de Menzies, of Durisdeer. ²⁶

James married Cecilia de Dunbar, daughter of Patrick de Dunbar 5th Earl of Dunbar and Unknown.

James next married Egidia de Burgh, daughter of Walter de Burgh Earl of Ulster and Isabel FitzJohn.