Ruthven vs. Charteris

In the early 16th century a rivalry between Clan Ruthven, a protestant family, and Clan Charteris, a Catholic one, took place over the position of provost in the Scottish town of Perth.  The Provost was the chief magistrate of a Scottish burgh and held great powers within the region.  The Charteris family traditionally were elected to the position, going back to the mid fifteenth century, and spanning over at least 4 generations.  In 1529 Lord William Ruthven was elected to the position and this stoked an already simmering rivalry between these two powerful families.  A few months after John Ruthven took over as Provost, Patrick Charteris, the previous provost, his brother John Provost and eleven of their clansmen raided the Ruthven stronghold of Cowsland where they burned the village and carried off the Ruthven’s cattle and goods. The Scottish authorities attempted to capture Patrick Charteris but he was able to escape and left Scotland for an “overseas pilgrimage”.  Nine years later in 1538 John Charteris of Kinfauns was elected Provost, returning the title back to the Charteris family.

The next significant confrontation between the two families came during the Perth Provost election in 1543, Cardinal Beaton held much sway over the districts Regent, James Hamilton, Earl of Arran.  Beaton asked Hamilton to order the citizens of Perth to vote for John Charteris over the protestant candidate  Lord Patrick Ruthven.  The Ruthven’s who held considerable sway over the towns people in Perth were successfully able to win the election and Lord Ruthven was declared Provost.  In response Cardinal Beaton appealed to Lord Hamilton who threw out the results of the election and declared John Charteris the next provost.  The citizens of Perth resented this declaration and barred the gates not allowing John Charteris to enter Perth.  John Charteris appealed to his allies in the Gray and Leslie Clans. On July 22nd, 1544 the Grays and the Charteris attacked Perth from the bridge while the Leslies entered the city by river and attacked at the South Port.  In preparation the Ruthven’s along with their allies in Clan Moncreiffe  pulled up the draw bridge, locked the city gates and stationed their men in the houses and lanes of the town.  The attackers led by Lord Gray believed that the Ruthven’s had abandoned the town and they marched in unmolested.  Once they enter the city streets the Ruthven’s gave charge and used the advantage of surprise to rout the invading party.  The Leslies got delayed as they tried to navigate the river into the town and arrived to late to help in the fight. Before retreating from the town sixty soldiers of the invading party were killed by the Ruthvens.   This defeat sealed Ruthven’s power as provost of Perth and they remained Provosts until the execution of William Ruthven, Earl of Gowrie, in 1584 after he was involved in a plot to kidnap king James VI.

The feud between these two clans had one final incident in 1552 when The Ruthven chief’s son along with some of their clansmen encountered John Charteris of Kinclaven on the High Street of Edinburgh, the group of Ruthven’s took the opportunity to murder Charteris as an act of revenge.  This incident led to the passing of an act in Scottish parliament that stated that murderers in an act of clan revenge would forfeit their right of judgement and property.