Hamilton Clan Crest
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CREST: In a ducal coronet an oak tree fructed and penetrated transversely in the main stem by a frame saw Proper, the frame Or MOTTO: Through TRANSLATION: N/A VARIATIONS: N/A |
| The Scottish Clan Hamilton is one of the most prominent and historic clans in Scotland, with a fascinating history that spans back over seven centuries. The clan takes its name from the town of Hamilton in South Lanarkshire, which was the ancestral home of the family.
The early history of the Clan Hamilton can be traced back to the 13th century, with the arrival of Walter Fitz Gilbert of Hambledon, who was believed to be a Norman and appears in a charter to the Monastery of Paisley around 1294. His lands were in Renfrewshire, but he was later rewarded with lands in Lanarkshire and the Lothians for his support of Robert the Bruce. |
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| The Hamilton family continued to prosper, and in 1474, James Hamilton, the first Lord Hamilton, married Princess Mary, daughter of James III, making their children in line for the throne. The second Earl of Arran, who was the heir to the throne of both James IV and Mary, Queen of Scots, was appointed Regent of Scotland while the queen was still a child. He proposed to marry his son to Mary, but the match did not take place, and Mary married the heir to the French throne instead.
Despite these setbacks, the Hamilton family continued to play a prominent role in Scottish politics. The fourth Earl of Arran and third Duke of Chatelherault became Chancellor of Scotland and keeper of both the strategic Castles of Edinburgh and Stirling. In 1643, Hamilton was rewarded by Charles I with a Scottish dukedom, making him the premier peer of Scotland. However, his army was defeated at Preston in 1648, and he was beheaded at Whitehall in 1649. The title passed to Anne, the daughter of the first Duke, who was a woman of great intellect and determination. She inherited the title and estates heavily burdened by debts, but she set out to reestablish the family seat, laying the foundations for the building of a great palace. Her son, the fourth duke, met his death in a duel in London in 1712, but the fifth and sixth Dukes extended the palace and built the splendid Hunting lodge named Chatelherault, now part of a public park. Alexander, the tenth Duke, completed the enlargement of Hamilton Place and adorned it with spectacular works of art collected from all over the world. He was nicknamed ‘IL Magnifico’ and lived in truly regal style. He crowned his royal ambitions by marrying his son, William, to Princess Marie of Baden, a cousin of Napoleon III. |
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