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Birth:          ABT 1260 
Death:          16 Jul 1309 

Notes
members.aol.com/dwidad/scots4.htm
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/James_Stewart,_5th_High_Steward_of_Scotland
James Stewart (died 16 July 1309) was the 5th hereditary High Steward of Scotland 
and a Guardian of Scotland during the First Interregnum.
Birth and ancestry[edit]

James was a son of Alexander Stewart, 4th High Steward of Scotland; the identity of 
Alexander's wife is unknown.[1] The date of his birth is not certainly known and some 
sources have placed it, on no good evidence, as early as 1243. This is now thought 
to be unlikely. Firstly, James's father is known to have planned a pilgrimage to the 
shrine of Saint James of Compostella in 1252 or after, so that James would probably 
have been born after this. Secondly, James's Christian name was an unusual one, 
uncommon in Scotland in the 13th century and not a traditional name in the Stewart 
family where Walter and Alan were favoured. It is therefore quite possible that he was 
not Alexander's eldest son, but rather the eldest surviving son. For these reasons, and 
also the fact of his son and successor Walter Stewart being described as a "beardless 
lad" around 1314 in John Barbour's The Brus, it is proposed that James was born 
around 1260.[2]

Early years[edit]

In 1286 James was chosen as one of the six Guardians of Scotland. He subsequently 
submitted to King Edward I of England on 9 July 1297, and was one of the auditors for 
the competitor, Robert Bruce, 5th Lord of Annandale. However, during the Wars of 
Scottish Independence he joined Sir William Wallace. After Wallace's defeat at the 
Battle of Falkirk in 1298, he gave his support[citation needed] to Robert Bruce, later 
King Robert I of Scotland, grandson of the competitor.

Marriages and children[edit]

James was married several times. His first wife was Cecilia, daughter of Patrick, Earl 
of Dunbar (died 1289). James' second wife appears to have been Muriel (born 1244), 
daughter of Malise, Earl of Strathearn (died 1271). His third wife was Giles, daughter 
of Walter de Burgh, Earl of Ulster (died 1271), and sister of Richard de Burgh, Earl of 
Ulster (died 1326).[1] Children of James include:
Walter, 6th High Steward (1293–1326) who married King Robert I's daughter, Marjorie 
Bruce.[3]
Sir John, killed 14 October 1318 at the battle of Dundalk.[3]
Sir Andrew,[4] "younger son"[5][6]
Sir James Stewart of Durisdeer, Tutor to his nephew, the future King Robert II of 
Scotland, in 1327.[3]
Egidia Stewart, who married Sir Alexander de Menzies, of Durisdeer.[3]

Later years and death[edit]

In 1302, with six other ambassadors including John Comyn, Earl of Buchan, 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 23 October 1306. To render his oath if 
possible secure, 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.[7]

Parents
STEWART Alexander (1214 - 1283)
____ Jean (ABT 1209 - )

Siblings
STEWART John (ABT 1245 - 22 Jul 1298)
STEWART Hawise (ABT 1249 - BEF 1293)
STEWART James (ABT 1260 - 16 Jul 1309)

Marriage To DE BURGH Giles (ABT 1263 - )
    m.  

Notes

Parents
DE BURGH Walter (ABT 1230 - 28 Jul 1271)
FITZ JOHN Aveline (ABT 1236 - 20 May 1274)

Children by DE BURGH Giles ABT 1263 - 
STEWART Walter (ABT 1296 - 9 Apr 1327)

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