Book Review: Katie’s Highlander

SHHHH… Don’t tell anyone, but I have a secret.  I. Read. Romances. (Shocking, I know.) Even in my college years, when I was submerged in Shakespeare and other classic literature, dog-eared romances were always close at hand. (That “happily ever after” gets me every time.)

I am also a sci-fi/fantasy geek. So, anytime a romance novel includes time-travel, I’m all in. Finally, because I am an avid genealogist (as evidenced by this blog), I prefer historical romance to contemporary. And if a romance is set in one of my ancestral homelands, more the better.

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The Abbots of Abernethy & Dunkeld

My genealogical researches have uncovered dozens of devout ancestors. This is the fifth installment of a series of posts titled “Doing God’s Work: Our Families’ Faithful”, documenting the lives of those who have served God.

In the previous post of this series, I presented the life and times of Rev. Joseph Hull.  This one focuses on family members who served as either the Abbot of Abernethy and the Abbot of Dunkeld.

Robert III of Scotland

On this day, 4 April 1406, Robert III of Scotland died. He was my 19th great-grandfather.

Born at Scone Palace on 14 August 1337, he was the eldest son of Robert Stewart, the only child of Walter Stewart and Marjorie Bruce, and Elizabeth Mure, daughter of Adam Mure of Rowallan and Janet Mure. At his birth, he was named John Stewart of Carrick.

Marjorie Bruce

On this day, 2 March 1316, Marjorie Bruce died. She was my 19th great-grandmother through her grandson John (who became Robert III), my 19th great-grandmother through her grandson Robert, my 20th great-grandmother through her granddaughter Egidia, and my 20th great-grandmother through her granddaughter Elizabeth.

Marjorie was the only child of Robert the Bruce and Isabella of Mar. On 12 December 1296, soon after Marjorie’s birth, Isabella died; she was only 19.

Six years later, Robert the Bruce married Elizabeth de Burgh. On 27 March 1306, Robert the Bruce was crowned King of Scots at Scone, Perthshire. Marjorie was nine years of age.

In June 1306, three months after the coronation, Robert the Bruce was defeated at the Battle of Methven. Consequently, he sent Marjorie, his wife, and his two sisters north, accompanied by Isabella MacDuff, Countess of Buchan, an ardent supported. Unfortunately, the women were betrayed by the Earl of Ross, who handed them over to Edward I “Longshanks” of England (my 22nd great-grandfather through his son Edward II, my three-times 24th great-grandfather through his daughter Joan, and my 22nd great-grandfather through his son Edmund.)

Cináed mac Ailpín

On this day, 13 February 858, Cináed mac Ailpín (Kenneth MacAlpin), died. He was my 36th great-grandfather through one line and a multi-times (still trying to unravel this one) great-grandfather through another.

Cináed mac Ailpín was born in 810 in Iona, Scotland. The son of Ailpín, he is regarded by many as the founder of medieval Scotland.

By 843, at roughly the same time that the people of Wales were separated from the invading Saxons by Offa’s Dyke, Cináed mac Ailpín was creating the Kingdom of Alba (Scotia) by unifying the warring societies of the Anglos, Britons, Picts, and Scots.

His success was due in part to the continued threat of Viking raids. In 872, Harald Fairhair seized control of Norway, causing many of the jarls to seek out new lands. Norse settlements grew in Caithness, the Isle of Man, Orkney, Ross, Shetland, Sutherland, and the Western Isles.