![]() ![]() It was while returning from one of these forays that he met his death. Like his younger brother Hrolf the Ganger, Duke of Normandy, Sigurd was a born conqueror, and could not rest within the narrow limits of his island home, but spread his dominion over the whole of Northern Scotland, extending his boundary as far as the Southern border of Moray, where he built a “borg”or fort. ![]() Rognavald at once passed them to his son Sigurd, the first Jarl of Orkney. She traced her descent, through a long line of Scandinavian sovereigns, from Rognavald, Jarl of Mæren, to whom, in recompense of good service done in aiding him to obtain the crown of Norway, Harold Harfager granted in 875 the islands of Orkney and Shetland, then only recently added to his kingdom. Clair, his successor, married Isabel, daughter and eventually sole heir of Malise, seventh Earl Palatine of Stratherne, and Earl of Orkney and Caithness. The action and the sentiment were heroic, and they were the last words and deeds of an heroic life for Douglas fell overpowered by his enemies, and three of his knights, and many of his companions, were slain with their master.” - Tytler. Taking from his neck the casket which contained the heart of Bruce, he cast it before him, and cried with a loud voice, “Now pass onward as thou wert wont, and Douglas will follow thee or die!” In attempting this, he was inextricably involved with the enemy. Clair of Rosslyn, whom he saw in jeopardy. “Douglas endeavoured to cut his way through the ranks of the Infidels, and in all probability would have succeeded, had he not turned again to rescue Sir William St. But it is to the branch seated at Rosslyn that belongs the chief illustration of the race.Ī namesake and descendant of the first Lord of Rosslyn formed one of that gallant company - so dear to all Scottish hearts - that went with Lord James Douglas in 1330 on his pilgrimage to the Holy Sepulchre with the heart of King Robert Bruce, and fell with him in battle against the Moors of Spain. Clair, whom we find styled “Vicecomes”of Richard de Morville, Constable of Scotland, in 1160, and was the founder of the house of Herdmanston, now represented by Lord Sinclair. Besides William, another-of the family sought his fortunes in Scotland, Henry de St. Clair, Earls of Orkney and Caithness, etc.” - The Norman People. of Scotland of Rosslyn in Midlothian, whence descended the great house of St. Clair, probably a son of Britel, held in Dorset, 1130 (Rot. Clair, his brother, held in Somerset (Ibid.) William de St. Clair, who held lands in Suffolk 1086 (Domesday). Clair is mentioned by Wace at the battle of Hastings. “This Norman village has bestowed its name upon a Scottish family, an English town, an Irish county, a Cambridge college, a Royal Dukedom, and a King-at-Arms.” - Isaac Taylor's Words and Places. Clair, in the canton of that name, arrondissement of Pont L’Evêque, where the site of the seignorial castle is still discernible.
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