Motto: Consilio et animis = By Wisdom and Courage
Clan Chief:The Rt. Hon. Sir Patrick Francis Maitland, Bt, The 17th Earl
of Lauderdale, Viscount of Lauderdale, Viscount of Maitland, Lord Maitland of Thirlestane, Lord Thirlestane and Boltoun, Chief
Names associated with the clan and septs of the Clan Maitland include: Lauderdale, Maitland, Maltland,
Mateland, Matelande, Matheland, Matilland, Matillande, Matlain, Matland, Mauteland, Mautelande, Mautelent, Mautlent, Metellan,
Origins of the clan: The name Maitland is of Norman origin and was originally spelt Mautalent,
Matulant or Matalan, it translates as "evil genius". The Mautalents come from the village of Les Moitiers d'Allonne
near Carteret in Normandy. The name is found to occur frequently in Northumberland during the 12th and 13th centuries. The
first time it is found in Scotland was Thomas de Matulant who was of Anglo-Norman origin. He was the ancestor to this noble
family in Lauderdale. Thomas flourished in the reign of William the Lion and died in 1288.
During the reign of King Alexander
III of Scotland, Thomas's grandson, Sir Richard Matulant was one of the most powerful Lowland magnates, owning the lands of
Thirlestane, Blythe, Tollus and Hedderwick.
Wars of Scottish Independence: Sir Richard Matulant's son joined King Robert
the Bruce on his ascension to the crown. He supported the Bruce at the Battle of Bannockburn in 1314, however he died in 1315.
Sir Richard Maitland whose distinguished exploits during the Wars of Independence earned him a place in Gavin Douglas's The
Palis of Honour.
Two of his sons died when the Clan Maitland fought at the Battle of Durham also known as the Battle of
Neville's Cross in 1346. However his son John who was also the nephew of Sir Robert Keith, Great Marischal of Scotland and
obtained a charter of lands of Thirlestane and Tollus.
15th century: Sir Robert Maitland was in charge of Dunbar Castle
but surrendered it to the Earl of Mar on his return to Scotland. His son Robert Maitland was one of the hostages for King
James I of Scotland on the liberation of England in 1424.
16th century & Anglo-Scottish wars: Robert's descendant,
William Maitland of Lethington was killed when he led the Maitland contingent at the Battle of Flodden Field during the Anglo-Scottish
Wars of the 16th century. William's heir Sir Richard Maitland, was a man of extraordinary talent who was appointed a
judge of the Court of Session and Keeper of the Privy Seal. He was also a distinguished poet and historian, and died in 1586
at the age of 90.
William Maitland of Lethington was a conspicuous and distinguished politician of Mary, Queen of Scots'
reign. He accompanied her north into the Scottish Highlands against the formidable and powerful Earl of Huntly chief of Clan
Gordon. William led his troops at the Battle of Corrichie in 1562 where the Earl of Huntly was killed. He even composed a
prayer, which has been preserved, supplicating divine support and protection for the Royal forces in the day of battle.
continued in service to Queen Mary until her surrender to the insurgent nobles at the Battle of Carberry Hill, but after that
incident he openly joined them and took part in all their councils and proceedings. He was also present at the Battle of Langside,
which finally ruined Mary's cause in Scotland. Sir John Maitland was created the 1st Lord of Thirlestane and married the
heiress of Lord Fleming. He was Lord High Chamberlain of Scotland in the reign of Mary, Queen of Scots, and his son was created
the first Earl of Lauderdale. His sister, Anne married Robert, Lord Seton son of the 1st Earl of Winton. Through frequent
marriages with the families of Fleming and Clan Seton the Clan Maitland became loyal adherents to Mary, Queen of Scots, even
when her fortunes were at their lowest.
17th century and Civil War: The secretary's only son, James, died without issue,
and the Lethington estates passed to his brother, Sir John, first Baron Maitland, who began the construction of Thirlestane
Castle in Lauder. His only son was created first Earl of Lauderdale in 1616. He was President of the Council and a Lord of
The earldom passed to his son, John, in 1645, when the fortunes of the family reached their zenith. He attended
the Westminster Assembly of Presbyterian divines as a Scots commissioner in 1643. In 1647, despite his covenanting background
he promoted the king's cause after he became a prisoner of the English parliament, and the Scots Parliament agreed to send
an army into England on behalf of Charles in return for certain undertakings from him concerning the Church. Lauderdale was
sent to Holland to persuade the Prince of Wales to join with the Scots. He fought alongside Charles at the Battle of Worcester
in 1651, where he was captured, and he spent nine years in the Tower of London.
After the Restoration, Lauderdale rose
to become the most powerful man in Scotland, ruling virtually as viceroy. In 1672 he was created Duke of Lauderdale, but this
title died with him. The duke employed Sir William Bruce to convert his castle at Thirlestane into a renaissance palace.[citation
needed] The family earldom passed to his brother, Charles.
18th century & Jacobite uprisings
Although Richard, the fourth Earl was Roman Catholic and a Jacobite, who followed James II to St. Germain in France, his successors
were not of that persuasion.
John Maitland, the fifth Earl (and brother of the fourth Earl) was a Senator of the College
Charles Maitland the sixth Earl was appointed General of the Mint, and at the general election he was chosen
one of the sixteen representative peers. He supported the British Government and was against Jacobitism. He served as a volunteer,
under the Duke of Argyll, and fought with great gallantry at the Battle of Sheriffmuir against the Jacobites in 1715.
- 1746 uprising: Although the Jacobite leader Prince Charles Edward Stuart stayed at Thirlstane Castle and his army camped
in the parklands after the victory at the Battle of Prestonpans in 1745, the Maitland family were not Jacobites, and they
escaped the forfeiture which ruined so many other families after the Forty-five.
The estate and Castle of Lethington was
acquired by Lord Blantyre in 1702, a gift from La Belle Stuart, Frances Stewart, Duchess of Richmond and Lennox. He renamed
it as per her instructions, "Lennox's Love to Blantyre', which was shortened over the years to Lennoxlove.
Maitland today: Today the Earls of Lauderdale are Hereditary Saltire Banner Bearers of Scotland.
Castle is the seat of the Chief of Clan Maitland.
Tibber's Castle lands were granted 23 August 1369 to john Mautaland
of Thirlestane by the Earl of March, whose sister Agnes he married at about that time. His son, Sir Robert Mautaland obtained
a crown charter of the land.
Lennoxlove House, previously Lethington was owned by the Maitlands until 1682; ownership
passed to Blantyre-Stewarts; now seat of Dukes of Hamilton since 1946.
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