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 The Alliances of
Seton Family
are important not only for their historical value in illustrating
Scottish society, but for their political importance as well... to
understand the loyalty's which existed between the various
families is to understand the complicated political structure
within Scotland and that which bound them to the Monarchy, which
unbroken alliances to the Royal Houses are listed in the following.
The Seton
family initially maintained a system of residences which provided
not only assistance for the protection of the Scottish Monarch's,
but also for providing the means for producing and ensuring the
protection of foods for the Royal line, as well as places of
refuge, relaxation or refinement. In East Lothian, the lands of Seton
are still known for the first and best fruits of the year, and Wynchburgh near the Royal Palace of Linlithgow, was an important
Royal farming region.
Seton Castles
at one time were part of the system which defended Royal interests
on two sides of Edinburgh, as well as in Stirling, Fife and Aberdeen
districts, as well as in Dunfermline and Elgin. The Parbroath line,
for example, assisted in the guarding of interests in Fife, and were
long Hereditary Keepers of the
Royal Falkland Palace before the Honours passed from the family. The Touch branch similarly maintained
assistance in Stirling, and were Hereditary Armour Bearers to the
King, and the Seton's of Meldrum kept this monarchial influence in
the north-east... in Aberdeen, with it's beautiful lands and
countryside very much embroiled in turmoil over control.
The historical
family alliances were forged out of this climate, in supporting the
Monarchy of Scotland, and in weaving political influence in the
feudal structure, and many still exist to this day.
The
Lesser Alliances of Seton Family
are those struck mostly by inter-marriage, and represent periods where the family's
were also aligned for political and/or religious reasons. These
families also shared geographical regions with various branches of the Seton Family and were
influential in the history of their respective territories.
The House of Canmore -
the Seton's came to Scotland from Flanders during Malcolm III and were
uncles to King David I by his second marriage.
The House of Bruce - the
family remained in Scotland during the Wars of Independence, where the
head of the House married the sister of King Robert I.
The House of Stewart/Stuart
- the longest standing and most famous service to the Crown.
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