Rothesay Castle

Castle of the Stewarts | Scotland versus Norway | A royal castle

Castle of the Stewarts

Rothesay Castle is unique among Scottish castles, both for its early date and for its circular form. It is also famous for its long and close association with the Stewarts – hereditary high stewards until 1371, and thereafter the royal dynasty. From them is descended Charles, Prince of Wales and Duke of Rothesay.

Rothesay had a remarkable early history. It was built by Walter, 3rd High Steward (1204–41) as a bulwark against the Norwegians. The kings of Norway twice besieged and took it, in 1230 and 1263. The Stewarts took steps to prevent the castle falling into enemy hands ever again by adding four formidable projecting towers. But it was never again put to the test.

Later in its history, the Stewarts added the great gatehouse. In the 19th century, the Crichton Stuarts, Marquesses of Bute, restored the ruined castle to its present appearance.

Scotland versus Norway

In 1098 King Edgar of Scotland formally ceded the Hebrides, including Bute, to Norway, the result of Viking incursions since about 800. His descendants were bent on recovering the islands. By 1200, Alan, 2nd High Steward, had retaken Bute. His son, Walter, 3rd High Steward, probably built the formidable sandstone circular wall that still dominates the complex.

The need for a formidable castle was soon demonstrated. In 1230 Haakon IV of Norway ordered his liege men to sail into the Clyde and capture it. This they did, after a three-day siege and much loss of life. But they were soon forced to retreat.

They returned in 1263, this time with King Haakon himself at their head. They retook the castle, and would doubtless have done more damage, but a violent storm scattered their longships. An inconclusive skirmish at Largs, on the Ayrshire coast, led to a headlong retreat, and Haakon died in the Bishop’s Palace, Kirkwall, on his return voyage. Three years later, his son, King Magnus, handed back the Hebrides to Alexander III.

A royal castle

When David II died in 1371, the throne passed to his nephew, Robert Stewart, 7th High Steward. ‘King Bob’ – whose parents were Walter Stewart and King Robert’s daughter Marjorie Bruce – became the first of the Stewart dynasty. Rothesay now became a royal castle. In the early 15th century, James IV and James V carried out substantial works, including the impressive gatehouse and St Michael’s Chapel in the courtyard.

Thereafter, the castle went into decline. It was restored to its present appearance in the 19th century by the Marquesses of Bute, the Crichton Stuarts, in their capacity as keepers of the castle.