Notes:

1 - Covenanter and Royalist, he emerged as the greatest general of the times after Cromwell. He was a key supporter of Charles I in Scotland during the Civil War.

2 - James V1 of Scotland in 1581 had signed the "National League and Covenant" which essentially provided protection for the new Presbyterianism worship set against against the continuing silent Catholicism with its edicts from Rome. The situation was further compounded by the introduction of another "new" religious doctrine, Episcopalianism. In its clauses the King was beholden to maintain the new religion and resist, if necessary by force, any attempt to have it usurped. It also allowed the people of Scotland the right to express dissent in matters of religion foisted on them by any King. James's son, Charles I, who came to the throne in 1625 was a firm believer in Catholicism and the divine right of kings. He subsequently lost his head over the latter issue. He, to a large degree, rebuffed the document and its intent. He had already alienated much of the population by marrying Henrietta Maria, the Catholic daughter of Henry 1V of France, and displayed apparent sympathy for Catholicism at his Scottish coronation in Holyrood Palace in Edinburgh in 1633.
Suspicion of him had become evident earlier in his reign when he issued from England an act of revocation cancelling all grants for crown and church property which had been in effect for over a hundred years. It therefore was apparent that Charles, although not definitely a practising advocate of Catholicism, he certainly was a discreet one.
His activities in matters of religion and display of religious worship caused a lot of discomfort to many in Britain and in Scotland in particular. A new book of common prayer was introduced in St. Giles Cathedral in Edinburgh. It caused an instant furore. Emotions were high in protest and became so heated that Jennie Geddes, (obviously a female activist), and no doubt part of Knox's "monstrous regiment", threw a stool at the officiating dean in the Cathedral. Riots occurred in the streets with the poor prelates running for their homes chased by angry mobs. The issue of divine right surfaced three years later and the English Civil War commenced with all the fury that a civil war brings.
As most Scots were aligned with the Act of Covenant, positions were taken. James Graham, the Marquis of Montrose, a Protestant by birth, rose to leadership of the King's army. His opponents became known as the Covenanters and their army was commanded by Alexander Leslie. Leslie had been a mercenary soldier on the continent and he had been persuaded to return from Sweden and given the rank of Field-Marshal. On his return to Scotland he had brought with him a plentiful supply of arms and military men.
There was a lot of to-ing and fro-ing in this war in both England and in Scotland. There was a continual jockeying for position with more emphasis initially on the philosophical issues rather than in actual combat. Matters changed considerably however during and after 1644. Like-minded men, mostly following dictates from their clan chiefs or the landowners formed allegiances and created armies. They fought under different clan banners but espoused the same cause.
The stage was thus set with on the one hand those who opposed King Charles and the maintenance of the established Catholic status quo, the Covenanters. They were under the control of Archibald Campbell, the eighth Earl, and first Marquis of Argyll. Argyll could summon the multitudes of Clan Campbell and he appointed as its army commander, Lord Elcho. On the other, the Marquis of Montrose who supported the position of the King. He, accompanied by some lights like the eldest son of the Earl of Monteith, Lord Kilpont, David Drummond Master of Maderty (Madderty), Sir John Drummond, a son of the Earl of Perth, had collected a motley crew of levies from a variety of clans which included Appin Stewarts, Camerons, Farquharsons, Gordons, several cadet branches of the clan MacDonald, MacKinnons, MacLeans, Macnabs, Macphersons as well as mercenaries from Ireland. Elcho, with a mixed bag of acolytes including, strange to say, some from Covenanting families like Murray of Gask, and some from non-Covenanting families like Lord Drummond, had collected about 8,000 men including a squadron of 700 horse.
On Sunday September 1, 1644, at Tippermuir, outside Perth, the opposing forces met for the first time, steel clashed and casualties occurred. Montrose's force of foot soldiers was outnumbered by three to one. Elcho chose as his battlecry on the day "Jesus and no quarter!" Montrose's men were poorly equipped. Most of their number had no weapons other than broadswords, Lochaber axes, dirks and obsolete guns. Some had no weapons at all relying on stone throwing! Montrose decided that the best way to secure weapons for his soldiers was tell them to go and take them from the opposing force. As the ground was relatively flat he decided to do this by employing recently introduced European tactics. They had first been used by Gustavus of Leipsia. He lined his men up in three ranks. The first two ranks had muskets which were fired simultaneously and the third rank were almost prehistoric and could only throw stones! This procedure would then be followed up using a frontal attack in a traditional Highland charge. Prior to issuing the order he sent over a truce party under David Drummond of Madderty informing Elcho that as the King's representative, and as he was acting under a royal commission in Scotland as appointed lieutenant-general, he had no wish to cause bloodshed. He also reminded Elcho that his (Elcho's) allegiance was to the throne. Furthermore he stated that there should be no violence on the Sabbath. Elcho heard these words, saw what stood against him, promptly seized the envoys telling them at the same time that he would hang them in Perth after the battle.
Elcho, seeing this rabble in front of his forces decided to lure them into a position within range of his nine pieces of cannon which fired five pound balls. The idea was to use some of his horse for this purpose and when they withdrew Montrose's forces would be exposed. He could then cut them to pieces at his leisure. Unfortunately for him the ruse did not work. Montrose fired a volley from both of his ranks and the troopers were shot off their horses. This was quickly followed by a Highland charge. A Highland charge, which one could describe as somewhat fearsome if one was at the receiving end of it, was effected. With the spirit high, the King's army bore down on the lines of the Covenanters less then a mile away with speed and, at close quarters, savagery. They broke the line causing Elcho's position to collapse completely. The rout which then followed was catastrophic for the Covenanters.
Perhaps a dozen or so men had been killed in the action on the battlefield but the ensuing slaughter set the stage for the type of war it was going to be; barbarous acts were substituted for civilized warfare. It was said that there were bodies strewn all around the battlefield and right along the road and into the city of Perth. Old scores between Highlanders and Lowlanders, were settled with the sword, dirk and club... anything which could come to hand.
After the battle at a celebratory banquet hosted by Montrose, James Stewart of Ardvorlich killed his best friend, Lord Kilpont, with a dirk. Kilpont was a Graham and a relation of the Marquis. Ardvorlich then took off, no doubt very quickly, and joined the Covenanting army where he was commissioned with the rank of Major. The body of the murdered Lord was taken to Monteith and interred in the Chapter House of the Priory of Inchmahome. Kilpont's widow naturally was quite distraught and swore a blood feud between the Grahams and the Stewarts. The reasons given for the murder are unknown but are offered in the chapter on the Stewarts.
Therafter the career of Montrose as a brilliant general became a reality. His lightning moves against the Covenanting army is the stuff of legends. He took them on time after time. At Aberdeen, Fyvie, Inverlochy, the classic retreat from Dundee, at Auldearn and Alford followed up with the Battle at Kilsyth sealed for him a place amongst the great generals of history, Hannibal, Caesar, Wellington and Slim.
In 1645 he was again in Strathearn and camped at Callum's Hill in Crieff. He had with him only 500 foot soldiers and 50 horse. This time his opponent on the Covenanters side was Baillie who was camped twelve miles away on the Perth road. Taking his small force he made a night march to their camp but Baillie had wind of the move and had drawn up his army. Montrose seeing that he stood no chance decided to retreat through upper Strathearn. He was followed by two thousand foot and five hundred horse of the army of the Covenanters but was able to hold them at bay.
In April 16-18th, 1645, James Graham, Marquis of Montrose, passed through the Village of Comrie with his small army and camped, like Wallace of three centuries before, for the night at Dundurn near St. Fillans then called Portmore.
Thereafter he went on to Balquhidder and then North where he met up with Lord Gordon. The united force then marched to the village of Auldearn near Inverness where he defeated Colonel Urrey and the government army on the 4th May of that year. It was said that one of the horses complained to another horse that it had sore feet with all the marching!
Sadly for the Marquis his luck ran out. After a defeat at Carbisdale in 1650 he sought shelter at Ardvreck Castle in Assynt. This was one of the homes of the MacLeods. There, under their hospitality, and one supposes, protection, they betrayed him.
He was taken to Edinburgh and villified and humiliated on the way. A court made up of all his enemies, many Campbells among them, was convened. After due evidence he was convicted and sentenced to death by hanging. The sentence was a foregone conclusion but hanging was not a part of it. The axe, yes, the sword yes, but the rope, never! This was for the common criminal, not a noble Lord - his right was to be executed with the axe or sword. A fine line no doubt but fine lines sometimes make the difference! An appeal was made but the Court was in no mood to be trifled with or dictated to by the Marquis and his request was denied. He, like many other noble fellows was hung at the Grassmarket by the rope on May 21st, 1650. His last words were, "God have mercy on this afflicted land!" I hope the rope was at least made of silk!
He died nobly forgiving all his enemies and confirming his loyalty to his King and cause! His head was cut off and shown to the public in the Tolbooth where it hung for eleven years eventually being replaced by the head of his enemy, Argyll! His body was sectioned and distributed to various towns. His limbs were displayed in prominent places in Glasgow, Edinburgh, Perth and Aberdeen. There all could see and take note! His torso was buried in the Boroughmuir graveyard.
In early January, 1661, as many parts of his body as it was possible to find were gathered together and placed in a linen-draped casket for final internment. Sadly his heart was missing. He had been granted an "honourable reparation" by the Scots Parliament and a great assembly foregathered.
The casket was placed in Abbey Church in Holyrood and it was a great day by all accounts. There, in attendance, were both friends and enemies. The ceremony and subsequent procession was led by his half-brother, Sir Harry Graham. Standards were carried by representatives from the houses of Balgowan, Cairnie, Duntroon, Drums, Gorthie, Inchbrakie, Monzie and orphie - all close supporters of his cause. The casket was carried by no less than fourteen earls including some of his bitterest opponents like Callender, Eglington, Home, Roxburgh and Seaforth. The pall was carried by others who had let him down or betrayed him including Strathnaver. His two sons were there, as well as his brother-in-law Rollo, a close friend to his arch-enemy Argyll. Tweeddale who had voted for his death at his trial and Marischal who had defied him at Dunnottar were there standing close by his faithful friends Maderty, Frendraught and the Marquis of Douglas. He was laid to rest in St. Giles Cathedral in Ediburgh but his heart, it was said, travelled further afield.
According to legend shortly after his execution Lady Napier resurrected his trunk from the grave in Boroughmuir where the heart was removed, embalmed, and placed in a small egg-shaped case. This was then enclosed in a gold filigree box. which had originally been a gift to her grandfather from the Doge of Venice. The Heart itself had an interesting history . It passed through many hands, was sold in Paris and eventually was discovered almost 200 years later at a market in India. Thereafter it was returned to Scotland.
( The Marquis of Montrose by Peter R Mc Naughton )
[ http://www.scottishradiance.com/gwriter/gwriter9712.htm ]

3 - James Graham, 1st Marquess of Montrose (October 1612 - 21 May 1650 ), was a Scottish nobleman and soldier, who initially joined the Covenanters in the Wars of the Three Kingdoms , but subsequently supported King Charls I as the English Civil War developed. From 1644 to 1646, and again in 1650 he fought a civil war in Scotland on behalf of the King.
James Graham was the chief of Clan Graham . He was a son of John Graham, 4th Earl of Montrose and Mary Ruthven. His maternal grandparents were William Ruthven, 1st Earl of Gowrie , and Dorothea, a daughter of Henry Stewart, 1st Lord Methven and his second wife Janet Stewart. Her maternal grandparents were John Stewart, 2nd Earl of Atholl and Lady Janet Campbell. Janet Campbell was a daughter of Archibald Campbell, 2nd Earl of Argyll and Elizabeth Stewart. Elizabeth was a daughter of John Stewart, 1st Earl of Lennox and Margaret Montgomerie. Margaret was a daughter of Alexander Montgomerie, 1st Lord Montgomerie and Margaret Boyd.
James Graham became 5th Earl of Montrose by his father's death in 1626. He was educated at the University of St Andrews , and at the age of seventeen married Magdalene Carnegie, [1] daughter of David Carnegie (afterwards Earl of Southesk ). They were parents of James Graham, 2nd Marquess of Montrose .
Covenanter to Royalist
In 1638, after King Charles had attempted to impose an Anglican -oriented prayer book upon the reluctant Scots, resistance spread throughout the country, eventually leading to the Bishops' Wars . Montrose joined the party of resistance, and was for some time one of its most energetic champions. He had nothing puritanical in his nature, but he shared in the ill-feeling aroused by the political authority King Charles had given to the bishops . He signed the National Covenant , and was sent to suppress the opposition which arose around Aberdeen and in the country of the Gordons. Three times Montrose entered Aberdeen, where he succeeded in his object, on the second occasion carrying off the head of the Gordons, the Marquess of Huntly , as a prisoner to Edinburgh (though in so doing, for the first and last time in his life, he violated a safe-conduct). He was a leader of the delegation who subsequently met at Muchalls Castle to parlay regarding the 1638 confrontation with the Bishop of Aberdeen . With the Earl Marischal he led a force of 9000 men across the Causey Mounth through the Portlethen Moss to attack Royalists at the Bridge of Dee . [2] This set of events was an element of Charles I decision to grant sweeping reforms to the Covenanters .
In July 1639, after the signature of the Treaty of Berwick , Montrose was one of the Covenanting leaders who visited Charles. The change of policy on his part, eventually leading to his support for the king, arose from his wish to get rid of the bishops without making presbyters masters of the state. His was essentially a layman's view of the situation. Taking no account of the real forces of the time, he aimed at an ideal form of society in which the clergy should confine themselves to their spiritual duties, and the king should maintain law and order. In the Scottish parliament which met in September, Montrose found himself in opposition to Archibald Campbell, 1st Marquess of Argyll , who had made himself the representative of the Presbyterian and national party, and of the middle classes. Montrose, on the other hand, wished to bring the king's authority to bear upon parliament to defeat Argyll, and offered the king the support of a great number of nobles. He failed, because Charles could not even then consent to abandon the bishops, and because no Scottish party of any weight could be formed unless Presbyterianism were established ecclesiastically.
Rather than give way, Charles prepared in 1640 to invade Scotland. Montrose was of necessity driven to play something of a double part. In August 1640 he signed the Bond of Cumbernauld as a protest against the particular and direct practicing of a few, in other words, against the ambition of Argyll. But he took his place amongst the defenders of his country, and in the same month he displayed his gallantry in action at the forcing of the Tyne at Newburn . After the invasion had been crowned with success, Montrose still continued to cherish his now hopeless policy. On 27 May 1641 he was summoned before the Committee of Estates and charged with intrigues against Argyll, and on the 11th of June he was imprisoned in Edinburgh Castle . Charles visited Scotland to give his formal assent to the abolition of Episcopacy , and upon the king's return to England Montrose shared in the amnesty which was tacitly accorded to all Charles's partisans.
Scotland in the Wars of the Three Kingdoms
Highlanders had never before been known to combine together, but Montrose knew that many of the West Highland clans, who were largely Catholic , detested Argyll and his Campbell clansmen, none more so than the MacDonalds who with many of the other clans rallied to his summons. The Royalist allied Irish Confederates sent 2000 disciplined Irish soldiers led by Alasdair MacColla across the sea to assist him. In two campaigns, distinguished by rapidity of movement, he met and defeated his opponents in six battles. At Tippermuir and Aberdeen he routed Covenanting levies; at Inverlochy he crushed the Campbells, at Auldearn , Alford and Kilsyth his victories were obtained over well-led and disciplined armies.
The fiery enthusiasm of the Gordons and other clans often carried the day, but Montrose relied more upon the disciplined infantry from Ireland. His strategy at Inverlochy, his tactics at Aberdeen, Auldearn and Kilsyth furnished models of the military art, but above all his daring and constancy marked him out as one of the greatest soldiers of the war. His career of victory was crowned by the great Battle of Kilsyth on 15 August 1645 .
Now Montrose found himself apparently master of Scotland. In the name of the king, who now appointed him lord lieutenant and captain-general of Scotland, he summoned a parliament to meet at Glasgow on 20 October , in which he no doubt hoped to reconcile loyal obedience to the king with the establishment of a non-political Presbyterian clergy. That parliament never met. Charles had been defeated at the Battle of Naseby on 14 June , and Montrose must come to his help if there was to be still a king to proclaim. David Leslie , the best of the Scottish generals, was promptly dispatched against Montrose to anticipate the invasion. On 12 September he came upon Montrose, deserted by his Highlanders and guarded only by a little group of followers, at Philiphaugh . He won an easy victory. Montrose cut his way through to the Highlands; but he failed to organize an army. In September 1646 he embarked for Norway .
Montrose was to appear once more on the stage of Scottish history. In June 1649, burning to revenge the death of the king, he was restored by the exiled Charles II to the now nominal lieutenancy of Scotland. Charles however did not scruple shortly afterwards to disavow his noblest supporter in order to become a king on terms dictated by Argyll and Argyll's adherents. In March 1650 Montrose landed in Orkney to take the command of a small force which he had sent on before him. Crossing to the mainland, he tried in vain to raise the clans, and on 27 April he was surprised and routed at the Battle of Carbisdale in Ross-shire . His forces were defeated in battle but he escaped. After wandering for some time he was surrendered by Neil MacLeod of Assynt at Ardvreck Castle , to whose protection, in ignorance of MacLeod's political enmity, he had entrusted himself. He was brought a prisoner to Edinburgh, and on 20 May sentenced to death by the parliament. He was hanged on the 21st, with Wishart's laudatory biography of him put round his neck. To the last he protested that he was a real Covenanter and a loyal subject.
Shortly after Montrose's death the Scottish Argyll Government switched sides and became Royalists too.
[ http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/James_Graham,_1st_Marquess_of_Montrose ]


4 - Montrose was one of the most romantic figures in seventeenth century Scotland, a poet and as well as a dashing general of Charles I. In 1644 he raised the Highland clans for the King and won a series of victories but was defeated at Philiphaugh, near Selkirk. He fled to the continent but returned after the execution of Charles I. He was captured at the battle of Carbisdale and hung and quartered in the Grassmarket of Edinburgh.
[http://www.nationalgalleries.org]

5 - His succession of victories over the armies of the Covenant at Tippermuir, Alford, Aberdeen, Inverlochy, and Kilsyth, forms one of the most romantic chapters of Scottish history, and his surprise and defeat at Philiphaugh, with his later capture in the north of Scotland, his vindictive execution at Edinburgh on 21st May, 1650, and his splendid second burial in the Cathedral of St. Giles eleven years later, after the Restoration, have excited interest and sympathy hardly less than that excited by the careers and misfortunes of Mary Queen of Scots and Prince Charles Edward Stewart.
During the Great Marquess's campaign, at the instance of his implacable enemy, the Marquess of Argyll, the ancient family stronghold of Kincardine Castle was besieged, captured, and destroyed. Afterwards, for a time, the family residence was Mugdock Castle, near Glasgow, and there was a town house in the Drygate of that city. It was at Mugdock that in the days of Charles II., when the Earl of Middleton was engaged in the proceedings which brought about the persecution of the Covenanters, he is said to have engaged with his associates in wild bacchanalian revels. The stronghold is said to have been acquired by the Grahams as early as the twelfth century.
[http://www.electricscotland.com/webclans/dtog/graham2.html]

6 - 1641: Mugdock Castle partly destroyed on the orders of Parliament.
1644: James, 2nd Earl of Montrose, was made 1st Marquis of Montrose by King Charles I. He returned to live at Mugdock.
1647: The 1st Marquis fled the country after King Charles I surrendered to the Parliamentarians. The Barony was transferred to the Marquis of Argyll who later passed it on to his son.
(http://www.mugdock-country-park.org.uk/mugdock/timeline.htm)

7 - Mugdock Castle was a stronghold of the Grahams from the middle of the 13th century. James Graham, the first Marquis of Montrose initially supported the Covenanters and while in prison in 1641, the castle was sacked by Lord Sinclair.
(http://www.rampantscotland.com/castles/blcastles_mugdock.htm)

James married Magdalen Carnegie on 10 Nov 1629. Magdalen (daughter of David (1st Earl of Southesk) Carnegie and Margaret Lindsay) and died. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

1. James (2nd Marquess of Montrose) Graham was born in 1633; died in Feb 1669.

John married Margaret Ruthven in 1593-1594. Margaret (daughter of William (1st Earl of Gowrie) Ruthven and Dorothea (of Methven) Stewart) was born in 1577 in Gowrie, Perthshire, Scotland; and died. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

1 - Eldest daughter.

2 - The first Earl of Gowrie left five sons and seven daughters. The latter were noted for their beauty and their fortunate marriages. The eldest became the wife of the Earl of Athole, the second married Lord Ogilvy, the third the Duke of Lenno, the fourth the Earl of Montrose, by whom she was the mother of the great Marquis.
[ http://www.burkes-peerage.net/articles/scotland/esnews/es0602b.aspx ]

John married Jean Drummond on 24 Aug 1563. Jean (daughter of David 2nd Baron Drummond and Lilias (Lilian) Ruthven) died in Mar 1567-1568. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

William + Dorothea (of Methven) Stewart. Dorothea (daughter of Henry (1st Lord Methven) Stewart and Janet (Countess of Sutherland) Stewart) was born before 1551; died on 1 Jan 1627. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Robert married Margaret Fleming before 6 Jan 1547. Margaret (daughter of Malcolm 3rd Lord Fleming and Janet\Joan (Princess) Stewart) died on 15 Mar 1586. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

David married Lilias (Lilian) Ruthven before 7 Dec 1543. Lilias (daughter of William (2nd Lord) Ruthven and Janet (Baroness Dirleton) Halyburton) was born about 1526; died on 7 Jul 1579. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Patrick married Lady Janet Douglas on 8 Aug 1546. Janet (daughter of Archibald (6th Earl of Angus) Douglas and Lady Jane (of Traquair) Stewart) was born before 1530; died after 16 Dec 1552. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Henry married Janet (Countess of Sutherland) Stewart before 4 Nov 1544. Janet (daughter of John (2nd Earl of Atholl) Stewart and Janet (Mary) (of Argyll) Campbell) and died. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]