The 1st pedigree lists Malcolm MacLeod [GMB3-28F] as the 13th cousin 2 times removed of Prince Rainier III [KVGZ-N7Z] and the common ancestors of George Falconer and Elizabeth Erskine.
This column is a series about the hobby of family history using familysearch.org and relativefinder.org. Most anyone can conveniently pinpoint known relationships with prominent founding fathers, celebrities, and religious leaders. English and Scottish descendants may connect with some 700 people in the data base, if their pedigrees are in Family Search. As of 2024, Family search has 1.67 billion searchable people, with 530 million sources to increase accuracy. Because Donald John Trump Sr’s ancestors have many descendants, he has cousins by the dozens. The family trees come from familysearch.org. Let’s review the royal families.
Since the records go back many centuries, many of the names have had whole books of biographies recording their stories. Many English biographies are featured in the Dictionary of National Biography. The seven character code in brackets [ ] after a person’s name is the code to find them in FamilySearch.org. Principality of Monaco residents are Monegasque or Monacans.
Monaco, at 200 acres, is a fourth the size of New York City’s 843 acre Central Park. Monaco borders France on all sides, the West and North and East, and is about ten miles west of Italy. Monaco was occupied by France in the past. Wars continued for centuries. NATO has diplomatic relation with Monaco which is considered a microstate. The NATO member France surrounds Monaco, assigning France the responsibility for a Monaco’s military. Monoca’s Public Force is a military unit of about 270 of Carabiniers – soldiers carrying a short rifle, used for ceremonies, fire and civil defense. As of 2026 Monaco is not part of the European Union and uses French currency, the euro.
The 2nd pedigree lists a Scot, Malcolm MacLeod [GMB3-28F] as the 13th great grandson of a Scot William Sinclair [LCCN-H49]. Earl Sinclair was Lord High Chancellor of Scotland between 1454 and 1458 AD. The Lord High Chancellor was a peer and the principal Great Officer of State, the presiding officer of the Parliament of Scotland, the Keeper of the Great Seal, presiding officer of the Privy Council, and a judge of the College of Justice. Sinclair’s other titles were 3rd Earl of Orkney (last), 1st Earl of Caithness, 2nd Lord Sinclair, 11th Baron of Roslin. For another pedigree of EarlSinclair, see the 3rd pedigree.
The 3rd pedigree lists Prince Rainer 3d as the 14th great grandson of the same Scot William Sinclair [LCCN-H49 as listed in 2nd pedigree. By having the same Earl Sinclair as their ancestor for both Malcolm MacLeod and Prince Rainer 3d, they are known cousins at the 13th and 14th generations.
The 4th pedigree lists Mary Ann Trumpnee Macleod as 14th cousin once removed of Prince Rainer 3d with the common ancestor of a Scot William Murrayof Tullibardine.
The present ruler of Monaco is Prince Albert 2d. (1958-). As a couple Prince Albert 2d and Princess Charlene, have twins, Hereditary Prince Jacques (heir apparent) and Princess Gabriella, born in 2014. Albert 2d is the son of –
Prince Rainier III (b 1923 – d 2005) Prince Rainier Louis Henri Maxence Bertrand Grimaldi III [KVGZ-N7Z] and Grace Kelly), Grace Patricia Kelly (1929-1982) [LTR4-TQH]. The House of Grimaldi is credited withruling the principality since 1297. Rainier 3rd reigned from 1949-2005. The author’s relationship to Grace Patricia Kelly lists her as the wife of my 8th cousin twice removed, meaning the common ancestor of John Choate and Rainier 3d are Hugh Cochrane and Joan Savage.
Pierre Marie Xavier Raphael Antoine Melchoir de Polignac 1895-1964 [G818-156]
Louis II (Louis Honore Charles Antoine Grimaldi II) 1870-1949. (1922-1949)[LHV1-MBL]
Albert 1 1848-1922 (1889-1922) [PQ4K-TGK] Prince of Monaco Albert 1 Honoré Charles Grimaldi
Charles III 1818-1889 (1856-1889)[ LHRP-5M5] Prince de Monaco Charles III Honore Grimaldi
Florestan 1785-1856 (1841-1856)[ LHVB-RM1] Florestan I Grimaldi Prince Of Monaco.
Honore V 1778-1841 (1819-1841) [KGY4-K77] ob.s.p.
Honore IV 1758-1819 (1814-1819) Charles Anne Maurice Grimaldi Prince of Monaco [KJHJ-DRT]
Allied occupation May 17- June 17 1814 ,France Annexation 1793-1814. National Convention 1793 Jan – Feb, French Occupation 1793.
The 5th pedigree lists the same line as the 1st pedigree but with Fred Christ Trump as the 14th cousin 1 time removed of Prince Rainier III [KVGZ-N7Z] and the common ancestors of George Falconer and Elizabeth Erskine.
Rulers of Monaco
Honore III Camille Léonor Grimaldi 1720-1795 (1833-1793)[LBVC-5BC]
Jacques 1, Jacques François Léonor de Gouyon-Matignon 1689-1751 (1731-1733) [2ZSH-HQX]
Wife Louise Hippolyt Louise Hippolyte Grimaldi Duchesse de Valentinois, Princesse de Monaco, 1697-1731, (1731)[2ZSH-4M6]
Antonio I 1661-1731 (1701-1731)[2WF8-2MV]
Louis 1 1642-1701 (1662-1701) [LHKM-8NG] Prince de Monaco Louis I Grimaldi Duc de Valentinois.
>father Hercule II Grimaldi. 1623-1651 LDHN-BQX
Honore II 1597-1662 (1604-1662) Prince. [LHKM-84X]=
Hippolyte Trivulzio [LHKM-8C8] b Milano, Lombardia, Italy
Hercule I Grimaldi Seigneur de Monaco1562-1604 (1589-1604)][2WD8-9ZP]
Charles 2d 1555-1589 (1581-1589)
Honore I 1522-1581 (1523-1581)[ GD56-6Y4] = Isabelle 1525-1583 [2WD8-MCW]
Lucien 1487-1523 (1505-1523)[LHKM-Z29] Grimaldi Seigneur de Monaco
JEAN II 1468-1505, (1494-1505)
LAMBERTO 1420-1494, (1458-1494) [LCV1-9TB]Lamberto Grimaldi d’Antibes Lord of Monaco.
CLAUDINE 1451-1515 (1457-1458)
CATALAN (Catalan Grimaldi Seigneur of Monaco)1415-1457 (1454-1457) [LCV1-9CP]
ANTHONY II. -1427 (1419-1427)
Jean 1 1382-1454 (1395-1454) [LV6T-TF2]
Louis 1402, (1397-1402)
Gabriel
Rainier II 1350-1407 (1352)[ LCV1-M96]
Anthony I 1358 [LCV1-748]
Charles 1 1297-1357 (1331) [LCVB-R1Y]
Rainier 1, Lord of Cagnes 1267-1314, (1297-1301)[ GY1D-2KX]
Francois Grimaldi, François “Il Malizia” Grimaldi – Genoa, Monaco 1240-1309, Lord (1297-1309) [PMHH-493] Francesco Grimaldi (French: François ; English: Francis ), called il Malizia (from Italian: “the malicious“) was the Genoese leader of the Guelphs who captured the Rock of Monaco on the night of 8 January 1297. He was the son of Guglielmo Grimaldi [PMHH-WMS] by his wife Giacobina or Giacoba, [PMH4-X84] a Genoese noble.
Guelphic Genoese Otto Canella, Republic of Genoa [PWLR-2CP] 1070-1143. Monaco Formation 1604. Honore 2nd 1st Monarch.
The 6th pedigree lists the same line as the 1st and 5th pedigrees but with Robert S. Trump as the 13th cousin 2 times removed of Prince Rainier III [KVGZ-N7Z] and the common ancestors of George Falconer and Elizabeth Erskine.
According to sources, the titles are Sovereign Prince of Monaco, and Chateau Porcien. Dukes of Valentinois Estouteville, Mazarin, and Mayenne. Marquis Baux (title used by Hereditary Prince Jacques), Marquis of Chilly-Mazarin, Guiscard, and Bailli. Count of Polignac (title used by Princess Stephani), Carlades (Title used by Princess Gabriella), Ferrette, Belfort, Thann and Rosemont, Torigni, Logiumeau, and Cledes. Baron of Calvinet, Buis, La Luthemiere, Hambye, Altkirch, Saint-Lo, and Massy (Title used by Christian Louis de Massy, son of Princess Antoinette). Seigneur (Lord) of Issenheim, and Saint-Remy. Finally Sire of Matignon.
Coming full circle,Donald John Trump Senior’s grand father Malcolm MacLeod [GMB3-28F] is a 13th cousin 2 times removed of Prince Rainier 3rd.Malcolm’s daughter Mary Anne Trump nee MacLeod is 14th cousin of Prince Albert 2nd. Malcolm’s grandson Donald Trump Senior is 15th cousin toPrince Jacques.
Source. Chantal de Badts de Cugnac, Guy Coutant de Saisseval Petit Gotha 2002, Tableau genealogique des trent et une famille royales ou imperials d’Europe et du Bresil qui ont regne de la fin du XVIIIe au XXv siècle.
The 1st pedigree lists Malcolm MacLeod [GMB3-28F] as the 14th cousin 1 time removed of King Juan Carlos 1st, Juan 3rd king of Spain from 1975 to 2014, and father of present KingFelipe VI.
This column is a series about the hobby of family history using familysearch.org and relativefinder.org. Most anyone can conveniently pinpoint known relationships with prominent founding fathers, celebrities, and religious leaders. English and Scottish descendants may connect with some 700 people in the data base, if their pedigrees are in Family Search. As of 2024, Family search has 1.67 billion searchable people, with 530 million sources to increase accuracy. Because Donald John Trump Senior’s ancestors have many descendants, he has cousins by the dozens. The family trees come from familysearch.org. Let’s review the Danish Royal lines.
Since the records go back many centuries, many of the names have had whole books of biographies recording their stories. Many English biographies are featured in the Dictionary of National Biography. The seven character code in brackets [ ] after a person’s name is the code to find them in FamilySearch.org. The country is Spain and the people are Spanish. Spain also includes the Canary Islands, Balearic Islands, and African Ceuta and Melilla.
Spain’s area of 195 thousand square miles, is about the size of state of Deseret of 1850, which was divided to create Nevada and Utah. Spain is in western Europe at the end of the Iberian peninsula, bordering Portugal and the North Atlantic Bay of Biscay on the west France, and Andora, on the north, and the Mediterranean Sea on the east and south. 22 countries have a substantial language and cultural connection with Spain, which was one of the four great successes of the new world land grab of the 16th to 18th centuries. The others were England, Portugal, and France. These Spanish language countries include Africa’s Equatorial Guinea, North America’s Mexico. Also United States percentage of the Spanish speaking population in excess of one in five include California, Florida, New Mexico, Texas, and Puerto Rico. Next are Central America’s Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, Panama. In the Caribbean are Cuba, Dominican Republic, and Puerto Rico. South America includes Argentina, Bolivia, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Paraguay, Peru, Uruguay, and Venezuela. In the Pacific Spanish has a residual influence in Philippines, due to rule from the 16th to 19th centuries. The United States of America has the second highest population of Spanish speakers, after Mexico.
The 2nd pedigree lists a Scot, Malcolm MacLeod [GMB3-28F] as the 13th great grandson of a Scot William Sinclair [LCCN-H49]. Earl Sinclair was Lord High Chancellor of Scotland between 1454 and 1458 AD. The Lord High Chancellor was a peer and the principal Great Officer of State, the presiding officer of the Parliament of Scotland, the Keeper of the Great Seal, presiding officer of the Privy Council, and a judge of the College of Justice. Sinclair’s other titles were 3rd Earl of Orkney (last), 1st Earl of Caithness, 2nd Lord Sinclair, 11th Baron of Roslin.
The 3rd pedigree lists Malcolm MacLeod [GMB3-28F] as the 14th cousin 1 time removed of Reina María de las Mercedes de Orléans y Borbón [G9WC-RPF], Queen of Spain with Alfonso XII. Queen Maria was the second great grandmother of currently living King Felipe VI.
The Spanish Royal family belongs to the House of Bourbon and resides in the Palace of Zarzuela near Madrid, while the Royal Palace of Madrid also has significance.
Leonor, Princess of Asturias lives in Madrid. Leonor, as the eldest daughter of King Felipe VI and Letizia, is the heir presumptive to the Spanish throne.
King Felipe VI lives in the Palace of Zarzuela, near Madrid. The Palace website claims construction began in 1627. Felipe VI is the current monarch, ascending to the throne on June 19, 2014, following the abdication of his father, Juan Carlos I. Felipe’s wife is Queen Letizia and is Queen consort.
King Juan Carlos 1st,Juan Carlos Alfonso Víctor María de Borbón y Borbón-Dos Sicilias, (King of Two Sicilies). was born 5 January 1938, reigned as King of Spain from 22 November 1975 until his abdication in 2014. Juan Carlos 1st and Queen Sofia are still living as of 2026. King Juan Carlos 1st is Grandson of Alphonso XIII, the last king of Spain before the abolition of the monarchy in 1931.
Infante Juan, Count of Barcelona (Juan Carlos Teresa Silverio Alfonso de Borbón y Battenberg; [L5N3-XBX] born 20 June 1913 – died 1 April 1993. Count Juan was a claimant to the Spanish throne as Juan III. His wife was Princesa María de las Mercedes Cristina Genara Isabel Luisa Carolina Victoria,de Todos los Santos de Borbón y Orleans [K1W2-BGD] 1910-2000. Juan III’s son is retired King Juan Carlos1.
King Alfonso XIIIRey de España Alfonso XIII [KJWD-W2D] and Victoria Eugenie of Battenberg. Alfonso XIII(Spanish: Alfonso León Fernando María Jaime Isidro Pascual Antonio de Borbón y Habsburgo-Lorena; French: Alphonse Léon Ferdinand Marie Jacques Isidore Pascal Antoine de Bourbon; 17 May 1886 – 28 February 1941), also known as El Africano or theAfrica. King of Spain from his birth until 14 April 1931. Alfonso XIII and Victoria were the parents of Juan 3rd. Victoria Eugenie Julia Ena of Battenberg [L7GH-MQM] (24 October 1887 – 15 April 1969), commonly known as Ena, married King Alfonso XIII in 1906. A princess of the Grand Duchy of Hesse by birth, she was a member of the Battenberg famiy a morganatic branch of the House of Hesse-Darmstadt. She was the youngest granddaughter of Queen Victoria and Prince Albert of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha elevated to the style of Royal Highness by her uncle, King Edward VII. Yes, the United Kingdom’s monarchy are also relatively recent ancestors of Spain’s royal family. Morganatic marriage is a marriage between couples of unequal social rank, preventing
Alfonso XII and Maria Christina of Austria [GCTY-KTF] (Reina de España Maria Christina de Habsbugo-Lorena 1858-1929) are parents of Alfonso XIII, who was born posthumously after Alfonso XII’s death. Maria was regent until Alfonso XIII, King at Birth, assumed full powers on his sixteenth birthday in 1902.
Rey de España Alfonso XII [G3WK-X45] 1857-1885, ruled with Reina María de las Mercedes de Orléans y Borbón G9WC-RPF 24 June 1860 – 26 June 1878. My wife’s 9th cousin three times removed. Alfonso XII, also called El Pacificador, the Peacemaker, was Spain’s King from 1874 to 1885.
Relationship of JIMC to Princesa María de las Mercedes de Orléans y Borbón 1860-1878 G9WC-RPFspouse of Alfonso XII. Cristina Genara Isabel Luisa Carolina Victoria de Todos los Santos de Borbón y Orleans My 11th cousin twice removed, with common ancestors of Fridlin Graf -LNX 1540-1624.Anna Maria van Thurn-Valsassina van de Laar G8FY 1540-1597 G8FY-LF7. Relationship to Rey de España Alfonso XIII My wife’s 9th cousin three times removed, with common ancestors of Wilhelm Von Hesse-Kassel 1532-1592 GT5R-F7H, and Sabine Von Wurttemberg 1549-1581 LHC6-VZX.
Coming full circle,Donald John Trump Senior’s grand father Malcolm MacLeod [GMB3-28F] is a 14th cousin of Juan III, Count of Barcelona. Malcolm’s daughter Mary Anne Trump nee MacLeod is 15th cousin of claimant Juan Carlos 1. Malcolm’s grandson Donald John Trump Senior is 16th cousin to King Felipe VI. Malcolm’s great grandson Donald John Trump Junior is 17th cousin to Leonor, Princess of Asturias.
Sources. Casa de Su Majestad el Rey. https://www.casareal.es/ES/ The Royal Household of His Majesty the King.
National Heritage official website. Patrimonio Nacional
The 1st pedigree lists Malcolm MacLeod [GMB3-28F] as the 14th cousin 1 time removed of Dom Manuel II ‘O Patriota’ Rei de Portugal(1889-1932) [G2NW-CRV], last King of Portugal.
This column is a series about the hobby of family history using familysearch.org and relativefinder.org. Most anyone can conveniently pinpoint known relationships with prominent founding fathers, celebrities, and religious leaders. English and Scottish descendants may connect with some 700 people in the data base, if their pedigrees are in Family Search. As of 2024, Family search has 1.67 billion searchable people, with 530 million sources to increase accuracy. Because Donald John Trump Senior’s ancestors have many descendants, he has cousins by the dozens. The family trees come from familysearch.org. Let’s review the Danish Royal lines.
Since the records go back many centuries, many of the names have had whole books of biographies recording their stories. Many English biographies are featured in the Dictionary of National Biography. The seven character code in brackets [ ] after a person’s name is the code to find them in FamilySearch.org. The country is Portugal and the people are Portuguese.
Portugal at 35,600 square miles is about the size of Indiana or Maine. It is in western Europe at the end of the Iberian peninsula, bordering Spain on the East, and the North Atlantic on the west. Portugal had eight centuries of kings, and was one of the successful colonizers of the new world, with Spain, England and France. Portugal gave Brazil its language, also colonizing Angola (1575 to 1951), Macau (1557-1999), East Timor (1702-1975) and Goa. Portugal managed to stay neutral in World War Two, but reconsidered its status when Portugal joined NATO in 1949 as a founding member.
The 2nd pedigree lists a Scot, Malcolm MacLeod [GMB3-28F] as the 13th great grandson of a Scot William Sinclair [LCCN-H49]. Earl Sinclair was Lord High Chancellor of Scotland between 1454 and 1458 AD. The Lord High Chancellor was a peer and the principal Great Officer of State, the presiding officer of the Parliament of Scotland, the Keeper of the Great Seal, presiding officer of the Privy Council, and a judge of the College of Justice. Sinclair’s other titles were 3rd Earl of Orkney (last), 1st Earl of Caithness, 2nd Lord Sinclair, 11th Baron of Roslin.
Manuel 2d, the Patriot, was the last reigning monarch of Portugal, the end of an 8 century rule by the House of Braganza. In 1913, Manuel 2d married Augusta Victoria of Hohenzollern.
The 3rd pedigree lists Malcolm MacLeod [GMB3-28F] as the 14th cousin 1 time removed of Duarte Nuno de Braganza. Duarte Nuno was father of living claimant to the Portuguese Throne, DomDuarte Pio Miguel Gabriel Rafael, 15 May 1945 Duke of Braganza.
Duarte Pio’s brother was Dom Henrique Nuno de Braganca [G341-DYJ] 1949- deceased as of 2017 .
Son ofDuarte Nuno, Duke of Braganza [KNDD-S9V] 1907-1976, husband of Princess Maria Francisca of Orleans-Braganza [973G-N1P] 1914-1968.
Son of Dom Miguel, Duque de Bragança [LCMC-51L] 1853-1927. Spouse Maria Teresa Löwenstein-Wertheim-Rosenberg [9KXZ-CSH]1870-1935.
Son of King Miguel 1 de Portugal [L158-NP1] 1802-1866, spouse Princess Sophie Amalie Adelheid Luise Johanne Leopoldine von Loewenstein-Wertheim-Rosenberg [LZ65-JCS] 1831-1909.
Brother of Miguel 1 is King Pedro IV, [LRTC-99Z]1798-1934, Emperor Pedro 1 of Brazil. 1798-1834.Empire Brazil 1822-1831, King Pedro IV of Portugal Son Pedro 2ndof Brazil.
Maria II (Maria da Glória Joana Carlota Leopoldina da Cruz Francisca Xavier de Paula Isidora Micaela Gabriela Rafaela Gonzaga de Habsburgo-Lorena e Bragança) [LHPP-QXS] 4 April 1819 – 15 November 1853. (1) spouse Prince Auguste Charles Eugène Napoléon de Beauharnais de Leuchtenberg [LH5J-2ZQ] 1810-1835. (2) Spouse. Fernando II Fernando de Saxe-Coburgo-Gotha [LHPP-W9G], 1816-1885.
Father Dom Pedro I of Brazil [LRTC-99Z] Pedro IV of Portugal 1798-1834 and Empress Dona Maria Leopoldina of Brazil [LZG6-C6L]. 1797-1826.
Grandfather Regno King de Portugal Dom Joao VI [LY8C-Y7Y]1767-1826 spouse Carlot Joaquina Teresa Cayetana de Borbon [L52X-B3M] 1775-1830.
Portuguese India Goa included Mumbai, Bombay from 1535 to 1661, when it was transferred to Charles 2d of England as dowry of Catherine de Braganza, who was credited with bringing tea to England.
Coming full circle,Donald John Trump Senior’s grand father Malcolm MacLeod [GMB3-28F] is a 14th cousin of Duarte Nuno de Braganza. Malcolm’s daughter Mary Anne Trump nee MacLeod is 15th cousin of claimant DomDuarte Pio Miguel Gabriel Rafael and spouse Isabel de Heredia. Malcolm’s grandson Donald Trump Senior is 16th cousin to heir apparent Afonzo de Santa Maria Miguel Gabriel Rafael de Bragança, Prince of Beira (born 1996).
The a 1st pedigree lists a Scot, Malcolm MacLeod [GMB3-28F] as 14th Cousin 1 time removed of the late Grand Duke Jean [G8ZW-K6N](born 1921 and died 2019, reigned 1964, until he abdicated in 2000).
This column is a series about the hobby of family history using familysearch.org and relativefinder.org. Most anyone can conveniently pinpoint known relationships with prominent founding fathers, celebrities, and religious leaders. English and Scottish descendants may connect with some 700 people in the data base, if their pedigrees are in Family Search. As of 2024, Family search has 1.67 billion searchable people, with 530 million sources to increase accuracy. Because Donald John Trump Sr’s ancestors have many descendants, he has cousins by the dozens. The family trees come from familysearch.org. Let’s review the Swedish Royal lines.
Since the records go back many centuries, many of the names have had whole books of biographies recording their stories. Many biographies are featured in the Dictionary of National Biography. The seven character code in brackets [ ] after a person’s name is the code to find them in FamilySearch.org. The country is Sweden and the people are Swedes
The Grand Duchy of Luxembourg is in western Europe, between Germany on its east, and Belgium on its west, and France on the South and West. Luxembourg is about 35 miles smaller than Rhode Island. Luxembourg was formed in the 11th century within the Holy Roman Empire, peeking when its ruler Henry 7th became the Holy Roman emperor in 1312. Thereupon the Habsburgs ruled in the 15th century. Eventually Luxembourg, during sieges with French King Louis 14th, was fortified as a Fortress and nicknamed the Gibraltar of the North. and then annexed by France in French Revolution of 1795. After the Napoleonic wars, Luxembourg was restored and became independent in 1867, after a war between France and Prussia over Luxembourg’s status. The Luxembourg crisis was resolved by the 1867 Treaty of London .
Luxembourg was an original 12 member NATO founder in 1949. The full title of the head man is By the Grace of God, Grand Duke of Luxembourg, Duke of Nassau, Count Palatine of theRhine, Count of Sayn, Konigsten, Katzenelnbogen and Diez, Burgrave of Hammerstein, Lord of Mahlberg, Wiesbaden, Idstein, Merenberg, Limburg and Eppsten.
Earl Sinclair was Lord High Chancellor of Scotland between 1454 and 1458 AD. The Lord High Chancellor was a peer and the principal Great Officer of State, the presiding officer of the Parliament of Scotland, the Keeper of the Great Seal, presiding officer of the Privy Council, and a judge of the College of Justice. Sinclair’s other titles were 3rd Earl of Orkney (last), 1st Earl of Caithness, 2nd Lord Sinclair, 11th Baron of Roslin.
The 2nd pedigree lists Malcolm MacLeod [GMB3-28F] as the 12th cousin 2 times removed of Louis Philippe,and 13th cousin of Leopold 3rd. is also a 11th great grandson of the same William Sinclair LCCN-H49] in the 1st pedigree. This also shows the relationship to King Edward 7th of the United Kingdom.
The 3rd pedigree lists Malcolm MacLeod [GMB3-28F] as the 14th cousin 1 time removed of Prince Oscar Carl Wilhelm Bernadotte (1861-1951) of Sweden [LHMQ-DVF]. Prince Carl is a 14th great grandson of the same William Sinclair LCCN-H49]. Prince Carl is ancestor of the Grand Ducal family of Luxembourg, and Belgian and Norwegian royal families. Prince Carl’s father was King Oskar II, and Prince Carl’s brother was King Gustaf V.
The present Grand Duke of Luxembourg of Guillaume V, born 1981 reign since 2025.
Guillaume V is son of Henri (born 1955, reign from 2000 abdicated 2025).
Son of Grand Duke Jean [G8ZW-K6N](born 1921 and died 2019, reigned from 1964, until he abdicated in 2000). And son of Jean’s Spouse Princess Josephine-Charlotte of Belgium [G36G-8C1] (1827-2005), daughter of King of the Belgians Leopold III [LT8P-PMG] (1901-1983) and Leopold’sQueen Astrid Sofia Lovisa Thyra Bernadotte [2H27-S9R] (1905-1935). Queen Astrid was a daughter of Prince Carl [LHMQ-DVF] (1861-1951) of Sweden, noted in the 3rd pedigree. Prince Carl was a son of King Oskar IIFredrik Bernadotte (1829-1907 reign 1872-1907)[ [LT9D-2TT][1]
The 4th pedigree lists Malcolm MacLeod [GMB3-28F] as the 14th cousin 1 time removed of Roberto 1 of Parma [LRZC-WT3].
Grand Duke Jean was Son of Charlotte, Grand Duchess of Luxembourg [9SDZ-KYD] (born 1896 died 1985, reign 1919 abdicated 1964) married Prince Felix of Bourbon-Parma,[ LCCF-MXD] 1893-1970 of the Duchy of Parma. Prince Felix was the son of Roberto I, Duca di Parma (1848-1907)
Grand Duchess Charlotte was Daughter of Grand Duke Guillaume IV [G3CH-M16](born 1852, reign 1905 until his death 1912).
Guillaume IV was Son of Grand Duke Adolphe (born 1817, reign 1890, died 1905) [LCCF-MHM] Duke of Nassau branch of Nassau-Weilburg. Grand Duke Adolf Wilhelm August Karl Friedrich Of LuxembourgGrand Duke Of Russia.
Grand Duke Adolphe was Son of Herzog Wilhelm I von Nassau [LHZK-ZYW] (born 1792-1839) and Princess Charlotte Luise Friederike Amalie Alexandrine von Sachsen-Hildburghausen [GWVF-DTJ] (1794-1825). Adolphe’s spouse Grand Duchess Elizaveta Mikhailovna Romanova [L48B-P5F] (1826-1845).
Herzog Wilhelm 1 was Son of Furst Friedrich Wilhelm von Nassau-Weilburg [ L87L-QKX] (1768-1816)
Coming full circle,Malcolm MacLeod [GMB3-28F] who is a 13th great grandson, along Grand Duchess Charlotte G3CH-M16]. Grand Duke Jean [9SDZ-KYD] is 14th great grand son of William Sinclair [LCCN-H49].Malcolm’s daughter Mary Anne Trump nee MacLeod [KL59-Z9K] is 15th cousin to Grand Duke Henri. Fred Trump Jr. [L5XX-XDH] is a 16th cousin of Grand Duke of Luxembourg of Guillaume V. Donald J Trump Junior is 17th cousin to Princes Charles (b. 2020) and Francois (b. 2023).
Conclusion, the Luxembourg Royal family down to Grand Duke Jean is listed in Family Search.
The 1st pedigree lists a Scot, Malcolm MacLeod [GMB3-28F] as the 13th great grandson of a Scot William Sinclair [LCCN-H49].
This column is a series about the hobby of family history using familysearch.org and relativefinder.org. Most anyone can conveniently pinpoint known relationships with prominent founding fathers, celebrities, and religious leaders. English and Scottish descendants may connect with some 700 people in the data base, if their pedigrees are in Family Search. As of 2024, Family search has 1.67 billion searchable people, with 530 million sources to increase accuracy. Because Donald John Trump Sr’s ancestors have many descendants, he has cousins by the dozens. The family trees come from familysearch.org. Let’s review the Norwegian Royal lines.
Since the records go back many centuries, many of the names have had whole books of biographies recording their stories. Many biographies are featured in the Dictionary of National Biography. The seven character code in brackets [ ] after a person’s name is the code to find them in FamilySearch.org. The country is Norway and the people are Norwegians.
The Kingdom of Norway is in Scandinavia, opposite Scotland facing west toward the North Sea. About half of Norway is North of the Arctic circle, 66.5 degrees north latitude, where the sun never sets in the summer, mid June to mid July, and never shines in the winter. The Church of Norway is described as an evangelical Lutheran Protestant Christianity denomination, with Christianity as the state religion since 1020 AD. The reformation dated from 1536 AD, so the Norwegian monarch was the church head from 1537 AD to 2012 AD. In 1845 AD, the Dissenter Act allowed other religions in Norway. This brief summary is appropriate because until 2012 AD, the constitutional head of the church was King of Norway, who is stlll obliged to profess as a Lutheran, and the church reports three in five population as membership.
Norway is close to the size of Montana, and borders Sweden, Finland and Russia. According to sources, Norway was created in 872 AD, and has been united with, or part of Denmark and Sweden. Norway claimed neutrality in both World Wars, but after being knocked off by the Nazi’s in 1940, Norway joined NATO in 1949 AD as a founding member. Norwegian, with a bit of Danish and Swedish, is the official language, with English also being spoken by 90% of Norwegians. Another claim to fame, are the Viking or Norse ancestors from Scandinavia, Denmark, Norway and Sweden, who roamed the oceans.
The 2nd pedigree lists King Haakon VII of Norway, L5JG-RCX also a 13th great grandson of the same William Sinclair.
Among several titles, Earl Sinclair was Lord High Chancellor of Scotland between 1454 and 1458 AD. The Lord High Chancellor was a peer and the principal Great Officer of State, the presiding officer of the Parliament of Scotland, the Keeper of the Great Seal, presiding officer of the Privy Council, and a judge of the College of Justice. Other titles were 3rd Earl of Orkney (last), 1st Earl of Caithness, 2nd Lord Sinclair, 11th Baron of Roslin.
The 3rd pedigree lists Malcolm MacLeod [GMB3-28F] as the 14th cousin of Prince Oscar Carl Wilhelm Bernadotte of Sweden [LHMQ-DVF]. Prince Carl is a 14th great grandson of the same William Sinclair LCCN-H49]. Prince Carl is ancestor of the Grand Ducal family of Luxembourg, and Belgian and Norwegian royal families.
The present ruler of Norway is King Harald V of Norway[1], house of Glucksburg, born Feb 21, 1937 and Queen Sonja[2]. The Heir apparent Haakon Crown Prince of Norway.[3]
King Harald V is the son of King Olav V of Norway [KHRJ-M26] and Princess Martha of Sweden known asMartha Sofia Louisa Dagmar Thyra Bernadotte [LT9Z-QBP].
King Olav V was Son of King Haakon VII of Norway [L5JG-RCX][4], of the pedigree above noted, and Princess Maud[5] of Wales and Queen Norway [GSJ4-WQT] Maud was daughter of King Edward VII [LD34-CQD] known as Albert Edward Prince of Wales and Queen Alexandra of Denmark[L8M6-T8P] and parents of King George V [LD34-CWD]. Donald John Trump Junior is 15th cousin once removed of King George V of the United Kingdom. As a great grandson of King Edward VII, King Harald V holds Order of the Garter, and was 1st cousin once removed from Queen Elizabeth 2nd[6] twice removed from King Charles 3rd.
Coming full circle,Malcolm MacLeod [GMB3-28F] who along with King Haakon VII are 13th great grand sons ofWilliam Sinclair [LCCN-H49].Their childrenMary Anne Trump nee MacLeod and cousin King Olav V are 14th great grand children ofEarl Sinclair [LCCN-H49]. Their children Donald John Trump Senior and cousin andKing Harald V are 15th great grand children of Earl Sinclair. Their sons, Donald John Trump Junior and cousinH.R.H. Haakon are 16th great grand children of Earl Sinclair. Their children Donald John Trump 3rd and cousin Princess Ingrid Alexandra of Norway (born 21 January 2004) would be 17th great grand children of Earl Sinclair.
Conclusion, the Norwegian Royal family down to Haakon VII is listed in Family Search.
The attached 1st pedigree lists a Scot, Malcolm MacLeod [GMB3-28F] as the 13th great grandson of a Scot William Sinclair [LCCN-H49].
This column is a series about the hobby of family history using familysearch.org and relativefinder.org. Most anyone can conveniently pinpoint known relationships with prominent founding fathers, celebrities, and religious leaders. English and Scottish descendants may connect with some 700 people in the data base, if their pedigrees are in Family Search. As of 2024, Family search has 1.67 billion searchable people, with 530 million sources to increase accuracy. Because Donald John Trump Sr’s ancestors have many descendants, he has cousins by the dozens. The family trees come from familysearch.org. Let’s review the Swedish Royal lines.
Since the records go back many centuries, many of the names have had whole books of biographies recording their stories. Many biographies are featured in the Dictionary of National Biography. The seven character code in brackets [ ] after a person’s name is the code to find them in FamilySearch.org. The country is Sweden and the people are Swedes
Kingdom of Sweden is in Scandinavia, and borders Norway and Finland. Sweden is the size of California and Massachusetts combined. The Viking age was from the 700 to 11th century, and some were the founders of the Rus. In 1397 Sweden, Norway and Denmark formed the Kalmar Union until 1523. Then wars started until the 1700s, lands were conquered and lost. King Gustavus Adolphus hired Scots (Cochranes) for battles in the 30 Years War in the 1630s. Between 1850 and 1910 perhaps a million Swedes moved to the United States. Sweden joined NATO in 2024.
Earl Sinclair was Lord High Chancellor of Scotland between 1454 and 1458 AD. The Lord High Chancellor was a peer and the principal Great Officer of State, the presiding officer of the Parliament of Scotland, the Keeper of the Great Seal, presiding officer of the Privy Council, and a judge of the College of Justice. Sinclair’s other titles were 3rd Earl of Orkney (last), 1st Earl of Caithness, 2nd Lord Sinclair, 11th Baron of Roslin.
The 2nd pedigree lists Malcolm MacLeod [GMB3-28F] as the 14th cousin 1 time removed of King Gustaf V Oscar (1858-1950 Reign 1907-1950) [LT6W-39B]. King Gustaf V is also a 14th great grandson of the same William Sinclair LCCN-H49] in the 1st pedigree.
The 3rd pedigree lists Malcolm MacLeod [GMB3-28F] as the 14th cousin 1 time removed of Prince Oscar Carl Wilhelm Bernadotte (1861-1951) of Sweden [LHMQ-DVF]. Prince Carl is a 14th great grandson of the same William Sinclair LCCN-H49]. Prince Carl is ancestor of the Grand Ducal family of Luxembourg, and Belgian and Norwegian royal families. Prince Carl’s father was King Oskar II, and Prince Carl’s brother was King Gustaf V.
The present ruler of Sweden, King Carl XVI Gustaf (1946- reign 1973-) son of Erbprinz Gustav Adolf von Schweden (1906-1947 [KV2L-CJD] son of Gustaf VI Adolf (1882-1973 reign 1950-1973)[ LHL7-4GW], son of King Gustaf V Oscar Adolf Bernadotte of Sweden (1858-1950 Reign 1907-1950) [LT6W-39B], son of King Oskar IIFredrik Bernadotte (1829-1907 reign 1872-1907)[ [LT9D-2TT][1]
Coming full circle,Malcolm MacLeod [GMB3-28F] who is a 13th great grandson, along withKing Gustaf V Oscar of [LT6W-39B].who is 14th great grand son of William Sinclair [LCCN-H49].Malcolm’s daughter Mary Anne Trump nee MacLeod [KL59-Z9K] is 15th cousin to King Gustaf V. Fred Trump Jr. [L5XX-XDH] is a 16th cousin of Gustaf VI, nephew Donald Junior is 17th cousin to Prince Gustav Adolf [KV2L-CJD], Donald 3rdis 18thcousin to King Carl XVI.
Conclusion, the Swedish Royal family down to ErbprinzGustav Adolf is listed in Family Search.
This column is a series about the hobby of family history using familysearch.org and relativefinder.org. I’ll start with President Donald John Trump’s ancestors. His ancestors have many descendants, with cousins by the dozens. The family trees come from familysearch. I’ll start with Marcolm MacLeod, who among others, is the 14th great grand son on Margaret Stewart of Scotland who lived from 1336 to 1410. Margaret Stewart, is in her turn, Great Grand daughter of King Robert de Bruce, known in scottish history as simply The Bruce.
The Bruce was from Turnberry, much later to become the famous Turnberry Golf Course, Girvan, Ayrshire, Scotland. Turnberry is famous in 14th century Scots history as the birthplace for the Bruce, King of Scots, and headquarters in his war for independence. So The Bruce was a direct ancestor of the current proprietor’s company. I have not seen any independent records of whether The Bruce played golf as the records of which I am aware, only date back to the 1457. Scotland, when King James Stewart the Second had his Parliament outlawed golf. The Futball Act of 1424 under James Stewart King, banned that sport. These were repealed by the Statute Law Revision Act of 1906. One can imagine the duffers puttering around the greens of Scotland wondering if they would be caught and fined for breaking the law.
Furthermore, in the records of FamilySearch.org, Henrietta MacSween, the fourth great grandmother of Arbella Rose Kushner, records 21 direct ancestral lines to the King of Scots, Robert the Bruce. Since the records go back many centuries, many of the names have had whole books of biographies recording their stories. Many biographies are featured in the Dictionary of National Biography. The research is collateral information for my family research.
The Bruce was famous for his Come Back. The English defeated him in half a dozen battles. He fled and hid out in barns and woods. The story goes that watching a spider stiffened The Bruce’s resolve to fight, fight, fight. The story of the spider is famous in Scots history, and has been recently repeated by 34 YouTube videos. Just search for Bruce and the Spider. The Bruce story has the following discussion on Turnberry. in Chapter One of Sir Walter Scott’s Tales of a Grandfather, 1825. As follows, Page numbers are in parenthesis.[TG8-97, Tales of a Grandfather, chap. 8, p. 97]
I HOPE, my dear child, that you have not forgotten that all the cruel wars in Scotland arose out of the debate between the great lords who claimed the throne after King Alexander the Third’s death, which induced the Scottish nobility rashly to submit the decision of that matter to King Edward of England, and thus opened the way to his endeavouring to seize the kingdom of Scotland to himself. The feeling was universal in Scotland, that they would not any longer endure the English government; and therefore such great Scottish nobles as believed they had right to the crown, began to think of standing forward to claim it. Amongst these, the principal candidates (supposing John Baliol, by his renunciation and captivity, to have lost all right to the kingdom) were two powerful noblemen. The first was ROBERT BRUCE, Earl of Carrick.
This pedigree shows Malcolm MacLeod as 14th Great Grandson from Margaret Stewart.
Chapter 8 Sir Walter Scott Tales of a Grandfather
But the feelings of Bruce concerning the baseness of this conduct, are said, by the old traditions [TG8-99, Tales of a Grandfather, chap. 8, p. 99] of Scotland, to have been awakened by the following incident. In one of the numerous battles, or skirmishes, which took place at the time between the English and their adherents on the one side, and the insurgent or patriotic Scots upon the other, Robert the Bruce was present, and assisted the English to gain the victory. After the battle was over, he sat down to dinner among his southern friends and allies without washing his hands, on which there still remained spots of the blood which he had shed during the action. The English lords, observing this, whispered to each other in mockery,
“Look at that Scotsman, who is eating his own blood!” Bruce heard what they said, and began to reflect, that the blood upon his hands might be indeed called his own, since it was that of his brave countrymen, who were fighting for the independence of Scotland, whilst he was assisting its oppressors, who only laughed at and mocked him for his unnatural conduct. He was so much shocked and disgusted, that he arose from table, and, going into a neighbouring chapel, shed many tears, and asking pardon of God for the great crime he had been guilty of, made a solemn vow that he would atone for it, by doing all in his power to deliver Scotland from the foreign yoke. Accordingly, he left, it is said, the English army, and never joined it again, but remained watching all opportunity for restoring the freedom of his country.
Now, this Robert the Bruce was a remarkably brave and strong man: there was no man in Scotland that was thought a match for him except Sir [TG8- 100, TALES OF A GRANDFATHER, chap. 8, p. 100] William Wallace; and now that Wallace was dead, Bruce was held the best warrior in Scotland. He was very wise and prudent, and an excellent general: that is, he knew how to conduct an army, and place them in order for battle, as well or better than any great man of his time. He was generous, too, and courteous by nature; but he had some faults, which perhaps belonged as much to the fierce period in which he lived as to his own character. No man ever went through more misfortunes than Robert Bruce, although he at length rose to great honour.
This pedigree shows Malcolm MacLeod as a 14th great grand son of Margaret Stewart who was a great grand daughter of The Bruce.
[TG8-102, TALES OF A GRANDFATHER, chap. 8, p. 102]
He drew his own followers together, summoned to meet him such barons as still entertained hopes of the freedom of the country, and was crowned King at the Abbey of Scone, the usual place where the Kings of Scotland assumed their authority. Everything relating to the ceremony was hastily performed. A small circlet of gold was hurriedly made, to represent the ancient crown of Scotland, which Edward had carried off to England. The Earl of Fife, descendant of the brave Macduff, whose duty it was to have placed the crown on the King’s head, would not give his attendance. But the ceremonial was performed by his sister, Isabella, Countess of Buchan, though without the consent either of her brother or husband. A few barons, whose names ought to be dear to their country, joined Bruce in his attempt to vindicate the independence of Scotland. Edward was dreadfully incensed when he heard that, after all the pains which he had taken, and all the blood which had been spilled, the Scots were making this new attempt to shake off his authority. Though now old, feeble, and sickly, he made a solemn vow, at a great festival, in presence of all his court, that he would take the most ample vengeance upon Robert the Bruce and his adherents; after which he would never again draw his sword upon a Christian, but would only fight against the unbelieving Saracens for the recovery of the Holy Land.
Bruce was crowned on 29th March, [TG8-103, Tales of a Grandfather, Chap. 8, p. 103] 1306. On the 18th May [1306] he was excommunicated by the Pope, on account of the murder of Comyn within consecrated ground. This sentence excluded him from all the benefits of religion, and authorized anyone to kill him. Finally, on the 19th June [1306] the new King was completely defeated near Methven by the English Earl of Pembroke. Robert’s horse was killed under him in the action, and he was for a moment a prisoner. But he had fallen into the power of a Scottish knight, who, though he served in the English army, did not choose to be the instrument of putting Bruce into their hands, and allowed him to escape. The conquerors executed their prisoners with their usual cruelty. Among these were some gallant young men of the first Scottish families–Hay, ancestor of the Earls of Errol, Somerville, Fraser, and others, who were mercilessly put to death.
. Bruce, with a few brave adherents, among whom was the young Lord of Douglas, who was afterwards called the Good Lord James, retired into the Highland mountains, where they were chased from one place of refuge to another, often in great danger, and suffering many hardships. The Bruce’s wife, now Queen of Scotland, with several other ladies, accompanied her husband and his few followers during their wanderings. There was no other way of providing for them save by hunting and fishing. It was remarked that Douglas was the most active and successful in procuring for the unfortunate ladies such supplies as his dexterity in fishing or in killing deer could furnish to them TG8-104, TALES OF A GRANDFATHER, Chap. 8, p. 104]
Driven from one place in the Highlands to another, starved out of some districts, and forced from others by the opposition of the inhabitants, Bruce attempted to force his way into Lorn; but he found enemies every where. The M’Dougals, a powerful family, then called Lords of Lorn, were friendly to the English, and putting their men in arms, attacked Bruce and his wandering companions as soon as they attempted to enter their territory. The chief of these M’Dougals, called John of Lorn, hated Bruce on account of his having slain the Red Comyn in the church at Dumfries, to whom this M’Dougal was nearly related. Bruce was again defeated by this chief, through force of numbers, at a place called Dalry; but he showed, amidst his misfortunes, the greatness of his strength and courage. He directed his men to retreat through a narrow pass, and placing himself last of the party, he fought with and slew such of the enemy as attempted to press hard on them. The King met with many such encounters amidst his dangerous and dismal wanderings; yet, though almost always defeated by the superior numbers of the English and of such Scots as sided with them, he still kept up his own spirits and those of his followers. He was a better scholar than was usual in those days, when, except clergymen, few people learned to read and write. But King Robert could do both very well; and we are told that he sometimes read aloud to his companions, to amuse them when they were crossing the great Highland lakes in such wretched leaky boats as they could find for that purpose winter was coming on and it would be impossible [TG8-107, Tales of a Grandfather, chap. 8, p. 107] for the women to endure this wandering sort of life when the frost and snow should set in. So Bruce left his queen with the Countess of Buchan and) others, in the only castle which remained to him, which was called Kildrummie, and is situated near the head of the river Don in Aberdeenshire. The King also left his youngest brother, Nigel Bruce, to defend the castle against the English;
In the mean time, ill luck seemed to pursue all his friends in Scotland. The castle of Kildrummie was taken by the English, and Nigel Bruce, a beautiful and brave youth, was cruelly put to death by the victors. The ladies who had attended on Robert’s Queen, as well as the queen herself, and the Countess of Buchan, were thrown into strict confinement and treated with the utmost severity.
The spider perserveres.
The news of the taking of Kildrummie, the captivity of his wife, and the execution of his brother, reached Bruce while he was residing in a miserable dwelling at Rachrin, and reduced him to the point of despair. It was about this time that an incident took place, which, although it rests only on tradition in families of the name of Bruce, is rendered probable by the manners of the times. After receiving the last unpleasing intelligence Scotland, Bruce was lying one morning on his wretched bed, and deliberating with himself whether he had not better resign all thoughts of again attempting to make good his right to the Scottish crown, and, dismissing his followers, transport himself and his brothers to the Holy Land, and spend the rest of his life in fighting against the Saracens; by which he thought, perhaps. He might deserve the forgiveness of Heaven for the great sin of stabbing Comyn in the church at Dumfries. But then, on the other hand, he thought it would be both criminal and cowardly to give up his attempts to restore freedom to Scotland, while there yet remained the least chance of his being successful in an undertaking [TG8-109, Tales of a Grandfather, chap. 8, p. 109] which, rightly considered, was much more his duty than to drive the infidels out of Palestine, though the superstition of he was divided betwixt these reflections, and doubtful of what he should do, Bruce was looking upward to the roof of the cabin in which he lay; and his eye was attracted by a spider, which, hanging at the end of a long thread of its own spinning, was endeavouring, as is the fashion of that creature, to swing itself from one beam in the roof to another, for the purpose of fixing the line on which it meant to stretch its web. The insect made the attempt again and again without success; and at length Bruce counted that it had tried to carry its point six times, and been as often unable to do so. It came into his head that he had himself fought just six battles against the English and their allies, and that the poor persevering spider was exactly in the same situation with himself, having made as many trials, and been as often his age might think otherwise from While disappointed in what it aimed at.
“Now,” thought Bruce,” as I have no means of knowing what is best to be done, I will be guided by the luck which shall attend this spider. If the insect shall make another effort to fix its thread, and shall be successful, I will venture a seventh time to try my fortune in Scotland; but if the spider shall fail I will go to the wars in Palestine, and never return to my native country more.”
While Bruce was forming this resolution, the spider made another exertion with all the force it could muster, and fairly succeeded in fastening its [TG8-110, TALES OF A GRANDFATHER, chap. 8, p. 110] thread to the beam which it had so often in vain attempted to reach. Bruce, seeing the success of the spider, resolved to try his own fortune; and as he had never before gained a victory, so he never afterwards sustained any considerable or decisive check or defeat. I have often met with people of the name of Bruce, so completely persuaded of the truth of this story, that they would not on any account kill a spider; because it was that insect which had shown the example of perseverance, and given a signal of good luck to their great name sake.
Turnberry fire becomes signal for headquarters.
He began immediately to form plans with Douglas, how they might best renew their enterprise against the English. The Douglas resolved to go disguised to his own country, and raise his followers, in order to begin their enterprise by taking revenge on an English nobleman called Lord Clifford, upon whom Edward had conferred his estates, and who had taken up his residence in the castle of Douglas. [TG8-112, TALES OF A GRANDFATHER, chap. 8, p. 112]
Bruce, on his part, opened a communication with the opposite coast of Carrick, by means of one of his followers called Cuthbert. This person had directions that if he should find the countrymen in Carrick disposed to take up arms against the English, he was to make a fire on a headland, or lofty cape, called Turnberry, on the coast of Ayrshire, opposite to the island of Arran. The appearance of a fire on this place was to be a signal for Bruce to put to sea with such men as he had, who were not more than three hundred in number, for the purpose Bruce and his men watched eagerly for the signal, but for some time in vain. At length a fire on Turnberry-head became visible, and the King and his followers merrily betook themselves to their ships and galleys, concluding their Carrick friends were all in arms, and ready to join with them. They landed on the beach at midnight, where they found their spy Cuthbert alone in waiting for them, with very bad news. Lord Percy, he said, was in the country, with two or three hundred Englishmen, and had terrified the people so much, both by threats and actions, that none of them dared to think of rebelling against King.
Traitor!” said Bruce. “Why, then, did you make the signal?
“Alas,” replied Cuthbert, “the fire was not made by me, but by some other person, for what purpose I know not; but as soon as I saw it burning, [TG8-113, Tales of a Grandfather, chap. 8, p. 113] I knew that you would come over, thinking it my signal, and therefore l came down to wait for you on the beach, to tell you how the matter stood.”
Edward of landing in Carrick and joining the insurgents.
King Robert’s first idea was to return to Arran after this disappointment; but his brother Edward refused to go back. He was, as I have told you, a man daring even to rashness.
“I will not leave my native land.” He said, “now that I am so unexpectedly restored to it. I will give freedom to Scotland, or leave my carcass on the surface of the land which gave me birth.”
Bruce, also, after some hesitation, determined that since he had been thus brought to the mainland of Scotland, he would remain there, and take such adventure and fortune as Heaven should send him.
Assassination attempt
At one time, a near relation of Bruce’s, in whom he entirely confided, was induced by the bribes of the English to attempt to put him to death. This villain, with his two sons, watched the King one morning, till he saw him separated from all his [TG8-114, TALES OF A GRANDFATHER, chap. 8, p. 114] men, excepting a little boy, who waited on him as a page. The father had a sword in his hand, one of the sons had a sword and a spear, the other had a sword and a battle-axe. Now, when the King saw them so well armed, when there were no enemies near, he began to call to mind some hints which had been given to him, that these men intended to murder him. He had no weapons excepting his sword; but his page had a bow and arrow. He took them both from the little boy, and bade him stand at a distance;
“for,” said the King, “if I overcome these traitors, thou shalt have enough of weapons; but if they slay me, you may make your escape, and tell Douglas and my brother to revenge my death,”
In the mean time the traitors came forward upon Bruce, that they might assault him at once. The King called out to them, and commanded them to come no nearer, upon peril of their lives; but the father answered with flattering words, pretending great kindness, and still continuing to approach his person. Then the King again called to them to “you shall die if you come one foot nearer to me.” With that he bent the page’s bow; and as the old conspirator continued to advance, he let the arrow fly at him. Bruce was an excellent archer; he aimed his arrow so well, that it hit the father in the eye, and penetrated from that into his brain, so that he fell down dead. Then the two sons rushed on the King.
Scott relates several more Bruce stories which are contained in his Tales of a Grandfather.
The story of the battle of Bannockburn which routed the invading English, and guaranteed Scotland Independence for another 3 centuries. The establishment of a royal family and marriage of Bruce’s daughter to the 6th High Steward of Scotland. The eventual ancestry of virtually all royal families in Europe.
