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Cap Badge
Kilt pin
Plaid Brooch
Tie pin
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Sgian Dubh
Although the actual derivation of this name is obscure, the Norman family who bore it held the Castle of Sainte Foy de Montgomery at Lisieux. One tradition asserts that the name refers to a hill and a Roman Commander called Gomericus. Roger de Mundegumbrie, whose mother was the niece of the great-grandmother of William the Conqueror, accompanied his kinsman on the invasion of England and commanded the van at Hastings in 1066. The first Montgomery who appears on record in Scotland is Robert, who obtained the lands of Eaglesham in Renfrewshire. He appears as a witness in a charter to the Monastery of Paisley around 1165. It is generally supposed that Robert, a grandson of Earl Roger, accompanied Walter Fitz-Alan the first High Steward of Scotland, when he came to Scotland to take possession of lands conferred upon him by David I. Eight centuries later the Montgomerys still held on lands in Renfrew and Ayrshire. John de Montgomery and his brother are listed on the Ragman Roll, rendering homage to Edward I of England for their estates in 1296. A later Sir John, the seventh Baron of Eaglesham, was one of the heroes of the Battle of Otterburn in 1388, capturing Sir Henry Percy, the renowned Hotspur. According to a vivid Borders ballad, Hotspur and Montgomery met in hand-to-hand combat, and Montgomery carried the day. The hero of Otterburn cemented his good fortune by marrying the heiress of Sir Hugh Eglinton, thereby acquiring the Barony of Eglinton and Ardrossan. His son, Sir John Montgomery of Ardrossan took for his second wife Margaret, the daughter of Maxwell of Caerlaverock. He was succeeded by his eldest son, Alexander and he was created Lord Montgomery sometime prior to 31 January 1449. Hugh, the third Lord Montgomery, supported Prince James in rebellion against his father, James III, and fought at the Battle of Sauchieburn in 1488. In either 1507 or 1508, Lord Montgomery was created Earl of Eglinton. The thirteenth Earl organised the celebrated tournament. The present chief is the eighteenth Earl of Eglinton and ninth Earl of Winton. |
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