The title Earl of Caithness has been created several times in the Peerage of Scotland, and has a very complex history. It was first granted to Malise, 8th Earl of Stratherne, in 1334. The next year, however, all of his titles were declared forfeit for treason. The Peerage of Scotland is the division of the British Peerage for those peers created in the Kingdom of Scotland before 1707. ...

The next grant was to David Stewart, a younger son of King Robert II of Scotland. His heiress, Euphemia, resigned the title in 1390 in favour of her uncle Walter, 1st Earl of Atholl. Walter himself resigned the title in 1428, in favour of his son Allan, but he retained the earldom of Atholl for himself. Upon Allan's death, Walter again came to hold both earldoms. However, both were lost when he was executed for high treason in 1437, his titles being forfeit. Robert II (March 2, 1316- April 19, 1390), king of Scotland, called the Steward, a title that gave the name to the House of Stewart (or Stuart). ...

The third creation of the title was for Sir George Crichton in 1452, but he surrendered the title in the same year. The final creation of the earldom was made in 1455 for William Sinclair, 3rd Earl of Orkney. He surrendered the Orkney title and all associated lands to James III in 1470, in return for the Castle of Ravenscraig, in Fife. Six years later, he wished to disinherit his eldest son, who was known as "The Waster." Therefore, so that his earldom would not pass to him, he resigned the title in favour of his younger son, William. James III of Scotland (1451/ 1452 – June 11, 1488), son of James II and Mary of Gueldres, created Duke of Rothesay at birth, king of Scotland from 1460 to 1488. ...

George, sixth Earl of the Sinclair line, was the last Earl to cause a disturbance in the normal succession of the title. In 1672, he agreed that, at his death, all of his lands and titles would pass to Sir John Campbell, who was his creditor. In 1677, the sixth Earl died, and King Charles II granted him a patent creating him Earl of Caithness . Later, however, the sixth Earl's heir, also named George, was confirmed in his titles by the law. Therefore, in order to compensate for the loss of the earldom, Charles II created him Earl of Breadalbane and Holland. Thereafter, the earldom of Caithness has passed solely within the Sinclair family, without any further resignations or other irregularities. Charles II (29 May 1630–6 February 1685) was the King of England, Scotland, and Ireland from 30 January 1649 (de jure) or 29 May 1660 (de facto) until his death. ...

The Earl of Caithness also holds the title of Lord Berriedale, which was created in the Peerage of Scotland in 1455. That title is used as a courtesy title for the Earl's eldest son and heir. A courtesy title is a form of address in the British peerage system used for wives, children, and other close relatives of a peer. ...

The family seat is Castle Sinclair, two and a half miles north of Wick, Caithness in the Highland region of Scotland. Location within the British Isles Wick is an estuary town in Caithness, in the Highland area of Scotland, on the main highway (the A99-A9 road) linking John O Groats with southern Britain. ... Caithness (Gallaibh in Gaelic) is a traditional county and former administrative county within the Highland area of Scotland. ... Highland (a Ghaidhealtachd in Gaelic) is the name of the largest administrative region in Scotland. ... Royal motto: Nemo me impune lacessit (Latin: No one provokes me with impunity) Scotlands location within the UK Languages with Official Status English Scottish Gaelic Capital Edinburgh Largest city Glasgow First Minister Jack McConnell Area  - Total  - % water Ranked 2nd UK 78,782 km² 1. ...

Earls of Caithness, First Creation (c. 1334)

• Malise, 8th Earl of Stratherne, 1st Earl of Caithness (d. bef. 1353) (forfeit 1335)

Events Births January 4 - Amadeus VI of Savoy, Count of Savoy (died 1383) January 13 - King Henry II of Castile (died 1379) May 25 - Emperor Suko of Japan, third of the Northern Ashikaga Pretenders (died 1398) August 30 - King Peter I of Castile (died 1369) James I of Cyprus (died... Events The Decameron was finished by Giovanni Boccaccio. ...

Earls of Caithness, Second Creation (c. 1375)

• David Stewart, 1st Earl of Caithness (d. bef. 1389)
• Euphemia Stewart, 2nd Countess of Caithness (d. 1434) (resigned 1390)
• Walter Stewart, 3rd Earl of Caithness, 1st Earl of Atholl (d. 1437) (resigned c. 1428)
• Allan Stewart, 4th Earl of Caithness (d. 1431)
• Walter Stewart, 3rd Earl of Caithness, 1st Earl of Atholl (d. 1437) (forfeit 1437)

Events October 24 - Valdemar IV of Denmark dies and is succeeded by his grandson Olaf III of Denmark. ... Events February 24 - Margaret I seizes Albert, thus becoming ruler of Denmark, Norway and Sweden June 15 - Battle of Kosovo between Serbs and Ottomans. ... Events May 30, Battle of Lipany in the Hussite Wars Jan van Eyck painted the wedding of Giovanni Arnoflini The Honorable Passing of Arms at the bridge of Obrigo The Portuguese reach Cape Bojador in Western Sahara. ... Events foundation of All Souls College, University of Oxford. ... Events February 21 - The trial of Joan of Arc March 3 - Eugenius IV becomes Pope May 30 - In Rouen, France, 19-year old Joan of Arc is burned at the stake. ... Events foundation of All Souls College, University of Oxford. ...

Earls of Caithness, Third Creation (1452)

• George Crichton, 1st Earl of Caithness (d. 1455) (resigned 1452)

Events October - English troops under John Talbot, 1st Earl of Shrewsbury, land in Guyenne, France, and retake most of the province without a fight. ... Events February 9 - Wars of the Roses: Richard, Duke of York dismissed as Protector February 23 - Johannes Gutenberg prints the first Bible on a printing press May 22 - Wars of the Roses: First Battle of St Albans - Richard, Duke of York and his ally, Richard Neville, Earl of Warwick defeat...

Earls of Caithness, Fourth Creation (1455)

• William Sinclair, 1st Earl of Caithness (d. 1484) (resigned 1476)
• William Sinclair, 2nd Earl of Caithness (d. 1513)
• John Sinclair, 3rd Earl of Caithness (d. 1529)
• George Sinclair, 4th Earl of Caithness (d. 1582)
• George Sinclair, 5th Earl of Caithness (1566-1643)
• George Sinclair, 6th Earl of Caithness (d. 1677) (resigned 1672)
• John Campbell, 1st Earl of Breadalbane and Holland (1635-1717) (resigned 1681)
• George Sinclair, 7th Earl of Caithness (d. 1698)
• John Sinclair, 8th Earl of Caithness (d. 1705)
• Alexander Sinclair, 9th Earl of Caithness (1685-1765)
• William Sinclair, 10th Earl of Caithness (1727-1779)
• John Sinclair, 11th Earl of Caithness (1757-1789)
• James Sinclair, 12th Earl of Caithness (1766-1823)
• Alexander Campbell Sinclair, 13th Earl of Caithness (1790-1855)
• James Sinclair, 14th Earl of Caithness (1821-1881)
• George Philips Alexander Sinclair, 15th Earl of Caithness (1858-1889)
• James Augustus Sinclair, 16th Earl of Caithness (1827-1891)
• John Sutherland Sinclair, 17th Earl of Caithness (1857-1914)
• Norman Macleod Sinclair, 18th Earl of Caithness (1862-1947)
• James Roderick Sinclair, 19th Earl of Caithness (1906-1965)
• Malcolm Ian Sinclair, 20th Earl of Caithness (b. 1948) (elected into House of Lords, 1999)

Heir-Apparent: His son Alexander James Richard Sinclair, Lord Berriedale (b. 1981) Events February 9 - Wars of the Roses: Richard, Duke of York dismissed as Protector February 23 - Johannes Gutenberg prints the first Bible on a printing press May 22 - Wars of the Roses: First Battle of St Albans - Richard, Duke of York and his ally, Richard Neville, Earl of Warwick defeat... William Sinclair, 1st Earl of Caithness, 3rd Earl of Orkney, Baron of Roslin (1410-1484) was a Scottish nobleman and the builder of Rosslyn Chapel. ... Events July 6 - Portuguese sea captain Diogo Cão finds the mouth of Congo River December 5 - Pope Innocent VIII gives the inquisition a mission to hunt heretics and witches in Germany with the lead of Heinrich Kramer and Jacob Sprenger First cuirassier units (kyrissers) formed in Austria Births January... Events January 20 - Christian II becomes King of Denmark and Norway. ... Events April 22 - Treaty of Saragossa divides the eastern hemisphere between Spain and Portugal, stipulating that the dividing line should lie 297. ... Events January 15 - Russia cedes Livonia and Estonia to Poland February 24 - Pope Gregory XIII implements the Gregorian Calendar. ... Events January 7 - Pius V becomes Pope Selim II succeeds Suleiman I as Sultan of the Ottoman Empire Religious rioting in the Netherlands signifies the beginning of the Eighty Years War in the Netherlands. ... // Events January 21 - Abel Tasman discovers Tonga February 6 - Abel Tasman discovers the Fiji islands. ... Events First performance of Racines tragedy, Phèdre Sarah Churchill marries John Churchill, 1st Duke of Marlborough Battle of Cassel, Philippe I of Orléans defeats William of Orange Mary II of England marries William of Orange English Statute of frauds is passed into law Battle of Landskrona Elias... John Campbell, 1st Earl of Breadalbane and Holland (b. ... Events February 10 - The Académie française in Paris is expanded to become a national academy for the artistic elite. ... // Events January 4 — The Netherlands, Britain & France sign Triple Alliance February 26-March 6 What is now the northeastern United States was paralyzed by a series of blizzards that buried the region. ... Events January 4 - Palace of Whitehall in London is destroyed by fire. ... Events Construction begins on Blenheim Palace, in Oxfordshire, England. ... Events February 6 - James Stuart, Duke of York becomes King James II of England and Ireland and King James VII of Scotland. ... 1765 was a common year starting on Tuesday (see link for calendar). ... Events June 11 - George, Prince of Wales becomes King George II of Great Britain. ... 1779 was a common year starting on Friday (see link for calendar). ... 1757 was a common year starting on Saturday (see link for calendar). ... 1789 was a common year starting on Thursday (see link for calendar). ... 1766 was a common year starting on Wednesday (see link for calendar). ... 1823 was a common year starting on Wednesday (see link for calendar). ... 1790 was a common year starting on Friday (see link for calendar). ... 1855 was a common year starting on Monday (see link for calendar). ... 1821 was a common year starting on Monday (see link for calendar). ... 1881 was a common year starting on Saturday (see link for calendar). ... 1858 is a common year starting on Friday. ... 1889 was a common year starting on Tuesday (see link for calendar). ... 1827 was a common year starting on Monday (see link for calendar). ... 1891 was a common year starting on Thursday (see link for calendar). ... 1857 was a common year starting on Thursday (see link for calendar). ... 1914 is a common year starting on Thursday. ... 1862 was a common year starting on Wednesday (see link for calendar). ... 1947 was a common year starting on Wednesday (link will take you to calendar). ... 1906 was a common year starting on Monday (see link for calendar). ... 1965 was a common year starting on Friday (link goes to calendar). ... 1948 is a leap year starting on Thursday (link will take you to calendar). ... 1981 is a common year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar. ...