Walter Stewart, 1st Earl of Atholl (d. March 26, 1437) was a Scottish nobleman, executed for his role in the murder of James I of Scotland. March 26 is the 85th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (86th in leap years). ... // Events foundation of All Souls College, University of Oxford. ... James I (December 10, 1394 – February 21, 1437) reigned as king of Scotland from April 4, 1406 until February 21, 1437. ...

He was a son of Robert II of Scotland by his second wife Euphemia, daughter of Aodh, Earl of Ross. He was also a younger half-brother of Robert III of Scotland and an uncle of the above mentioned James I of Scotland. 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). ... Robert III (circa 1340 – April 4, 1406), king of Scotland (reigned 1390 - 1406), the eldest son of King Robert II by his mistress, Elizabeth Mure, became legitimised with the formal marriage of his parents about 1349. ...

His first wife was Margaret Barclay, by whom he had two sons:

• Alan Stewart, 4th Earl of Caithness (d. 1431)
• David Stewart, Master of Atholl (d. bef. 1437)

In 1390, his niece Euphemia resigned to him the Earldom of Caithness. In 1404, he was created Earl of Atholl. 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. ... Events Births December 27 - Anne de Mortimer, claimant to the English throne (died 1411) Domenico da Piacenza, Italian dancemaster (died 1470) John Dunstable, English composer (died 1453) Engelbrekt Engelbrektsson, Swedish statesman and rebel leader (died 1436) Humphrey, Duke of Gloucester (died 1447) John VIII Palaeologus Byzantine Emperor (died 1448) Deaths... The title Earl of Caithness has been created several times in the Peerage of Scotland, and has a very complex history. ... Events June 14 - Owain Glyndwr of Wales allies with the French against the English and the Henry of Lancaster. ... The title Duke of Atholl was created several times in British history. ...

He was energetic in retrieving his nephew James I from the Kingdom of England, which was accomplished in 1424, and participated in the trial of Murdoch Stewart, 2nd Duke of Albany. He was made Great Justiciar of Scotland and Earl of Strathearn in 1427. He resigned Caithness to his son Alan in 1428, but regained it on the latter's death without issue in 1431. which he granted to his son Alan about 1428. He received it again when Alan died in 1431 without issue. The Flag of England The Kingdom of England was a kingdom located in Western Europe, in the southern part of the island of Great Britain. ... Events August 17 - Battle of Verneuil - An English force under John, Duke of Bedford defeats a larger French army under the Duke of Alençon, John Stuart, and Earl Archibald of Douglas. ... Murdoch Stewart, 2nd Duke of Albany (1362 – 24 May 1425) was a Scottish nobleman who inherited the Dukedom of Albany in 1420, but was convicted and executed for treason five years later. ... The title of Earl of Strathearn or Stratherne was created several times in Scotland. ... Events Lincoln College, a constituent college of the University of Oxford, is founded. ... // Events October 12 - English forces under Thomas Montacute, 4th Earl of Salisbury besiege Orléans. ... 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 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. ...

The depth of his loyalties to James is unclear. The chronicler Buchanan (1582) saw in his efforts to return James to Scotland and support him against Albany and his children a deep-laid plan for those two branches of the House of Stewart to destroy each other — and clear his own way to the throne, reviving the old charge of illegitimacy against his half-brother Robert II. Others aver that it was the imprisonment and subsequent death of his son David that turned him against the king. Whatever the cause, he joined with his grandson Robert Stewart, Master of Atholl and Sir Robert Graham in a conspiracy against James I, which assassinated the king on February 20, 1437. Events January 15 - Russia cedes Livonia and Estonia to Poland February 24 - Pope Gregory XIII implements the Gregorian Calendar. ... The House of Stuart or Stewart was a Scottish, and then British, Royal House of Breton origin. ... February 20 is the 51st day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar. ... // Events foundation of All Souls College, University of Oxford. ...

However, Atholl found little popular support for his cause, and the conspirators were swifly apprehended. They were attainted and put to death in Edinburgh by a series of tortures remarkable and hideous even for that era. Walter was tortured over a period of three days. On the first, he was put in a cart with a crane, hoisted up, dropped, and jerked violently to a stop to stretch his joints. He was then placed in a pillory and crowned with a red-hot iron crown bearing the inscription "King of all Traitors". On the second day, he was bound to a hurdle and dragged along the main street of Edinburgh. (Some claim he was also blinded and tortured with red-hot iron pincers on this day, but Buchanan speaks only of the hurdle.) On the third, he was disembowelled while alive, his entrails burnt before his face, and his heart was torn out and burnt. Finally, his corpse was beheaded and quartered, and the quarters displayed around the realm. Edinburgh (pronounced ; Dùn Èideann () in Scottish Gaelic) is the second-largest city in Scotland and the countrys capital city. ... It has been suggested that Pranger be merged into this article or section. ...

The title Duke of Atholl was created several times in British history. ... The title Earl of Caithness has been created several times in the Peerage of Scotland, and has a very complex history. ... The title of Earl of Strathearn or Stratherne was created several times in Scotland. ... The title Earl of Caithness has been created several times in the Peerage of Scotland, and has a very complex history. ...

References

• Rerum Scoticarum Historia, George Buchanan