General Notes

Lennox, previous creations: The Earldom descended to Maldouen's grandson (Malcolm, 4th Earl) , then to the latter's son (another Malcolm, 5th Earl) and grandson (Donald, 6th Earl). In a bout 1364, however, the 6th Earl's daughter Margaret inherited the title as Countess of Lennox in her own right. She married Walter de Fasselane (modern Faslane), who seems to have been recognized as Earl of Lennox in right of his wife since in about 1385 the two of them mad e the dignity over to their eldest son Duncan. This son, the 8th Earl, who had not legitimate sons, got a regrant of the title from Robert III extending the line of descent to his daugh ter and her husband, though why this was thought necessary, given that the Earldom had alread y descended in just such a manner only a generation previously, is uncertain. One can only a ssume that the view of Earldoms in Scotland was changing about this time. [Burke's Peerage , p. 2402]

-----------------------------------------------------

William Wallace and Robert the Bruce visit Faslane

In the 13th century William Wallace stormed Rosneath castle on Gareloch which had been held by the English. He then went to stay in Faslane castle, which was the home of one of his supporters, Malcolm Earl of Lennox. The old account by blind Harry says:

"Than to Faslane the worthy Scot gan pass,
Quhar Elre Malcolm was bydand at defence,
Richt glad was he of Wallace gude presence."

Malcom later assisted Robert the Bruce, fought at Bannockburn and was one of the signatories of the Declaration of Arbroath. Robert the Bruce spent his latter days on the banks of the River Leven outside Dumbarton and it is likely that he would have visited Malcolm at Faslane castle which was only a short distance away.

The castle stood on the hillside to the North of Faslane Bay, overlooking where the Trident submarines are now based. It was on a mound near where two streams met. It had fallen into ruins by the 16th century. There is now very little sign of it. The site is very close to the new Garelochhead bypass which was built because of Trident.

Copied from "History of Faslane and Coulport", online website.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------- ------------------ --

[Note: It is possible that the "Faslane"s, which were a cadet branch of Lennox, merely kept Faslane Castle for the Lennox, or they may have held the Castle in fealty to the Lennox, whose main family home was Balloch Castle at the south end of Loch Lomond.]