General Notes

Alias:<ALIA> Wolf of /Badenoch/
REFN: 2692AN
Alias:<ALIA> The /Wolf/
REFN: P2693
4a Alexander, Earl of Buchan, 1374, and j ure uxoris, Earl of Ross, known
as “The Wolf of Badenoch” m Euphemia, Countes s of Ross, widow of Sir
Walter Leslie, and dau. and heiress of William, 5th E arl of Ross, and
d.s.p. 24 July, 1394, leaving several illegitmate children. He was
ancestor of the Stewarts of Fothergill, STEWART-MEIKLEJOHN of Edradyna te
(see that family) and STEWART-WILSON of Balnakeilly (see that family).
fr om Burkes Peerage Vol 3 of 6, House of Stewart
The Wolf of Badenoch, is one of the most memorable historical characte
rs of Strathspey.
The son of King Robert II, he was one of the most blackest, most evil char
acter in Scotland's history.  Alexander Stewart, Alisdair Mor mac an Rig
h, was better know as Big Alexander, or the Wolf of Badenoch.
The times in which he lived were barbarous, but even by their standar
ds he stood out, and was feared over a considerable distance.
Throughout his life he was Lord of Badenoch around 1371, Earl of Buchan
an and was also his brother's royal deputy in the north of Scotland.
The Wolf ruled the lands of Badenoch in a cruel way, burning the hom
es of those who crossed or displeased them.  Taking labour and goods way b
eyond any reason.
His wife, Countess of Ross, was deserted by him.  His wife appealed to t
he Bishop of Moray, who unfortunately for him, gave judgement in her favou
r.
The Wolf was outraged.   All out for revenge, he came down from his strong
hold, the castle of Lochindorb and ransacked and burned Forres and Elgi
n.   Elgin of course, being the ecclesiastical centre of the Bishopr
ic of Moray.   Setting off fires, mainly in the College, the Canon's hous
es and the Hospital of the Maison Dieu, he terrified the people of Elgi
n, forcing them to flee with their families into the countryside.
In 1390 he burned Elgin Cathedral, destroying many of its records includi
ng family, legal and monastic - irreplaceable.  A terrible loss.
The Wolf was called upon by his father to do penance for this heinous crim
e.  This he did under the watchful eye of his father the King, nobles a
nd many dignitaries of the church.  The King, believing that his son had l
earnt his lesson, finally pardoned him, and his was received back into t
he Church.   Unfortunately, his repentance was superficial.
Throughout his reign he extended and reinforced his castles at Loch-an-Eil
ein and Lochindorb, and yet hardly changed Castle Roy at Nethy Bridge.
Legend has it that The Wolf of Badenoch died in 1394, although others main
tain is was in 1406, when it is believed that he played chess with the dev
il.  He had been visited at Ruthven Castle by a man, who was tall, and dre
ssed in black.  The man wished to play a game of chess with the Wolf.   T
he game went on for several hours until the tall, darkly dressed man mov
ed one of the chess pieces and called 'check' and then 'checkmate'.  The m
an rose from the table.  On calling these words there was a terrible sto
rm of thunder, hail and lightening.  The storm continued through the nig
ht until silence befell the castle in the morning.  In that morning silenc
e, it was then that the Wolf's men were discovered outsiDe the castle wall
s, dead and blackened as if they had all been struck by the lightening.  T
he Wolf was found in the banqueting hall, and although his body appeared u
nmarked, the nails in his boots had all been torn out.
The funeral procession was held two days later, led by the Wolf's coffi
n.  Terrible storms started over and over again as the coffins were add
ed to the procession.  It was only after the Wolf's coffin was carri
ed to the back of the procession did the storms cease.  The storms did n
ot return.
The Wolf of Badenoch was not buried locally, but is buried in Dunkeld Cath
edral.