The Crowners of Caithness

By Michael J. Gunn
A4, 50pp., comb-bound, illustrated GB£7.50
ISBN 1 897955 01 4

The office of Crowner, or Coroner, seems to have been introduced into Scotland during the reign of William the Lion (reigned 1164-1214) in an attempt at regularising the Celtic, Anglo-Saxon and Norse offices of Toiseach, Thegn and Hersir.

It is thought that one of the earliest crownerships created by William the Lion was that of Caithness, a wild and lawless county whose earls owed more allegiance to Norway than to the kings of Scots. The Crowners were originally subordinate to the Earls but, following the forfeiture of Earl Malise in 1344 the earldom of Caithness was held by the Crown and continued to be so until 1455. During that period the Crowners of Caithness waxed powerful as the king's representative in the county. In 1455, however, William Sinclair, 3rd Earl of Orkney, was created also Earl of Caithness and when his son and successor was later given the titles of Hereditary Justiciar and Sheriff of Caithness a terrible feud began which ultimately led to the Crownership falling into desuetude.

This book tells the story of all the Caithness Crowners down to the last who was treacherously murdered, along with many of his kinsmen, at the Massacre at the Chapel of St. Tayre, near Wick, in 1489.

• A4, 50 pages
• Introduction
• 20 illustrations
• 3 maps
• 3 pedigree charts