Name: Stjarnorp Castle

Location: Linkoping, east Sweden.

Built: in 1655-1662.

Destroyed: in 1789.

Condition today: the main building is a ruin today.

Architect: Nicodemus Tessin the Elder, Germany.

 

 

History:

Stjarnorp Castle was built in 1655-1662 by Scottish born Robert Douglas, Count of Skenninge (1611–1662). The castle and terraces were designed by Nicodemus Tessin the Elder, Germany. According to one legend, a story relates that during the war, comrades and brothers in arms Robert Douglas and Axel Lillie came home from the Peace of Westphalia, and they had made an agreement to build their own castles, Stjarnorp Castle and Lofstad Castle, so high that from the top floor, they could see and send greeting messages to each other.

 

All the Stjarnorp buildings were destroyed during a fire on May 12, 1789, but the chapel was restored in the same year. Although the wings were built up again within a few years after the fire, the funds were lacking for the repair of the main building, which is still in ruins. When Stjarnorp parish was formed in 1810, the castle chapel became the parish church chapel.

 

Robert Douglas, Count of Skenninge (1611–1662)

Born: 17 March 1611, Standingstone Estate, by Traprain Law, Haddingtonshire, Scotland.

Died: 28 May 1662, Stockholm.

 

Scotland's numerous clans were often mounted warriors by tradition, training and capability. Sons of noble Scots families, particularly younger sons who had little expectation of adequate inheritance, often emigrated to serve in the armies of monarchs abroad. Young Robert Douglas was one such cadet of the Scottish gentry. In 1627 he was received as a page in the Swedish service under John Casimir, Count Palatine of Kleeburg, castellan of Stegeborg Castle, brother-in-law of King Gustav II Adolf, King of Sweden in 1611-1632.

 

In 1630 when Sweden joined the Thirty Years' War, he joined the king and started serving in German battlefields. He rose in the officer ranks and in the later stages of the war he served as a commander: in 1635 a colonel, in 1643 a major-general. He participated in some of the most memorable battles of that war, at Leipzig in 1642 and Jankowitz in 1645.

 

Queen Christina of Sweden ennobled him as a baron in 1651, and on 28 May 1654, created him a count. In 1652, she made him the kingdom's Lord Master of the Horse.

 

In King Charles X Gustav's Polish war, he was with the king at the battle of Warsaw in 1656. On 13 May 1657, the king promoted him to field marshal. He served between 1658-1661 as military governor of Estonia and Livonia. He led the Swedish forces in the conquests of Valmiera and Mitau.

 

Douglas was rewarded with numerous properties and fiefs in Sweden, such as Skanninge, Skalby, Zewen and Sannegarden.

 

Family

 

In 1646 Robert Douglas married Hedvig Mörner, who bore him six sons and a daughter, of whom three sons lived to adulthood. They became officers. The daughter married an Oxenstierna. Oxenstierna is an ancient Swedish noble family. The remaining son, Gustaf Douglas, was first of the Swedish-born noble line of Douglas. The Swedish noble family of Douglas descends from him.

 

His grandson, Count Gustav Otto Douglas, was captured by the Russians during the Battle of Poltava, entered Russian service, and in 1717 was made Peter the Great’s Governor General over Finland. In the 1890s, the head of the family, Count Ludvig Douglas (1849-1916), was a distinguished Swedish foreign minister and High Marshal of Sweden. The latter’s son, general Archibald Douglas (1883–1960), was Commander in Chief of the Swedish Army during World War II.

 

Ancestry

 

Douglas

9. James Douglas of Lothian (died before 1323)

8. Sir John Douglas of Lothian (d. 1350)

7. Sir James Douglas of Dalkeith (1330-1420)

6. Sir James Douglas, 1st Lord Dalkieth (d. 1441)

5. Sir William Douglas, 1st of Whittinghame (died before 1484)

4. Sir William Douglas, 2nd of Whittinghame (alive in 1484)

3. William Douglas, 3rd of Whittinghame (d. 1572)

2. William Douglas, 4th of Whittinghame (1540-1595) - married Elizabeth Maitland.

1. Patrick Wilhelmson Douglas (d. 1626)

0. Robert Douglas, Count of Skenninge (1611–1662)

 

William Douglas, 4th of Whittinghame (1540-1595), who married Elizabeth Maitland, was a Senator of the College of Justice at Edinburgh, and a Royal conspirator. Elizabeth Maitland was a descendant of Robert II, King of Scotland in 1371-1390.

.

 

Robert II

9. Robert II (1316-1390), King of Scotland in 1371-1390

8. Robert Stewart, 1st Duke of Albany (1340-1420)

7. Margaret Stewart - she married Robert Stewart, 1st Lord Lorne (1382-1449)

6. Isabelle Stewart - she married Colin Campbell, 1st Earl of Argyll (1433-1493).

5. Margaret Campbell - she married George Seton, 2nd Lord Seton (d. 1507/8).

4. Martha Seton - she married William Maitland of Lethington and Thirlestane (d. 1513).

3. Sir Richard Maitland of Lethington and Thirlestane (1496-1586)

2. Elizabeth Maitland

1. Patrick Wilhelmson Douglas (d. 1626)

0. Robert Douglas, Count of Skenninge (1611–1662)

 

Elizabeth Maitland married William Douglas, 4th of Whittinghame (1540-1595).

 

Robert II (1316-1390), King of Scotland in 1371-1390 was Robert Douglas, Count of Skenninge (1611–1662) great great great great great great great granddad.

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Wessex, England and Scotland

25. Alfred the Great (849-899), King of Wessex in 871-899

24. Edward the Elder (874-877 - 924), King of Wessex in 899-924

23. Edmund I (922-946), King of England in 939-946

22. Edgar I (943-975), King of England in 959-975

21. Æthelred II (968-1018), King of England in 978-1016

20. Edmund II (988/993-1016), King of England in 1016

19. Edward the Exile (1016-1057)

18. Margaret of Wessex (1045-1093), Queen consort of Scotland in 1070-1093

17. David I (1084-1153), King of Scotland in 1124-1153.

16. Henry of Scotland (1114-1152), prince of Scotland.

15. David of Scotland (1144-1219), prince of Scotland and Earl of Huntingdon.

14. Isobel of Huntingdon (1199–1251)

13. Robert de Brus, 5th Lord of Annandale (1210-1295

12. Robert de Brus, 6th Lord of Annandale (1243-1304)

11. Robert I (1274-1329), King of Scotland in 1306-1329.

10. Marjorie Bruce (1296-1316)

9. Robert II (1316-1390), King of Scotland in 1371-1390

8. Robert Stewart, 1st Duke of Albany (1340-1420)

7. Margaret Stewart - she married Robert Stewart, 1st Lord Lorne (1382-1449)

6. Isabelle Stewart - she married Colin Campbell, 1st Earl of Argyll (1433-1493).

5. Margaret Campbell - she married George Seton, 2nd Lord Seton (d. 1507/8).

4. Martha Seton - she married William Maitland of Lethington and Thirlestane (d. 1513).

3. Sir Richard Maitland of Lethington and Thirlestane (1496-1586)

2. Elizabeth Maitland

1. Patrick Wilhelmson Douglas (d. 1626)

0. Robert Douglas, Count of Skenninge (1611–1662)

 

Æthelred II (968-1018), King of England in 978-1016 was Robert Douglas, Count of Skenninge (1611–1662) great great great great great great great great great great great great great great great great great great great granddad.

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William the Conqueror

20. William the Conqueror (1028-1087), King of England in 1066-1087.

19. Henry I of England (1068/1069-1135), King of England in 1100-1135.

18. Robert, 1st Earl of Gloucester (before 1100 - d.1147)

17. Maud of Gloucester, Countess of Chester (d. 1190)

16. Hugh de Kevelioc, 5th Earl of Chester (1147-1181)

15. Matilda of Chester, Countess of Huntingdon (1171-1233)

14. Isobel of Huntingdon (1199–1251)

13. Robert de Brus, 5th Lord of Annandale (1210-1295

12. Robert de Brus, 6th Lord of Annandale (1243-1304)

11. Robert I (1274-1329), King of Scotland in 1306-1329.

10. Marjorie Bruce (1296-1316)

9. Robert II (1316-1390), King of Scotland in 1371-1390

8. Robert Stewart, 1st Duke of Albany (1340-1420)

7. Margaret Stewart - she married Robert Stewart, 1st Lord Lorne (1382-1449)

6. Isabelle Stewart - she married Colin Campbell, 1st Earl of Argyll (1433-1493).

5. Margaret Campbell - she married George Seton, 2nd Lord Seton (d. 1507/8).

4. Martha Seton - she married William Maitland of Lethington and Thirlestane (d. 1513).

3. Sir Richard Maitland of Lethington and Thirlestane (1496-1586)

2. Elizabeth Maitland

1. Patrick Wilhelmson Douglas (d. 1626)

0. Robert Douglas, Count of Skenninge (1611–1662)

 

William the Conqueror (1028-1087), King of England in 1066-1087 was Robert Douglas, Count of Skenninge (1611–1662) great great great great great great great great great great great great great great great great great great granddad.

.

 

Kenneth MacAlpin

26. Kenneth MacAlpin (d. 858), King of Pictland/Scotland in 843-858

25. Constantine I (d. 877), King of Pictland/Scotland in 862-877

24. Donald II (d. 900), King of Scotland in 889-900.

23. Malcolm I (900-954), King of Scotland in 943-954

22. Kenneth II (b. before 954 - d. 995). King of Scotland in 971-995

21. Malcolm II (d.1034), King of Scotland in 1005-1034

20. Bethóc

19. Duncan I (d.1040), King of Scotland in 1034-1040

18. Malcolm III (d. 1093), King of Scotland in 1058-1093

17. David I (1084-1153), King of Scotland in 1124-1153.

16. Henry of Scotland (1114-1152), prince of Scotland.

15. David of Scotland (1144-1219), prince of Scotland and Earl of Huntingdon.

14. Isobel of Huntingdon (1199–1251)

13. Robert de Brus, 5th Lord of Annandale (1210-1295

12. Robert de Brus, 6th Lord of Annandale (1243-1304)

11. Robert I (1274-1329), King of Scotland in 1306-1329.

10. Marjorie Bruce (1296-1316)

9. Robert II (1316-1390), King of Scotland in 1371-1390

8. Robert Stewart, 1st Duke of Albany (1340-1420)

7. Margaret Stewart - she married Robert Stewart, 1st Lord Lorne (1382-1449)

6. Isabelle Stewart - she married Colin Campbell, 1st Earl of Argyll (1433-1493).

5. Margaret Campbell - she married George Seton, 2nd Lord Seton (d. 1507/8).

4. Martha Seton - she married William Maitland of Lethington and Thirlestane (d. 1513).

3. Sir Richard Maitland of Lethington and Thirlestane (1496-1586)

2. Elizabeth Maitland

1. Patrick Wilhelmson Douglas (d. 1626)

0. Robert Douglas, Count of Skenninge (1611–1662)

 

Famous Kenneth MacAlpin (d. 858), King of Pictland/Scotland in 843-858 was Robert Douglas, Count of Skenninge (1611–1662) great great great great great great great great great great great great great great great great great great great great great great great great granddad.

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Robert Douglas, Count of Skenninge (1611–1662) and some of his descendants

0. Robert Douglas, Count of Skenninge (1611–1662)

1. Count Gustaf Douglas (1648-1705)

2. Count Vilhelm Douglas (1683-1763)

3. Count Vilhelm Otto Douglas (1721-1776)

4. Count Carl Vilhelm Douglas (1754-1834)

5. Count Vilhelm Christoffer Robert Douglas (1784-1844)

6. Count Carl Vilhelm Douglas (1824-1898)

7. Count Ludvig Vilhelm August Douglas (1849-1917), Swedish foreign minister

8. Count Archibald Douglas (1883-1960), Commander in Chief of the Swedish Army during WW2

9. Count Carl Douglas (1908-1961)

10. Countess Elisabeth Douglas (b. 1940) - she married in 1967 Max, Duke in Bavaria (b. 1937)

11. Sophie, Hereditary Princess of Liechtenstein (b. 1967)

12. Prince Joseph Wenzel of Liechtenstein (b. 1995)

 

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Sources:

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stj%C3%A4rnorp_Castle

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert_Douglas,_Count_of_Skenninge

www.jacobite.ca/essays/douglas.htm

www.jacobite.ca/kings/index.htm

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Link: commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Stjarnorpsslott06210009.jpg

The image above is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0 Unported license. Link: creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/deed.en

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