Lord of Arbroath

Baron of Arbroath or Lord Arbroath^[2][3] is a hereditary title of nobility, originally in the Scottish peerage, that was raised to a free lordship, barony, regality and lord of parliament by royal charter back in the 17th century,^[4] historically associated with the town of Arbroath in Angus, Scotland.^[5][6]

Lordship of Arbroath
Creation date	1605[1]
Creation	Baronage of Scotland
Created by	James VI of Scotland
First holder	James, 2nd Marquess of Hamilton
Present holder	Alan Bartlett, Lord Arbroath
Status	extant

Lordship of Arbroath

The original Crown Charter^[7] for the Lordship of Arbroath (or Aberbrothwick) was granted to James, 2nd Marquis of Hamilton, during the reign of James VI of Scotland and marked a significant moment in Scottish history, as lands formerly under the control of the Arbroath Abbey, one of Scotland's wealthiest ecclesiastical estates, were transferred to a powerful noble family. Following the Scottish Reformation, the dissolution of monasteries and abbeys led to the redistribution of church lands to loyal nobles. In 1651 the lord of parliament peerage title became extinct.

Declaration of Arbroath

The 'Tyninghame' copy of the Declaration from 1320, in the National Archives of Scotland

The town of Arbroath is of significant historical importance, particularly because of its connection to the Declaration of Arbroath. Drafted in 1320, the Declaration was a letter addressed to Pope John XXII by Scottish nobles and barons, asserting Scotland's independence from England and affirming Robert the Bruce's right to rule.^[8]

Present Baron

The title is held by Alan Frank Bartlett, Lord Arbroath as a Lordship in the Baronage of Scotland.^{[4][9][better source needed]} Although there is no longer a direct link between the title and the ownership of land, the title remains a recognised part of the Scottish nobility.^[10]

See also

• Declaration of Arbroath
• Battle of Arbroath
• Arbroath Abbey