Pittulie Castle 16th-century
Pittulie Castle also known as Castle of Pittulie is a late 16th-century fortified house just outside Rosehearty, on the north Aberdeenshire coast, Scotland.
The present castle probably replaces a previous castle on the site. It is thought that the castle was built for the marriage of Alexander Fraser and Margaret Abernethy of Saltoun in 1596. This marriage led to the Frasers inheriting the Saltoun peerage. The Cumines acquired and enlarged the property.
History
1300’s – Clan Fraser hold Pittullie from their overlords the mighty Clan Douglas.
1455 – The young King James, now a man matured and in charge of Royal affairs, summoned the 8th Earl Douglas to a meeting at Edinburgh Castle, giving personal assurances to his safety. Following a quarrel, the Earl is brutally stabbed to death with King James striking the first blow and one of his courtiers the final with a pole axe.
James Douglas, his brother and successor, now the 9th Earl, sack the Royal estates in Stirling in retaliation.
Open rebellion comes to a head at the Battle of Arkinholm when the royal forces consisting mainly of Red Douglas’s and Clan Johnstone, their neighbours, capture the Castle of Abercorn. Archibald Douglas, Earl of Moray is killed in the battle and his head presented to the King. Hugh Douglas, Earl of Ormonde is captured and executed and John Douglas, Lord of Balvenie flees to England.
James Douglas, the 9th and Clan chief, is absent during this period, in England trying to muster support. The rest of the Black Douglas’s properties and lands are declared forfeit to the crown. James Douglas, now an outlaw and rebel Earl, is eventually captured at Lochmaben Castle and lives out the rest of his life as a Royal prisoner.
As a result of this spectacular fall from power, Clan Fraser of Pittullie no longer hold their lands of Clan Douglas.
1596 – Alexander Fraser gives Pittulie to his son Alexander and his wife Margaret Abernethy,
1631 ~ Castle Pittullie is built by one the Ogilvy’s of nearby Boyne, who is married to Mary, sister of the Forbes Laird of neighbouring Pitsligo castle.
1746 – Hanoverian troops burn Pittulie Castle during the savage aftermath of the Jacobite defeat at Culloden.
1770’s – The remains of Pittullie Castle are dismantled by William Forbes.
Credit to https://castle-finders.co.uk
