Lord Warden of the Marches

The Lord Warden of the Marches was an office in the governments of Scotland and England. The holders were responsible for the security of the border between the two nations, and often took part in military action. The Marches on both side of the border were traditionally split into West, Middle and East, each with their own warden answerable to the Lord Warden. The offices became unnecessary after the union of the crowns of England and Scotland under King James in 1603.

Notable Lords Warden of the Marches

For England

• Robert de Clifford, 1st Baron de Clifford - the first holder of this office
• Henry Carey, 1st Baron Hunsdon
• Robert Carey, 1st Earl of Monmouth (1596–1598)
• John Dudley, 1st Duke of Northumberland
• Sir John Forster
• Henry FitzRoy, 1st Duke of Richmond and Somerset

For Scotland

• Archibald Douglas, 3rd Earl of Douglas
• Archibald Douglas, 4th Earl of Douglas
• Archibald Douglas, 6th Earl of Angus
• Sir John Carmichael

See also

• Scottish Borders
• Anglo-Scottish border
• Border Reivers
• Debatable Lands, land lying between England and Scotland, formerly in question to which it belonged, when they were distinct kingdoms.
• The Scots' Dike which was dug in 1552 to divide up the Debatable lands.
• Welsh Marches, between England and Wales
• The Borderers (Television series)
• Scottish Marches

Sources

• Reid, Rachael Robertson (1917). "The office of warden of the marches its origin and early history" (subscription required). English Historical Review. 32: pp. 479–96. Retrieved 2010-03-16. {{cite journal}}: |pages= has extra text (help)