In the 1200's, what did Captain of the Scots mean?

Question

I have a family tree where a Scottish ancestor is referred to 'Captain of the Scots', does anyone know what this means?

Answer 1

The designation "Captain of the Scots" strongly suggests that these were Scots in foreign service. If they had been serving in Scotland itself, it is unlikely that they would have been singled out as "Scots", because everyone else there were "Scots" too.

Given your 1200's dating, the answer can't have anything to do with Scots in English/British service. The British army's Royal Scots trace their origin to 1633; the Scots Guards to 1642; both regiments, therefore, long after your ancestor's period.

But "Captain of the Scots" in French service is a strong possibility. Although "la garde écossaise" was not formally constituted until 1422, kings of France began to place their personal safety in the hands of Scots in the reign of Charles III, who in 882 employed a bodyguard of "Scottish gentlemen."

By the time of Louis IX (St. Louis), who reigned from 1226-1290, this practice was well established.

That is exactly the period for your ancestor. My guess is that your ancestor was in charge of Louis IX's bodyguard of Scottish gentlemen. The likelihood of that explanation would be even stronger if your ancestor happened to be a Sinclair or a Montgomery: because captains from those two families were almost always in command of la garde écossaise, and that tradition may go back to an earlier time.

Answer 2

It probably means Captain of the Scots Guards, and if it's the 1200s, it's probably the Scots Guards of the French kings and not the more well-known Scots Guards of the British armed forces.