, c.1200-1215. Part of the High Steward's role was managing the King's finances, the accounting for which was performed on a chequered cloth (as in the Exchequer in England) to help them count coins, hence the
fess chequy The Great Steward of Scotland, also known as the High Steward of Scotland, is an officer who controls the domestic affairs of a royal household. In the 12th century King
David I of Scotland gave the title to
Walter fitz Alan, a nobleman from
Brittany, whose descendants adopted the surname "Steward", later "Stewart" and later founded the royal
House of Stewart. A junior branch of the Stewart family descended from the younger son of
Alexander Stewart, 4th High Steward of Scotland (d.1283), namely "
Stewart of Darnley", paternal ancestors of King James I & VI, lived for several generations in France, when the name became spelt in the French manner "Stuart" and "Dernelé". In 1371
Robert Stewart, 7th High Steward of Scotland inherited the throne of Scotland via his mother and became King
Robert II of Scotland, when the title or office of High Steward of Scotland merged into the crown. However it was re-granted by the monarch to his elder son and heir apparent, together with the titles
Duke of Rothesay (created 1398),
Baron of Renfrew (created 1404),
Earl of Carrick (created 1186) and
Lord of the Isles (created c. 875). Thus, currently, the
Prince of Wales is Great Steward of Scotland, sometimes known as the Prince and Great Steward of Scotland. ==Use of titles==