Alexander Livingston of Callendar

Origins Livingston was the eldest son of John Livingston of Callendar by his first wife, an unnamed daughter of John Menteith of Kerse. He was probably born in , as he had three younger brothers, and his mother died before 15 August 1381. His links with the powerful Douglas family had given him the office of bailie of Herbertshire Castle by 1423. Murdoch Stewart, Duke of Albany, as Governor of Scotland, probably gave Livingston custody of Stirling Castle before 1424. After this display of loyalty, James I confirmed Livingston's position as custodian of Stirling. His younger brother, John, became provost of Edinburgh, while his cousin, Robert Livingston, was employed by James I as master of works at Linlithgow Palace. Livingston and his family developed a close bond with William Crichton, a fellow royal servant and the custodian of Edinburgh Castle, during these years. According to the contemporary Auchinleck chronicle, Livingston ordered Joan to be imprisoned in a room in the castle, while Stewart of Lorn and his brother were shackled in a dungeon. Livingston received the support of various noblemen, including James Douglas, Earl of Avandale, and William Crichton, for his arrest of the queen mother and her husband. Joan's arrest ended her attempts to govern Scotland on behalf of her nine-year-old son, James II.

Livingston's coup against the queen mother culminated in a general council, held at Stirling the following month, that named him as guardian of James II for the duration of the king's legal minority. Livingston also gained custody of the king's sisters, all of whom were minors except for Margaret, the eldest. Despite this setback, Livingston was able to negotiate with Crichton for the king's return to his custody. By the autumn of 1439, Livingston was serving on the regency council alongside Crichton, James Douglas, Earl of Avandale, and Avandale's great-nephew, William Douglas, 6th Earl of Douglas. Livingston's political patron, the Earl of Avandale, took primary responsibility for arranging the executions, and inherited his great-nephew's earldom in the wake of the Black Dinner.

The execution of Malcolm Fleming, a member of the Douglas affinity, at the Black Dinner was a particular source of controversy. Conflict ensued between Clan Fleming and the immediate family of Livingston's ally, William Crichton, who was considered to be most responsible for Fleming's death. After the death of James Douglas, 7th Earl of Douglas, in March 1443, Livingston abandoned his political alliance with Crichton, instead seeking an accommodation with William, the new Earl of Douglas. Livingston's new enemy, Crichton, and his relatives were then officially outlawed at a general council held at Stirling Castle. Livingston's support, entailing custody of James II, was crucial to the Earl of Douglas during the ensuing conflict. Livingston continued to act as guardian of James II after Douglas, who was seeking to strengthen the legitimacy of his faction, declared the formal end of the king's minority in November 1444.

A period of civil war followed the ascendancy of the Douglas-Livingston faction in 1443. Crichton sought the support of a group of Livingston's enemies, including Joan Beaufort and her second husband - whom Livingston had both imprisoned - along with James Douglas, 3rd Earl of Angus. Crichton's faction was quickly defeated in the civil war. Douglas besieged and captured Methven Castle, which was held for the queen mother, and awarded it to Livingston's second son, Alexander of Filde. The civil war reached its climax later that year, when Crichton himself was besieged in Edinburgh Castle and forced to surrender. The Buke of the Howlat, published in the 1440s, has been proposed as a satirical attack on Livingston and his family. Livingston acquired the important judicial role of Justiciar of Scotland in 1444, during the civil war. Possibly to consolidate his family's power, he had transferred his office of custodian of Stirling Castle to his eldest son, James, before 1445. Livingston's cousin, Robert, who had previously supervised building work at Linlithgow Palace, became Comptroller of Scotland at around the same time, while Livingston's younger brother, John, was made custodian of Doune Castle. By 1449, the Livingston kinsmen formed one of the most wealthy and influential noble families in Scotland. Elizabeth's wedding to the earl was celebrated in 1449. This was a prestigious marriage for the Livingston family. The contemporary satirical poem, the Buke of the Howlat, may have been directed against Livingston and his relatives for the aggrandizement represented by Elizabeth's marriage.

Downfall of family The minority of James II ended with the king's marriage to Mary of Guelders in July 1449. Shortly after the royal wedding, the king turned against the Livingston family. James II likely decided to attack the family to avoid payment of his debt to Robert Livingston, which swelled to the large sum of £930. The wealth of the Livingston family represented an attractive prize for James II, who was struggling to manage state finances at this time. The king may also have opposed Elizabeth Livingston's marriage to the Earl of Ross. The king sent Livingston himself, as the principal member of the family, as an ambassador to England shortly before these arrests. Livingston died on an unknown date between July and November 1451. James Livingston's links with John MacDonald, Earl of Ross, forced James II to seek his support amidst a royal conflict with the Douglas family, in which Clan Donald actively opposed the king. The elder Livingston was granted a posthumous pardon by the Parliament of Scotland on 27 August 1452. James II reappointed him as Lord High Chamberlain of Scotland in 1454.

Issue Livingston married an unnamed daughter of James Dundas of Dundas. This marriage produced at least four children:

James, 1st Lord Livingston (d. 1467) Alexander of Filde (d. 21 January 1450). He served as custodian of Methven Castle. Janet, who married James Hamilton of Cadzow. Elizabeth, of whom little is known.

In fiction His role in the events of the time is dealt with in Black Douglas by Nigel Tranter. He also has a role in Black Douglas by Samuel Rutherford Crockett.