John de Moravia, 8th Earl of Sutherland

John Sutherland, (died 1508) was the 8th Earl of Sutherland and chief of the Clan Sutherland, a Scottish clan of the Scottish Highlands.

Early life

He was the son of John Sutherland, 7th Earl of Sutherland and Margaret, daughter or sister of Sir William Ballie of Lamington. His elder brother, Alexander, Master of Sutherland, had predeceased their father between 1444 and 1456, and John, therefore, succeeded as the 8th earl.

Earl of Sutherland

John Sutherland, 8th Earl of Sutherland is referred to in 1464 as being represented by a prosecutor when James III of Scotland unusually made the formal revocation of the alienation of Crown property. John, Earl of Sutherland received in 1467, a charter of the lands of "Spanziedale", now called Spinningdale, and also Pulrossie. According to 19th-century historian William Fraser, the 17th-century historian Sir Robert Gordon, 1st Baronet knew of the original writ but did not give the full details and that it was no longer extant. However, as these lands had been granted to Celestine MacDonald (son of Alexander of Islay, Earl of Ross), in 1464, it is probable that they were bestowed by him. Fraser also adds that if Robert Sutherland was present at this battle then he must have been a very old man.

According to historian D. M Rose, the 7th and 8th Earls of Sutherland did little to advance their family's reputation, leaving their kinsman the Murays of Culbin, Pulrossie and Aberscross to fight their battles.

Gordon also records that two sons of the 8th Earl's "bastard" brother, Thomas, had incensed the earl by their conduct and so he ordered them killed. One of them was slain within Dunrobin Castle, while the other escaped some distance, but being wounded was soon overtaken and dispatched. According to Gordon, Alexander Sutherland was later killed by the Gordons who succeeded as Earls of Sutherland at the Battle of Alltachuilain in 1519 or 1520. George Sutherland, who according to Gordon was another illegitimate son and who died young.