Malcolm Canmore created seven Celtic earldoms, of which these (Atholl, Strathearn, and Menteith) were three, and were thus among the first earldoms created in Scotland. The Atholl Earls were among the most politically active and distinguished, and for centuries that earldom was in the forefront of civil and military matters. Strathearn, on the other hand, has always been more shrouded in mystery and seclusion, and its historical records are few, compared with those of Atholl. Menteith provides fairly good historical records, and this account outlines the career of its more prominent earls and their role in national affairs.
Each of the three is treated in turn, and they thus provide much information on the county of Perth and its early role in Scottish affairs. This book was written by Samuel Cowan, and was originally published in 1909. It has now been re-published as a facsimile on CD-ROM for the first time, it contains scans of the whole of the original book, which can be browsed, enlarged and printed if required. Please note: it is not searchable.
