Earl of Caithness

Earldom of Caithness
Creation date	c. 1334
Peerage	Peerage of Scotland
First holder	Maol Íosa V, Earl of Strathearn
Present holder	Malcolm Sinclair, 20th Earl of Caithness
Heir apparent	James Richard Sinclair, Lord Berriedale
Remainder to	heirs general of the body of the grantee
Subsidiary titles	Lord Berriedale
Seat(s)	London
Former seat(s)	Castle Sinclair Girnigoe

Earl of Caithness is a title that has been created several times in the Peerage of Scotland, and it has a very complex history. Its first grant, in the modern sense as to have been counted in strict lists of peerages, is now generally held to have taken place in favor of Maol Íosa V, Earl of Strathearn, in 1334, although in the true circumstances of 14th century, this presumably was just a recognition of his hereditary right to the ancient earldom/mormaership of Caithness. The next year, however, all of his titles were declared forfeit for treason.