Alan Durward
Encyclopedia
Alan Hostarius (died aft. 1264 or in 1275) was the son of Thomas de Lundin
, a grandson of Gille Críst, Mormaer of Mar
. His mother's name is unknown, but she was almost certainly a daughter of Máel Coluim, Mormaer of Atholl
, meaning that Alan was the product of two Gaelic comital families
.
Alan was one of the most important political figures of 13th century Scotland, and in fact effectively ruled the country at several points during the minority of Alexander III
(Gaelic
: Alasdair III mac Alasdair). Through his father Thomas, he inherited the office of hostarius
, protector of the king's property. Alan probably participated in the campaign to crush the insurrection of Meic Uilleim
(Mac Williams) in 1228-29. By 1233, and probably before, Alan was given control of Urquhart on the shores of Loch Ness. Alan was almost certainly responsible for the earliest motte
phase of Urquhart Castle
.
At the same point in time, between 1233 and 1235, Alan was styling himself "Count of Atholl". It has often been thought that, after the death of Thomas of Galloway, Earl of Atholl in 1232, Isabella, Countess of Atholl
, married Alan. This however, rests solely on the appearance of Alan's styles. However, as Matthew Hammond has shown, this more is more likely to refer to fact that Alan, as a grandson of Máel Coluim, Earl of Atholl, probably sought to inherit the province; by January 9, 1234, King Alexander seems to have recognized this style. However, by the time of a charter of July 7, 1235, the style had disappeared and Alan was never called "Count" (Mormaer
or Earl
) again. Alan, like his father Thomas, would also challenge the rights of the Mormaers of Mar. Alan was descended from Gille Crist, Mormaer of Mar. However, Gille Críst's descendents had been excluded from inheritance by the line of Morggán, Mormaer of Mar
, who were monopolizing the comital title. Alan tried and failed to oust Uilleam
from his title. It would be the greatest failure of Alan's career that he failed to rise to comital rank.
Alan's illustrious career was marked by intense rivalry with the Comyn
s. The rivalry was a national phenomenon, and represented a larger factional conflict within the kingdom. There may have been some reconciliation towards the end of his life. Alan was made Justiciar of Scotia
along with Alexander Comyn, Earl of Buchan
, and campaigned with the latter in two expeditions against the Norwegians. Alan even witnessed one of Earl Alexander's charters in 1272.
Alan spent many of his later years in England. During the minority of Alexander III, Alan had courted the favor of King Henry III of England
in an effort to stay in power. The King of the English even gave Alan his own English manor, Bolsover
.
He died in 1275. He was buried in the Abbey of Coupar Angus
. Alan had married Marjory, a bastard daughter of King Alexander II
, by whom he had three children, Ermengarde (who married William II de Soules, the royal butler), Anna (who married Colbán, Earl of Fife
), and another daughter whose name is not known (she married John Bisset). Alan also had at least one bastard son, Thomas Durward. None of these children carried on their father's illustrious political career.
Thomas de Lundin
Thomas de Lundin, often referred to as Thomas l'Ussier or Thomas Durward , was a 13th century Scottish nobleman.Thomas takes his name from the villa of Lundie in Angus , and was one of two known sons of Máel Coluim of Lundie . His father had married a daughter of Gille Críst, Earl of Mar...
, a grandson of Gille Críst, Mormaer of Mar
Gille Críst, Earl of Mar
Gille Críst of Mar is the fourth known Mormaer of Mar, 1183–1203.His relationship to the previous Mormaer, Morggán, is not totally clear; but Gille Críst was not the son of Morggán, and so his succession could probably be explained by operations of Gaelic succession, but as we know almost nothing...
. His mother's name is unknown, but she was almost certainly a daughter of Máel Coluim, Mormaer of Atholl
Máel Coluim, Earl of Atholl
Máel Coluim of Atholl was Mormaer of Atholl between 1153/9 and the 1190s.The Chronicle of Holyrood tells us that in 1186 Máel Coluim had an outlaw called Adam mac Domnaill killed at the altar of a church in Coupar, and burned 58 of his associates inside the church...
, meaning that Alan was the product of two Gaelic comital families
Mormaer
The title of Mormaer designates a regional or provincial ruler in the medieval Kingdom of the Scots. In theory, although not always in practice, a Mormaer was second only to the King of Scots, and the senior of a toisech.-Origin:...
.
Alan was one of the most important political figures of 13th century Scotland, and in fact effectively ruled the country at several points during the minority of Alexander III
Alexander III of Scotland
Alexander III was King of Scots from 1249 to his death.-Life:...
(Gaelic
Scottish Gaelic language
Scottish Gaelic is a Celtic language native to Scotland. A member of the Goidelic branch of the Celtic languages, Scottish Gaelic, like Modern Irish and Manx, developed out of Middle Irish, and thus descends ultimately from Primitive Irish....
: Alasdair III mac Alasdair). Through his father Thomas, he inherited the office of hostarius
Hostarius (Scotland)
The Hostarius was an office in medieval Scotland whose holders, eventually hereditary, had the theoretical responsibility of being warden of the king's door, i.e...
, protector of the king's property. Alan probably participated in the campaign to crush the insurrection of Meic Uilleim
Meic Uilleim
The Meic Uilleim were the Gaelic descendants of William fitz Duncan, grandson of Máel Coluim mac Donnchada, king of Scots. They were excluded from the succession by the descendants of Máel Coluim's son David I during the 12th century and raised a number of rebellions to vindicate their claims to...
(Mac Williams) in 1228-29. By 1233, and probably before, Alan was given control of Urquhart on the shores of Loch Ness. Alan was almost certainly responsible for the earliest motte
Motte-and-bailey
A motte-and-bailey is a form of castle, with a wooden or stone keep situated on a raised earthwork called a motte, accompanied by an enclosed courtyard, or bailey, surrounded by a protective ditch and palisade...
phase of Urquhart Castle
Urquhart Castle
Urquhart Castle sits beside Loch Ness in Scotland along the A82 road, between Fort William and Inverness. It is close to the village of Drumnadrochit. Though extensively ruined, it was in its day one of the largest strongholds of medieval Scotland, and remains an impressive structure, splendidly...
.
At the same point in time, between 1233 and 1235, Alan was styling himself "Count of Atholl". It has often been thought that, after the death of Thomas of Galloway, Earl of Atholl in 1232, Isabella, Countess of Atholl
Isabella, Countess of Atholl
Isabella of Atholl was countess or ban-mormaer of Atholl, Scotland, from the death of her father Henry in 1211 until the accession of her son Padraig in 1236/7...
, married Alan. This however, rests solely on the appearance of Alan's styles. However, as Matthew Hammond has shown, this more is more likely to refer to fact that Alan, as a grandson of Máel Coluim, Earl of Atholl, probably sought to inherit the province; by January 9, 1234, King Alexander seems to have recognized this style. However, by the time of a charter of July 7, 1235, the style had disappeared and Alan was never called "Count" (Mormaer
Mormaer
The title of Mormaer designates a regional or provincial ruler in the medieval Kingdom of the Scots. In theory, although not always in practice, a Mormaer was second only to the King of Scots, and the senior of a toisech.-Origin:...
or Earl
Earl
An earl is a member of the nobility. The title is Anglo-Saxon, akin to the Scandinavian form jarl, and meant "chieftain", particularly a chieftain set to rule a territory in a king's stead. In Scandinavia, it became obsolete in the Middle Ages and was replaced with duke...
) again. Alan, like his father Thomas, would also challenge the rights of the Mormaers of Mar. Alan was descended from Gille Crist, Mormaer of Mar. However, Gille Críst's descendents had been excluded from inheritance by the line of Morggán, Mormaer of Mar
Morggán, Earl of Mar
Morggán of Mar, is the first Mormaer of Mar to appear in history as "more than a characterless name in a witness-list."1. His father was Gille Chlerig...
, who were monopolizing the comital title. Alan tried and failed to oust Uilleam
Uilleam, Earl of Mar
Uilleam of Mar - Uilleam mac Dhonnchaidh - was perhaps the greatest of the Mar mormaers, ruling Mar from 1244 to 1276....
from his title. It would be the greatest failure of Alan's career that he failed to rise to comital rank.
Alan's illustrious career was marked by intense rivalry with the Comyn
Comyn
Comyn can refer to:* Clan Comyn, another name for Clan Cumming.People* Dan Comyn, an Irish cricketer.* Stephen George Comyn, Naval chaplain to Lord Nelson* Valens Comyn, English MP* William Leslie Comyn, Californian shipbuilder...
s. The rivalry was a national phenomenon, and represented a larger factional conflict within the kingdom. There may have been some reconciliation towards the end of his life. Alan was made Justiciar of Scotia
Justiciar of Scotia
The Justiciar of Scotia was the most senior legal office in the High Medieval Kingdom of Scotland. Scotia in this context refers to Scotland to the north of the River Forth and River Clyde....
along with Alexander Comyn, Earl of Buchan
Alexander Comyn, Earl of Buchan
Alexander Comyn, 2nd Earl of Buchan was a Scoto-Norman magnate who was one of the most important figures in the 13th century Kingdom of Scotland. He was the son of William Comyn, jure uxoris Earl of Buchan, and Marjory, Countess of Buchan, the heiress of the last native Scottish Mormaer of Buchan,...
, and campaigned with the latter in two expeditions against the Norwegians. Alan even witnessed one of Earl Alexander's charters in 1272.
Alan spent many of his later years in England. During the minority of Alexander III, Alan had courted the favor of King Henry III of England
Henry III of England
Henry III was the son and successor of John as King of England, reigning for 56 years from 1216 until his death. His contemporaries knew him as Henry of Winchester. He was the first child king in England since the reign of Æthelred the Unready...
in an effort to stay in power. The King of the English even gave Alan his own English manor, Bolsover
Bolsover
Bolsover is a town near Chesterfield, Derbyshire, England. It is 145 miles from London, 18 miles from Sheffield, 26 miles from Nottingham and 54 miles from Manchester. It is the main town in the Bolsover district.The civil parish for the town is called...
.
He died in 1275. He was buried in the Abbey of Coupar Angus
Coupar Angus
Coupar Angus is a town in Perth and Kinross, Scotland, situated eight kilometres south of Blairgowrie.The name Coupar Angus serves to differentiate the town from Cupar, Fife...
. Alan had married Marjory, a bastard daughter of King Alexander II
Alexander II of Scotland
Alexander II was King of Scots from1214 to his death.-Early life:...
, by whom he had three children, Ermengarde (who married William II de Soules, the royal butler), Anna (who married Colbán, Earl of Fife
Colbán, Earl of Fife
Mormaer Colbán of Fife ruled Fife, 1266 – 1270/2. He was probably the son of Maol Choluim II. Not much is known about his life and reign. Colbán's death is disputed, and depends on what evidence one interprets. G.W.S. Barrow gives 1272, but Bannerman gives 1270. He married Anna, the daughter...
), and another daughter whose name is not known (she married John Bisset). Alan also had at least one bastard son, Thomas Durward. None of these children carried on their father's illustrious political career.