Donnchad II, Earl of Fife
Encyclopedia
Mormaer
Donnchad II (1154–1204), anglicized as Duncan II or Dunecan II, succeeded his father Donnchad I
as a child. As a child of the previous Mormaer, he was entitled to succeed his father through primogeniture
, but not to lead his kin-group
, Clann MacDuib
. That probably fell to his cousin, Aed mac Gille Míchéil. Like previous Mormaers of Fife, Donnchad II was appointed Justiciar of Scotia
(i.e. Scotland
North of the Forth
). Donnchad's minority also meant that Ferchar
, Mormaer of Strathearn, took supreme place as head of the Gaelic
nobility and guide for the boy-king Máel Coluim IV
.
The scholar Geoffrey Barrow
suggests that it was during Donnchad's tenure that Beinn MacDuibh took its names, i.e. when Donnchad II acquired land in that area (Barrow, 1980, 86). Donnchad, like other Mormaers of Fife, kept in close association with the king. His name is recorded, among other places, in a charter granted to the priory on the Isle of May
.
Donnchad's person was required to be a hostage following the defeat of William the Lion
and the Treaty of Falaise
, although in fact he certainly sent someone else in his place. (Barrow, 2003, 106).
On Christmas Day 1160, he married Ada (Ela/Hela) who is named in official documents as a close relative of King Máel Coluim IV
, translated as a half sister by his father Henry of Scotland or niece from the Latin text. Máel Coluim IV's father Henry of Scotland is believed to have had children prior to his marriage. Donnchad II had three sons, Mael Coluim, Donnchad, and Dabíd (Malcolm, Duncan, and David), two notably named for the Scottish Kings. He had a fourth child, a daughter, whose name is unknown. The Earls of Fife are considered to have been important allies of the Scottish Kings from King Dabid I onward. In 1152, on the death of Scottish King Dabid I
's son Henry of Scotland, Donnchad I
had escorted Máel Coluim IV
, introducing him as the royal heir.
His son Máel Coluim
succeeded him in 1204.
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:...
Donnchad II (1154–1204), anglicized as Duncan II or Dunecan II, succeeded his father Donnchad I
Donnchad I, Earl of Fife
Mormaer Donnchad I , anglicized as Duncan or Dunecan, was the first Gaelic magnate to have his territory regranted to him by feudal charter, by David I in 1136. Donnchad I, as head of the native Scottish nobility, had the job of introducing and conducting King Máel Coluim IV around the Kingdom upon...
as a child. As a child of the previous Mormaer, he was entitled to succeed his father through primogeniture
Primogeniture
Primogeniture is the right, by law or custom, of the firstborn to inherit the entire estate, to the exclusion of younger siblings . Historically, the term implied male primogeniture, to the exclusion of females...
, but not to lead his kin-group
Clan
A clan is a group of people united by actual or perceived kinship and descent. Even if lineage details are unknown, clan members may be organized around a founding member or apical ancestor. The kinship-based bonds may be symbolical, whereby the clan shares a "stipulated" common ancestor that is a...
, Clann MacDuib
Clan MacDuff
Clan MacDuff is a Scottish armigerous clan, which is registered with Lyon Court, though currently without a chief. Moncreiffe wrote that the Clan MacDuff was the premier clan among the Scottish Gaels. The early chiefs of Clan MacDuff were the Earls of Fife...
. That probably fell to his cousin, Aed mac Gille Míchéil. Like previous Mormaers of Fife, Donnchad II was appointed 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....
(i.e. Scotland
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
North of the Forth
River Forth
The River Forth , long, is the major river draining the eastern part of the central belt of Scotland.The Forth rises in Loch Ard in the Trossachs, a mountainous area some west of Stirling...
). Donnchad's minority also meant that Ferchar
Ferchar, Earl of Strathearn
Mormaer Ferchar is the second earliest known Mormaer of Strathearn, but as with other Mormaerdoms, this is simply a source problem and in no way means the he actually was the second....
, Mormaer of Strathearn, took supreme place as head of the Gaelic
Gaels
The Gaels or Goidels are speakers of one of the Goidelic Celtic languages: Irish, Scottish Gaelic, and Manx. Goidelic speech originated in Ireland and subsequently spread to western and northern Scotland and the Isle of Man....
nobility and guide for the boy-king Máel Coluim IV
Malcolm IV of Scotland
Malcolm IV , nicknamed Virgo, "the Maiden" , King of Scots, was the eldest son of Earl Henry and Ada de Warenne...
.
The scholar Geoffrey Barrow
G. W. S. Barrow
Geoffrey Wallis Steuart Barrow DLitt FBA FRSE is a British historian and academic. He is Professor Emeritus at the University of Edinburgh, and arguably the most prominent Scottish medievalist of the last century....
suggests that it was during Donnchad's tenure that Beinn MacDuibh took its names, i.e. when Donnchad II acquired land in that area (Barrow, 1980, 86). Donnchad, like other Mormaers of Fife, kept in close association with the king. His name is recorded, among other places, in a charter granted to the priory on the Isle of May
Isle of May
The Isle of May is located in the north of the outer Firth of Forth, approximately off the coast of mainland Scotland. It is 1.8 km long and less than half a kilometre wide...
.
Donnchad's person was required to be a hostage following the defeat of William the Lion
William I of Scotland
William the Lion , sometimes styled William I, also known by the nickname Garbh, "the Rough", reigned as King of the Scots from 1165 to 1214...
and the Treaty of Falaise
Treaty of Falaise
The Treaty of Falaise was an agreement made in December 1174 between the captive William I, King of Scots, and the English King Henry II.Having been captured at the Battle of Alnwick during an invasion of Northumbria, William was being held in Falaise in Normandy while Henry sent an army north and...
, although in fact he certainly sent someone else in his place. (Barrow, 2003, 106).
On Christmas Day 1160, he married Ada (Ela/Hela) who is named in official documents as a close relative of King Máel Coluim IV
Malcolm IV of Scotland
Malcolm IV , nicknamed Virgo, "the Maiden" , King of Scots, was the eldest son of Earl Henry and Ada de Warenne...
, translated as a half sister by his father Henry of Scotland or niece from the Latin text. Máel Coluim IV's father Henry of Scotland is believed to have had children prior to his marriage. Donnchad II had three sons, Mael Coluim, Donnchad, and Dabíd (Malcolm, Duncan, and David), two notably named for the Scottish Kings. He had a fourth child, a daughter, whose name is unknown. The Earls of Fife are considered to have been important allies of the Scottish Kings from King Dabid I onward. In 1152, on the death of Scottish King Dabid I
David I of Scotland
David I or Dabíd mac Maíl Choluim was a 12th-century ruler who was Prince of the Cumbrians and later King of the Scots...
's son Henry of Scotland, Donnchad I
Donnchad I, Earl of Fife
Mormaer Donnchad I , anglicized as Duncan or Dunecan, was the first Gaelic magnate to have his territory regranted to him by feudal charter, by David I in 1136. Donnchad I, as head of the native Scottish nobility, had the job of introducing and conducting King Máel Coluim IV around the Kingdom upon...
had escorted Máel Coluim IV
Malcolm IV of Scotland
Malcolm IV , nicknamed Virgo, "the Maiden" , King of Scots, was the eldest son of Earl Henry and Ada de Warenne...
, introducing him as the royal heir.
His son Máel Coluim
Maol Choluim I, Earl of Fife
Mormaer Máel Coluim of Fife , or Maol Choluim anglicised as Malcolm, was one of the more obscure mormaers of Fife.He married Matilda, the daughter of Gille Brigte, the mormaer of Strathearn. He is credited with the foundation of Culross Abbey...
succeeded him in 1204.