Donnchadh IV, Earl of Fife
Encyclopedia
Donnchadh IV, Earl of Fife [Duncan IV] (1289–1353) was sometime Guardian of Scotland
, and ruled Fife
until his death. He was the last of the native Scottish
rulers of that province.
He was born in late 1289, the same year as his father Donnchadh III's murder. He therefore came into the Mormaer
dom as a baby. He was so young that the honor of crowning John Balliol
- normally the hereditary right of the Mormaer of Fife - was delegated to a knight
, namely Sir John de St. John. He also missed the crowing of Robert I
, owing to his captivity in the England
. Robert was forced to call upon Donnchadh's sister, Isabella
, to officiate in his absence.
His initial support for Robert has been doubted, but in 1315, a year after the Battle of Bannockburn
, he resigned his Mormaerdom to King Robert for a regrant. The agreement with Robert ensured that the Mormaerdom would not be held by the king, and that the arms of Fife should always be unique from the similar royal arms. If Donnchadh were to die childless, King Robert would grant it to someone, by default Alan of Menteith. This was because Donnchadh's wife was in the custody of the English, and there was obviously some pressure from the men of Fife to retain their own regional ruler. He was present at the negotiations which led to the Treaty of Edinburgh
, and a signatory to the Declaration of Arbroath
.
The Earl of Fife fought with the Regent Moray at the Battle of Dupplin Moor
where, he being made prisoner, changed sides and, with William Sinclair, Bishop of Dunkeld
, a great adherent of Robert the Bruce, crowned Edward Balliol King of Scots at Scone on September 24, 1332. The following year, on July 19, 1333, he fought with the Scottish army at the Battle of Halidon Hill
, when he was again captured.
In 1306, Donnchadh married Mary de Monthermer
, a granddaughter of Edward I of England
. He died with no male heirs. He is important because he was the last male Gaelic
ruler of Fife. When he died in 1353, he past his mormaerdom on to his daughter Isabella, who in turn signed it over to Robert Stewart, 1st Duke of Albany
in 1371.
Guardian of Scotland
The Guardians of Scotland were the de facto heads of state of Scotland during the First Interregnum of 1290–1292, and the Second Interregnum of 1296–1306...
, and ruled Fife
Fife
Fife is a council area and former county of Scotland. It is situated between the Firth of Tay and the Firth of Forth, with inland boundaries to Perth and Kinross and Clackmannanshire...
until his death. He was the last of the native Scottish
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....
rulers of that province.
He was born in late 1289, the same year as his father Donnchadh III's murder. He therefore came into the 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:...
dom as a baby. He was so young that the honor of crowning John Balliol
John of Scotland
John Balliol , known to the Scots as Toom Tabard , was King of Scots from 1292 to 1296.-Early life:Little of John's early life is known. He was born between 1248 and 1250 at an unknown location, possibilities include Galloway, Picardy and Barnard Castle, County Durham...
- normally the hereditary right of the Mormaer of Fife - was delegated to a knight
Knight
A knight was a member of a class of lower nobility in the High Middle Ages.By the Late Middle Ages, the rank had become associated with the ideals of chivalry, a code of conduct for the perfect courtly Christian warrior....
, namely Sir John de St. John. He also missed the crowing of Robert I
Robert I of Scotland
Robert I , popularly known as Robert the Bruce , was King of Scots from March 25, 1306, until his death in 1329.His paternal ancestors were of Scoto-Norman heritage , and...
, owing to his captivity in the England
Kingdom of England
The Kingdom of England was, from 927 to 1707, a sovereign state to the northwest of continental Europe. At its height, the Kingdom of England spanned the southern two-thirds of the island of Great Britain and several smaller outlying islands; what today comprises the legal jurisdiction of England...
. Robert was forced to call upon Donnchadh's sister, Isabella
Isabella MacDuff
Isabella MacDuff, Countess of Buchan was a significant figure in the Wars of Scottish Independence.She was the daughter of Donnchadh III, Earl of Fife, and Johanna de Clare, daughter of Gilbert de Clare, 6th Earl of Hertford...
, to officiate in his absence.
His initial support for Robert has been doubted, but in 1315, a year after the Battle of Bannockburn
Battle of Bannockburn
The Battle of Bannockburn was a significant Scottish victory in the Wars of Scottish Independence...
, he resigned his Mormaerdom to King Robert for a regrant. The agreement with Robert ensured that the Mormaerdom would not be held by the king, and that the arms of Fife should always be unique from the similar royal arms. If Donnchadh were to die childless, King Robert would grant it to someone, by default Alan of Menteith. This was because Donnchadh's wife was in the custody of the English, and there was obviously some pressure from the men of Fife to retain their own regional ruler. He was present at the negotiations which led to the Treaty of Edinburgh
Treaty of Edinburgh
The Treaty of Edinburgh was a treaty drawn up on 5 July 1560 between the Commissioners of Queen Elizabeth I with the assent of the Scottish Lords of the Congregation, and French representatives in Scotland to formally conclude the Siege of Leith and replace the Auld Alliance with France with a new...
, and a signatory to the Declaration of Arbroath
Declaration of Arbroath
The Declaration of Arbroath is a declaration of Scottish independence, made in 1320. It is in the form of a letter submitted to Pope John XXII, dated 6 April 1320, intended to confirm Scotland's status as an independent, sovereign state and defending Scotland's right to use military action when...
.
The Earl of Fife fought with the Regent Moray at the Battle of Dupplin Moor
Battle of Dupplin Moor
The Battle of Dupplin Moor was fought between supporters of the infant David II, the son of Robert the Bruce, and rebels supporting the Balliol claim in 1332. It was a significant battle of the Second War of Scottish Independence.-Background:...
where, he being made prisoner, changed sides and, with William Sinclair, Bishop of Dunkeld
Bishop of Dunkeld
The Bishop of Dunkeld is the ecclesiastical head of the Diocese of Dunkeld, one of the largest and more important of Scotland's 13 medieval bishoprics, whose first recorded bishop is an early 12th century cleric named Cormac...
, a great adherent of Robert the Bruce, crowned Edward Balliol King of Scots at Scone on September 24, 1332. The following year, on July 19, 1333, he fought with the Scottish army at the Battle of Halidon Hill
Battle of Halidon Hill
The Battle of Halidon Hill was fought during the Second War of Scottish Independence. Scottish forces under Sir Archibald Douglas were heavily defeated on unfavourable terrain while trying to relieve Berwick-upon-Tweed.-The Disinherited:...
, when he was again captured.
In 1306, Donnchadh married Mary de Monthermer
Mary de Monthermer
Mary de Monthermer, Countess of Fife was an English noblewoman. She was a daughter of Ralph de Monthermer, 1st Baron Monthermer and his wife Joan of Acre. Other sources have her being born in 1298.-Family and early life:...
, a granddaughter of Edward I of England
Edward I of England
Edward I , also known as Edward Longshanks and the Hammer of the Scots, was King of England from 1272 to 1307. The first son of Henry III, Edward was involved early in the political intrigues of his father's reign, which included an outright rebellion by the English barons...
. He died with no male heirs. He is important because he was the last male 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....
ruler of Fife. When he died in 1353, he past his mormaerdom on to his daughter Isabella, who in turn signed it over to Robert Stewart, 1st Duke of Albany
Robert Stewart, 1st Duke of Albany
Robert Stewart, Duke of Albany , a member of the Scottish royal house, served as Regent to three different Scottish monarchs...
in 1371.