Fionnlagh MacCailein
Encyclopedia
Fionnlagh MacCailein or Finlay Colini (died 1419) was a medieval Scottish
bishop
. Both his early life and the details of his career as Bishop of Dunblane
are not well known, however it is known that he held the latter bishopric between 1403 and his death in 1419. He was part of the circle of Robert Stewart, Duke of Albany, and was one of the many clerics from west and central Gaelic-speaking Scotland who benefited from the latter's patronage. He is said to have authorised the construction of the first bridge over the river Allan at Dunblane
.
sources as Colini, representing MacCailein, meaning "son of Cailean"; it may mean that Cailean was the name of his father, but if it was a surname it probably means he was a Campbell, a family also known at the time as MacCailein, believing as they did that they were descended from one Cailean Mór
.
He held a bachelor's degree
in canon law
by December 13, 1400. On September 15, 1402, Pope Benedict XIII provided Fionnlagh to a canonry (with the expectation of a prebend) in the diocese of Dunkeld
; the mandate of provision contains information much about Fionnlagh, informing us that he was a priest, confirming that he possessed a bachelors degree in canon law, while also stating that he was Archdeacon of Dunblane
.
He was said in the papal document to have held the hospital of Uthrogle and "a certain perpetual office or benefice without cure in the secular collegiate church of Abernethy"; the latter, we know from another papal source, was the lector
ship of Abernethy called "ferlinn", i.e. fer léighinn (literally "man of letters"), a position which existed at Abernethy collegiate church into the 16th century.
By this period he was the chaplain
of Robert Stewart, Duke of Albany. The patronage of the Duke of Albany, who importantly was also Earl of Menteith
, was crucial to Fionnlagh's whole career; Fionnlagh's bishop at Dunblane was Dúghall de Lorne
, another Albany man. Albany indeed petitioned for benefices of Fionnlagh's behalf, and all of the benefices Fionnlagh held lay within Albany's influence.
Some time after the death of Bishop Dúghall (last attested 1398 × 1401), Fionnlagh was elected as Bishop of Dunblane
; on September 10, 1403, Fionnlagh was provided to the bishopric by the Pope directly, the election being illegal due - so it was claimed - to earlier papal reservation of the see. His unattested consecration, which was probably performed at the papal see, had certainly occurred by April 28, 1404.
At that date he is found back in Scotland as a full bishop attending a church council at Linlithgow
. His activities and whereabouts as Bishop of Dunblane are not well attested. In 1404 the Pope mandated Fionnlagh as well as Henry de Wardlaw, Bishop of St Andrews, and Robert de Cardeny
, the Bishop of Dunkeld
, to preach a crusade against the Turks
. He was at Dunblane
on November 29, 1406, witnessing a charter of the Duke of Albany; he is next found on July 18, 1408, at a church council of the church held at Perth
, and then again on October 28 of that year witnessing another charter of the Duke of Albany.
In 1411 Bishop Fionnlagh and two others were authorised by the papacy to use the income from the vacant diocese of Argyll
to repair Lismore Cathedral, the seat of that bishopric. He is mentioned in a papal mandate issued to John, Abbot of Balmerino
on June 1, 1414; John was a papal nuncio
and collector in Scotland, and the mandate ordered him to offer his oath of fealty to the papacy through Bishop Fionnlagh; it is of note that Abbot John had once served as Fionnlagh's proctor
at the papal curia.
The resignation of the earldom of Ross by Euphemia II, Countess of Ross
, to the Duke of Albany on June 12, 1415 (probably at Stirling
) was witnessed by Bishop Fionnlagh. He is found again on March 17, 1416 at a general council of the church held at Perth.
He is last known to have been alive on March 25, 1419, but was dead by October 30 when a papal mandate ordered the translation of William Stephani
, Bishop of Orkney
, to the now vacant see of Dunblane. The chronicler Walter Bower
, writing a few decades after Fionnlagh's death, claimed that Bishop Fionnlagh was responsible for the building of a bridge over the river Allan at Dunblane.
Kingdom of Scotland
The Kingdom of Scotland was a Sovereign state in North-West Europe that existed from 843 until 1707. It occupied the northern third of the island of Great Britain and shared a land border to the south with the Kingdom of England...
bishop
Bishop
A bishop is an ordained or consecrated member of the Christian clergy who is generally entrusted with a position of authority and oversight. Within the Catholic Church, Eastern Orthodox, Oriental Orthodox Churches, in the Assyrian Church of the East, in the Independent Catholic Churches, and in the...
. Both his early life and the details of his career as Bishop of Dunblane
Bishop of Dunblane
The Bishop of Dunblane or Bishop of Strathearn was the ecclesiastical head of the Diocese of Dunblane/Strathearn, one of medieval Scotland's thirteen bishoprics. It was based at Dunblane Cathedral, now a parish church of the Church of Scotland. The bishopric itself certainly derives from an older...
are not well known, however it is known that he held the latter bishopric between 1403 and his death in 1419. He was part of the circle of Robert Stewart, Duke of Albany, and was one of the many clerics from west and central Gaelic-speaking Scotland who benefited from the latter's patronage. He is said to have authorised the construction of the first bridge over the river Allan at Dunblane
Dunblane
Dunblane is a small cathedral city and former burgh north of Stirling in the Stirling council area of Scotland. The town is situated off the A9 road, on the way north to Perth. Its main landmark is Dunblane Cathedral and the Allan Water runs through the town centre, with the Cathedral and the High...
.
Background and early life
It was said by John Spottiswood that his surname was "Dermoch", but that is not corroborated by contemporary sources and is probably a mistake. His last name appears in contemporary LatinLatin
Latin is an Italic language originally spoken in Latium and Ancient Rome. It, along with most European languages, is a descendant of the ancient Proto-Indo-European language. Although it is considered a dead language, a number of scholars and members of the Christian clergy speak it fluently, and...
sources as Colini, representing MacCailein, meaning "son of Cailean"; it may mean that Cailean was the name of his father, but if it was a surname it probably means he was a Campbell, a family also known at the time as MacCailein, believing as they did that they were descended from one Cailean Mór
Cailean Mór
Cailean Mór Caimbeul, also known as Sir Colin Campbell , is one of the earliest attested members of Clan Campbell and an important ancestor figure of the later medieval Earls of Argyll....
.
He held a bachelor's degree
Bachelor's degree
A bachelor's degree is usually an academic degree awarded for an undergraduate course or major that generally lasts for three or four years, but can range anywhere from two to six years depending on the region of the world...
in canon law
Canon law
Canon law is the body of laws & regulations made or adopted by ecclesiastical authority, for the government of the Christian organization and its members. It is the internal ecclesiastical law governing the Catholic Church , the Eastern and Oriental Orthodox churches, and the Anglican Communion of...
by December 13, 1400. On September 15, 1402, Pope Benedict XIII provided Fionnlagh to a canonry (with the expectation of a prebend) in the diocese of Dunkeld
Diocese of Dunkeld
The Diocese of Dunkeld was one of the 13 historical dioceses of Scotland preceding the abolition of Episcopacy in 1689.-History:It is thought that the diocese was constituted as far back as the middle of the ninth century. The first occupant was styled Bishop of Fortriu, the name by which the...
; the mandate of provision contains information much about Fionnlagh, informing us that he was a priest, confirming that he possessed a bachelors degree in canon law, while also stating that he was Archdeacon of Dunblane
Archdeacon of Dunblane
The Archdeacon of Dunblane was the only archdeacon in the Diocese of Dunblane, acting as a deputy of the Bishop of Dunblane. The first archdeacon, Andrew , was called "Archdeacon of Modhel" ; archdeacons Jonathan, Gilbert and Luke were styled "Archdeacon of Dunblane", while John and Duncan were...
.
He was said in the papal document to have held the hospital of Uthrogle and "a certain perpetual office or benefice without cure in the secular collegiate church of Abernethy"; the latter, we know from another papal source, was the lector
Lector
Lector is a Latin term for one who reads, whether aloud or not. In modern languages the word has come to take various forms, as either a development or a loan, such as , , and . It has various specialized uses:...
ship of Abernethy called "ferlinn", i.e. fer léighinn (literally "man of letters"), a position which existed at Abernethy collegiate church into the 16th century.
By this period he was the chaplain
Chaplain
Traditionally, a chaplain is a minister in a specialized setting such as a priest, pastor, rabbi, or imam or lay representative of a religion attached to a secular institution such as a hospital, prison, military unit, police department, university, or private chapel...
of Robert Stewart, Duke of Albany. The patronage of the Duke of Albany, who importantly was also Earl of Menteith
Earl of Menteith
The Mormaer or Earl of Menteith was originally the ruler of the province of Menteith in the Middle Ages. The first mormaer is usually regarded as Gille Críst, simply because he is the earliest on record. The title was held in a continuous line from Gille Crist until Muireadhach IV , although the...
, was crucial to Fionnlagh's whole career; Fionnlagh's bishop at Dunblane was Dúghall de Lorne
Dúghall de Lorne
Dúghall of Lorne [or de Ergadia] was a late 14th century and early 15th century prelate in the Kingdom of Scotland. Probably a MacDúghaill from the province of Lorne in Argyll, he appears to have studied at the University of Oxford before returning to Scotland for an ecclesiastical and...
, another Albany man. Albany indeed petitioned for benefices of Fionnlagh's behalf, and all of the benefices Fionnlagh held lay within Albany's influence.
Bishop of Dunblane
Bishop of Dunblane
The Bishop of Dunblane or Bishop of Strathearn was the ecclesiastical head of the Diocese of Dunblane/Strathearn, one of medieval Scotland's thirteen bishoprics. It was based at Dunblane Cathedral, now a parish church of the Church of Scotland. The bishopric itself certainly derives from an older...
; on September 10, 1403, Fionnlagh was provided to the bishopric by the Pope directly, the election being illegal due - so it was claimed - to earlier papal reservation of the see. His unattested consecration, which was probably performed at the papal see, had certainly occurred by April 28, 1404.
At that date he is found back in Scotland as a full bishop attending a church council at Linlithgow
Linlithgow
Linlithgow is a Royal Burgh in West Lothian, Scotland. An ancient town, it lies south of its two most prominent landmarks: Linlithgow Palace and Linlithgow Loch, and north of the Union Canal....
. His activities and whereabouts as Bishop of Dunblane are not well attested. In 1404 the Pope mandated Fionnlagh as well as Henry de Wardlaw, Bishop of St Andrews, and Robert de Cardeny
Robert de Cardeny
Robert de Cardeny was a late 14th century and early 15th century Scottish cleric. He was the son of one John Cardeny, and sister of the royal mistress Mariota de Cardeny. His early career is obscure...
, the 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...
, to preach a crusade against the Turks
Turkish people
Turkish people, also known as the "Turks" , are an ethnic group primarily living in Turkey and in the former lands of the Ottoman Empire where Turkish minorities had been established in Bulgaria, Cyprus, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Georgia, Greece, Kosovo, Macedonia, and Romania...
. He was at Dunblane
Dunblane
Dunblane is a small cathedral city and former burgh north of Stirling in the Stirling council area of Scotland. The town is situated off the A9 road, on the way north to Perth. Its main landmark is Dunblane Cathedral and the Allan Water runs through the town centre, with the Cathedral and the High...
on November 29, 1406, witnessing a charter of the Duke of Albany; he is next found on July 18, 1408, at a church council of the church held at Perth
Perth, Scotland
Perth is a town and former city and royal burgh in central Scotland. Located on the banks of the River Tay, it is the administrative centre of Perth and Kinross council area and the historic county town of Perthshire...
, and then again on October 28 of that year witnessing another charter of the Duke of Albany.
In 1411 Bishop Fionnlagh and two others were authorised by the papacy to use the income from the vacant diocese of Argyll
Diocese of Argyll
The Diocese of Argyll was an ecclesiastical territory or diocese in Scotland in the Middle Ages. The Diocese was led by the Bishop of Argyll, and was based at Lismore....
to repair Lismore Cathedral, the seat of that bishopric. He is mentioned in a papal mandate issued to John, Abbot of Balmerino
Abbot of Balmerino
The Abbot of Balmerino was the head of the Cistercian monastic community and lands of Balmerino Abbey, Fife, founded in 1227 x 1229 by monks from Melrose Abbey with the patronage of Ermengarde de Beaumont and King Alexander II of Scotland...
on June 1, 1414; John was a papal nuncio
Nuncio
Nuncio is an ecclesiastical diplomatic title, derived from the ancient Latin word, Nuntius, meaning "envoy." This article addresses this title as well as derived similar titles, all within the structure of the Roman Catholic Church...
and collector in Scotland, and the mandate ordered him to offer his oath of fealty to the papacy through Bishop Fionnlagh; it is of note that Abbot John had once served as Fionnlagh's proctor
Proctor
Proctor, a variant of the word procurator, is a person who takes charge of, or acts for, another. The word proctor is frequently used to describe someone who oversees an exam or dormitory.The title is used in England in three principal senses:...
at the papal curia.
The resignation of the earldom of Ross by Euphemia II, Countess of Ross
Euphemia II, Countess of Ross
Euphemia II, Countess of Ross was the daughter of Alexander Leslie, Earl of Ross and his wife Isabella Stewart, daughter of Robert Stewart, Duke of Albany. She was in fact the only child and heir of Earl Alexander, and succeeded to the earldom de jure upon his death in 1402...
, to the Duke of Albany on June 12, 1415 (probably at Stirling
Stirling
Stirling is a city and former ancient burgh in Scotland, and is at the heart of the wider Stirling council area. The city is clustered around a large fortress and medieval old-town beside the River Forth...
) was witnessed by Bishop Fionnlagh. He is found again on March 17, 1416 at a general council of the church held at Perth.
He is last known to have been alive on March 25, 1419, but was dead by October 30 when a papal mandate ordered the translation of William Stephani
William Stephani
William Stephen, sometimes William Stephani [probably Stephenson], was a medieval prelate based in Scotland, who became Bishop of Orkney and then Bishop of Dunblane. A reader in divinity at the University of St Andrews at its first establishment, he was provided by Avignon Pope Benedict XIII as...
, Bishop of Orkney
Bishop of Orkney
The Bishop of Orkney was the ecclesiastical head of the Diocese of Orkney, one of thirteen medieval bishoprics within the territory of modern Scotland. It included both Orkney and Shetland. It was based for almost all of its history at St...
, to the now vacant see of Dunblane. The chronicler Walter Bower
Walter Bower
Walter Bower , Scottish chronicler, was born about 1385 at Haddington, East Lothian.He was abbot of Inchcolm Abbey from 1418, was one of the commissioners for the collection of the ransom of James I, King of Scots, in 1423 and 1424, and in 1433 one of the embassy to Paris on the business of the...
, writing a few decades after Fionnlagh's death, claimed that Bishop Fionnlagh was responsible for the building of a bridge over the river Allan at Dunblane.