Gospatric II, Earl of Lothian
Encyclopedia
Gospatric II was Earl of Lothian or Earl of Dunbar
in the early 12th century.
He was the son of Gospatric I
, sometime Earl of Northumbria
(d. after 1073). In the earliest sources, occurring at dates between 1120 and 1134 he is not styled "earl", but the "brother of Dolfin", the latter style being used in his own seal.
Later accounts say that he was granted lands by king Máel Coluim III
, although it is possible that he received them from his father, while his brother Dolfin
received much of Cumberland. As Gospatric held lands from both King David I of Scotland
and King Henry I of England
it is impossible to label him either "English" or "Scottish".
Gospatric enjoyed the benefits of the renewed prominence given to native Englishmen in the reign of Henry I. He and his children obtained many lands in England proper, and he himself gained jurisdiction over some northern English legal duties. He appears to have attained the status of "earl" by the year 1134, when that style first appears in documentary sources.
Earl Gospatric, described as "the chief leader of the men of Lothian" was killed at the Battle of the Standard
, being "struck by an arrow, he fell".
He had four sons, Gospatric III
(his successor), Adam, Edward, and Edgar.
Earl of Dunbar
The title Earl of Dunbar, also called Earl of Lothian or Earl of March, was the head of a comital lordship in south-eastern Scotland between the early 12th century and the early 15th century. The first man to use the title of Earl in this earldom was Gospatric II, Earl of Lothian, son of Gospatric,...
in the early 12th century.
He was the son of Gospatric I
Gospatric, Earl of Northumbria
Gospatric or Cospatric , , was Earl of Northumbria, or of Bernicia, and later lord of sizable estates around Dunbar...
, sometime Earl of Northumbria
Earl of Northumbria
Earl of Northumbria was a title in the Anglo-Danish, late Anglo-Saxon, and early Anglo-Norman period in England. The earldom of Northumbria was the successor of the ealdormanry of Bamburgh, itself the successor of an independent Bernicia. Under the Norse kingdom of York, there were earls of...
(d. after 1073). In the earliest sources, occurring at dates between 1120 and 1134 he is not styled "earl", but the "brother of Dolfin", the latter style being used in his own seal.
Later accounts say that he was granted lands by king Máel Coluim III
Malcolm III of Scotland
Máel Coluim mac Donnchada , was King of Scots...
, although it is possible that he received them from his father, while his brother Dolfin
Dolfin of Carlisle
Dolfin was an 11th-century Anglo-Saxon magnate in Northumbria. His father was probably Gospatric, one of the most powerful regional figures in the mid-11th century having been earl of Northumbria in the early years of William the Conqueror's reign...
received much of Cumberland. As Gospatric held lands from both King David I of Scotland
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...
and King Henry I of England
Henry I of England
Henry I was the fourth son of William I of England. He succeeded his elder brother William II as King of England in 1100 and defeated his eldest brother, Robert Curthose, to become Duke of Normandy in 1106...
it is impossible to label him either "English" or "Scottish".
Gospatric enjoyed the benefits of the renewed prominence given to native Englishmen in the reign of Henry I. He and his children obtained many lands in England proper, and he himself gained jurisdiction over some northern English legal duties. He appears to have attained the status of "earl" by the year 1134, when that style first appears in documentary sources.
Earl Gospatric, described as "the chief leader of the men of Lothian" was killed at the Battle of the Standard
Battle of the Standard
The Battle of the Standard, sometimes called the Battle of Northallerton, in which English forces repelled a Scottish army, took place on 22 August 1138 on Cowton Moor near Northallerton in Yorkshire. The Scottish forces were led by King David I of Scotland...
, being "struck by an arrow, he fell".
He had four sons, Gospatric III
Gospatric III, Earl of Lothian
Gospatric III was a twelfth century Anglo-Celtic noble, who was Earl of Lothian later Earl of Dunbar, and feudal Lord of Beanley....
(his successor), Adam, Edward, and Edgar.