Malcolm Fleming, Earl of Wigtown
Encyclopedia
Malcolm Fleming, Earl of Wigtown († 1363) was the son of Robert Fleming, a Stewart vassal and holder of the lands of Fulwood
and Cumbernauld
, who died sometime before 1314. He was the "foster-father" of King David II of Scotland
and became the first man to hold the title Earl of Wigtown
.
Malcolm was given the barony of Kirkintilloch
forfeited from the Comyns by King Robert I of Scotland
during the First War of Scottish Independence
and received other lands in Lennox
and Wigtownshire
. Malcolm became Sheriff
of Dumbarton and keeper of the castle thereafter.
Malcolm was on the defeated Bruce side at the Battle of Halidon Hill
in July 1333, but managed to escape, and fled back to Dumbarton. He was partly responsible for sending the boy king, Robert's son David II
from Dumbarton to exile in France
. When David II returned to Scotland in 1341, David granted Malcolm much of western Galloway
(Wigtownshire) and the burgh of Wigtown
, and created for him the new title, "Earl of Wigtown
". It was the first new earldom in Scotland for more than a century (the last was the earldom of Sutherland
). Presumably the intention was to re-establish the power of the Bruce dynasty in the strongly Balliol province.
On 17 October 1346, Malcolm was captured at the Battle of Neville's Cross
and imprisoned by Robert Bertram, sheriff of Northumberland
, but escaped the following year to Scotland. Malcolm remained a favourite of David II. He married a woman called Marjorie, possibly a native Galwegian
who became David II's nurse. He had four known children, an eldest son (name uncertain) who died before 1351, an eldest daughter (name uncertain), a daughter named Marjorie and another daughter named "Evota". Malcolm died either in 1363 or sometime shortly before this year, and was succeeded by his grandson Thomas
, heir since 1351.
Malcolm's successor to the earldom of Wigtown, his grandson Thomas, had grave financial problems and was stripped of the rights of regality given to his grandfather. The recreation of the Lordship of Galloway for Archibald the Grim in 1369 posed some conceptual problems for the earldom, as it fell within the old territories of the lordship. Thomas found himself in grave financial difficulties and sold the earldom to Archibald in 1372.
Fulwood
Fulwood ward—which includes the districts of Fulwood, Lodge Moor, and Ranmoor—is one of the 28 electoral wards in City of Sheffield, England. It is located in the far western part of the city and covers an area of 23.2 km2. The population of this ward in 2001 was 15,400 people in...
and Cumbernauld
Cumbernauld
Cumbernauld is a Scottish new town in North Lanarkshire. It was created in 1956 as a population overspill for Glasgow City. It is the eighth most populous settlement in Scotland and the largest in North Lanarkshire...
, who died sometime before 1314. He was the "foster-father" of King David II of Scotland
David II of Scotland
David II was King of Scots from 7 June 1329 until his death.-Early life:...
and became the first man to hold the title Earl of Wigtown
Earl of Wigtown
The title of Earl of Wigtown was created twice in the Peerage of Scotland. The first creation was in 1341, and was surrendered in 1372, when the second earl sold the earldom and territory to Archibald the Grim , Lord of Galloway...
.
Malcolm was given the barony of Kirkintilloch
Kirkintilloch
Kirkintilloch is a town and former burgh in East Dunbartonshire, Scotland. It lies on the Forth and Clyde Canal, about eight miles northeast of central Glasgow...
forfeited from the Comyns by King Robert I of Scotland
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...
during the First War of Scottish Independence
First War of Scottish Independence
The First War of Scottish Independence lasted from the invasion by England in 1296 until the de jure restoration of Scottish independence with the Treaty of Edinburgh-Northampton in 1328...
and received other lands in Lennox
Lennox
Lennox may refer to:* Lennox , often referred to as "The Lennox", an historic mormaerdom, earldom and then dukedom, in Stirling, Scotland* Lennox International, a global manufacturer of furnaces and central air conditioners....
and Wigtownshire
Wigtownshire
Wigtownshire or the County of Wigtown is a registration county in the Southern Uplands of south west Scotland. Until 1975, the county was one of the administrative counties used for local government purposes, and is now administered as part of the council area of Dumfries and Galloway...
. Malcolm became Sheriff
Sheriff
A sheriff is in principle a legal official with responsibility for a county. In practice, the specific combination of legal, political, and ceremonial duties of a sheriff varies greatly from country to country....
of Dumbarton and keeper of the castle thereafter.
Malcolm was on the defeated Bruce side 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:...
in July 1333, but managed to escape, and fled back to Dumbarton. He was partly responsible for sending the boy king, Robert's son David II
David II of Scotland
David II was King of Scots from 7 June 1329 until his death.-Early life:...
from Dumbarton to exile in France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
. When David II returned to Scotland in 1341, David granted Malcolm much of western Galloway
Galloway
Galloway is an area in southwestern Scotland. It usually refers to the former counties of Wigtownshire and Kirkcudbrightshire...
(Wigtownshire) and the burgh of Wigtown
Wigtown
Wigtown is a town and former royal burgh in the Machars of Galloway in the south west of Scotland. It lies south of Newton Stewart and east of Stranraer. It has a population of about 1,000...
, and created for him the new title, "Earl of Wigtown
Earl of Wigtown
The title of Earl of Wigtown was created twice in the Peerage of Scotland. The first creation was in 1341, and was surrendered in 1372, when the second earl sold the earldom and territory to Archibald the Grim , Lord of Galloway...
". It was the first new earldom in Scotland for more than a century (the last was the earldom of Sutherland
Earl of Sutherland
Earl of Sutherland is a title in the Peerage of Scotland. It was created circa 1230 for William de Moravia. The Earl of Sutherland is also the Chief of Clan Sutherland...
). Presumably the intention was to re-establish the power of the Bruce dynasty in the strongly Balliol province.
On 17 October 1346, Malcolm was captured at the Battle of Neville's Cross
Battle of Neville's Cross
The Battle of Neville's Cross took place to the west of Durham, England on 17 October 1346.-Background:In 1346, England was embroiled in the Hundred Years' War with France. In order to divert his enemy Philip VI of France appealed to David II of Scotland to attack the English from the north in...
and imprisoned by Robert Bertram, sheriff of Northumberland
Northumberland
Northumberland is the northernmost ceremonial county and a unitary district in North East England. For Eurostat purposes Northumberland is a NUTS 3 region and is one of three boroughs or unitary districts that comprise the "Northumberland and Tyne and Wear" NUTS 2 region...
, but escaped the following year to Scotland. Malcolm remained a favourite of David II. He married a woman called Marjorie, possibly a native Galwegian
Galwegian Gaelic
Galwegian Gaelic is an extinct dialect of Scottish Gaelic formerly spoken in southwest Scotland. It was spoken by the independent kings of Galloway in their time, and by the people of Galloway and Carrick until the early modern period. It was once spoken in Annandale and Strathnith...
who became David II's nurse. He had four known children, an eldest son (name uncertain) who died before 1351, an eldest daughter (name uncertain), a daughter named Marjorie and another daughter named "Evota". Malcolm died either in 1363 or sometime shortly before this year, and was succeeded by his grandson Thomas
Thomas Fleming, Earl of Wigtown
Thomas Fleming, Earl of Wigtown was the second person to hold the title earl of Wigtown. He was the grandson of the previous earl, Sir Malcolm Fleming, through the latter's only son . His mother was a woman named Marjorie.Thomas had been the heir to the earldom since the death of his father in 1351...
, heir since 1351.
Malcolm's successor to the earldom of Wigtown, his grandson Thomas, had grave financial problems and was stripped of the rights of regality given to his grandfather. The recreation of the Lordship of Galloway for Archibald the Grim in 1369 posed some conceptual problems for the earldom, as it fell within the old territories of the lordship. Thomas found himself in grave financial difficulties and sold the earldom to Archibald in 1372.