Morggán, Earl of Mar
Encyclopedia
Morggán of Mar, is the first Mormaer
of Mar
to appear in history as "more than a characterless name in a witness-list."1. His father was Gille Chlerig
. He is often known as Morgrund or Morgan.
It is possible that Morggán participated in the so-called Revolt of the Earls
, a protest by some of the native Scottish nobility at King Máel Coluim IV
's trip to France as a vassal of King Henry II of England
.
It is also possible that he became estranged from the French-speaking king William I
, as Morggán's name appears in no royal acta of the latter king's reign.
He married Ada, a patroness of churches. Agnes was probably related to the de Warrene family - the family who married Ada de Warenne
to Henry of Scotland and mother of Kings Malcolm IV
and William the Lion. Morggán and Ada had at least one son, Donnchad
, who eventually succeeded to the Mormaerdom. Morggán had another two sons, Máel Coluim and James, but they may have been illegitimate - i.e. the product of an uncanonical marriage acceptable in the celtic system, but not in the Franco-Roman system then gaining favour in Scotland
.
His daughter Alesta of Mar was married to Alan Fitzwalter, 2nd High Steward of Scotland and was mother to Walter Stewart, 3rd High Steward of Scotland
.
He appears in royal charter
s dated as early as 1147. He is attested in the documents for the last time in 1178, and was certainly dead by 1183.
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:...
of Mar
Marr
Marr is one of six committee areas in Aberdeenshire, Scotland, bordering Atholl, Badenoch, Gowrie, The Mearns, Banff and Buchan. It has a population of 34,038...
to appear in history as "more than a characterless name in a witness-list."1. His father was Gille Chlerig
Gille Chlerig, Earl of Mar
Gille Chlerig,1 also Gillocheri 2 or Gillocher, Gillocher or Gylocher is a Gaelic name attested only in a Latin source, a 13th century forgery designed to advance the cause of Scottish independence. The name is highly corrupted, and therefore the name and meaning is unclear...
. He is often known as Morgrund or Morgan.
It is possible that Morggán participated in the so-called Revolt of the Earls
Revolt of the Earls
The Revolt of the Earls in 1075 was a rebellion of three earls against William I of England . It was the last serious act of resistance against William in the Norman Conquest.-Course:...
, a protest by some of the native Scottish nobility at 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...
's trip to France as a vassal of King Henry II of England
Henry II of England
Henry II ruled as King of England , Count of Anjou, Count of Maine, Duke of Normandy, Duke of Aquitaine, Duke of Gascony, Count of Nantes, Lord of Ireland and, at various times, controlled parts of Wales, Scotland and western France. Henry, the great-grandson of William the Conqueror, was the...
.
It is also possible that he became estranged from the French-speaking king William I
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...
, as Morggán's name appears in no royal acta of the latter king's reign.
He married Ada, a patroness of churches. Agnes was probably related to the de Warrene family - the family who married Ada de Warenne
Ada de Warenne
Ada de Warenne was the Anglo-Norman wife of Henry of Scotland, Earl of Northumbria and Earl of Huntingdon. She was the daughter of William de Warenne, 2nd Earl of Surrey by Elizabeth of Vermandois, and a great-granddaughter of Henry I of France...
to Henry of Scotland and mother of Kings Malcolm 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...
and William the Lion. Morggán and Ada had at least one son, Donnchad
Donnchadh, Earl of Mar
Donnchadh of Mar is the fifth known Mormaer of Mar, 1203–1244.Donnchadh was the son of Morggán and Agnes. Donnchadh benefited from the introduction of feudal primogeniture as a custom, as it enabled him and his kin to exclude the descendants of Gille Críst, whose contemporary leader was Thomas de...
, who eventually succeeded to the Mormaerdom. Morggán had another two sons, Máel Coluim and James, but they may have been illegitimate - i.e. the product of an uncanonical marriage acceptable in the celtic system, but not in the Franco-Roman system then gaining favour in 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...
.
His daughter Alesta of Mar was married to Alan Fitzwalter, 2nd High Steward of Scotland and was mother to Walter Stewart, 3rd High Steward of Scotland
Walter Stewart, 3rd High Steward of Scotland
Walter, Steward of Dundonald was 3rd hereditary High Steward of Scotland and Justiciar of Scotia.He was the eldest son of Alan fitz Walter, 2nd High Steward of Scotland by his second wife Alesta, daughter of Morggán, Earl of Mar...
.
He appears in royal charter
Charter
A charter is the grant of authority or rights, stating that the granter formally recognizes the prerogative of the recipient to exercise the rights specified...
s dated as early as 1147. He is attested in the documents for the last time in 1178, and was certainly dead by 1183.