Alan Hostarius or Alan Durward (Scottish Gaelic: Ailean Dorsair † 1275) was the son of Thomas de Lundin, a grandson of Gille Críst, Mormaer of Mar. Scottish Gaelic ( Gàidhlig) is a member of the Goidelic branch of Celtic languages. Thomas de Lundin, often referred to as Thomas l'Ussier or Thomas Durward (Tomhas Dorsair was a 13th century Scottish nobleman Gille Críst of Mar is the fourth known Mormaer of Mar, 1183-1203 His mother's name is unknown, but she was almost certainly a daughter of Máel Coluim, Mormaer of Atholl, meaning that Alan was the product of two Gaelic comital families. Máel Coluim of Atholl was Mormaer of Atholl between 1153/9 and the 1190s The title of Mormaer designates a regional or provincial ruler in the Medieval Kingdom of the Scots.
Alan was one of the most important political figures of 13th century Scotland, and in fact effectively ruled the country at several points during the minority of Alexander III (Gaelic: Alasdair III mac Alasdair). Alexander III ( Medieval Gaelic: Alaxandair mac Alaxandair; Modern Gaelic Alasdair mac Alasdair) (4 September 1241 – 19 March 1286 King of Scots Scottish Gaelic ( Gàidhlig) is a member of the Goidelic branch of Celtic languages. Through his father Thomas, he inherited the office of hostarius, protector of the king's property. The Hostarius (alternatively Usher, Doorward or Durward) was an office in Medieval Scotland whose holders eventually hereditary had the theoretical Alan probably participated in the campaign to crush the insurrection of Meic Uilleim (Mac Williams) in 1228-29. The Meic Uilleim ( MacWilliams) were the Gaelic descendants of William fitz Duncan, grandson of Máel Coluim mac Donnchada, King of Scots By 1233, and probably before, Alan was given control of Urquhart on the shores of Loch Ness. Urquhart is a Highland Scottish clan. They traditionally occupied the lands in the district and town of Cromarty, a former Royal Burgh with an excellent Alan was almost certainly responsible for the earliest motte phase of Urquhart Castle. Urquhart Castle ( Ordnance Survey) sits beside Loch Ness in Scotland along the A82 road, between Fort William and Inverness
At the same point in time, between 1233 and 1235, Alan was styling himself "Count of Atholl". It has often been thought that, after the death of Thomas of Galloway, Earl of Atholl in 1232, Isabella, Countess of Atholl, married Alan. Isabella of Atholl was countess or ban-mormaer of Atholl, Scotland, from the death of her father Henry in 1211 until the accession This however, rests solely on the appearance of Alan's styles. However, as Matthew Hammond has shown, this more is more likely to refer to fact that Alan, as a grandson of Máel Coluim, Earl of Atholl, probably sought to inherit the province; by January 9, 1234, King Alexander seems to have recognized this style. Events 475 - Byzantine Emperor Zeno is forced to flee his capital at Constantinople. However, by the time of a charter of July 7, 1235, the style had disappeared and Alan was never called "Count" (Mormaer or Earl) again. Events 1456 - A retrial verdict acquits Joan of Arc of heresy 25 years after her death The title of Mormaer designates a regional or provincial ruler in the Medieval Kingdom of the Scots. Earl was the Anglo-Saxon form and jarl the Scandinavian form of a title meaning " Chieftain " and referring especially to chieftains Alan, like his father Thomas, would also challenge the rights of the Mormaers of Mar. The Mormaer or Earl of Mar was the provincial ruler of the province of Mar in north-eastern Scotland Alan was descended from Gille Crist, Mormaer of Mar. However, Gille Críst's descendents had been excluded from inheritance by the line of Morggán, Mormaer of Mar, who were monopolizing the comital title. Morggán of Mar, is the first Mormaer of Mar to appear in history as "more than a characterless name in a witness-list Alan tried and failed to oust Uilleam from his title. Uilleam of Mar - Uilleam mac Dhonnchaidh (William Duncan's son - was perhaps the greatest of the Mar Mormaers ruling Mar from 1244 to 1276 It would be the greatest failure of Alan's career that he failed to rise to comital rank.
Alan's illustrious career was marked by intense rivalry with the Comyns. The rivalry was a national phenomenon, and represented a larger factional conflict within the kingdom. There may have been some reconciliation towards the end of his life. Alan was made Justiciar of Scotia along with Alexander Comyn, Earl of Buchan, and campaigned with the latter in two expeditions against the Norwegians. The Justiciar of Scotia (in Norman - Latin, Justiciarus Scotie) was the most senior legal office in the High Medieval Kingdom of Alexander Comyn Earl of Buchan (died 1289 was a Scoto-Norman magnate who was one of the most important figures in the 13th century Kingdom of Scotland Alan even witnessed one of Earl Alexander's charters in 1272.
Alan spent many of his later years in England. During the minority of Alexander III, Alan had courted the favor of King Henry III of England in an effort to stay in power. Henry III (1 October 1207 &ndash 16 November 1272 was the son and successor of John "Lackland" as King of England, reigning for fifty-six years from 1216 The King of the English even gave Alan his own English manor, Bolsover. Bolsover is a town in Derbyshire, England, near Chesterfield.
He died in 1275. He was buried in the Abbey of Coupar Angus. Coupar Angus ( Gaelic: Cùbar Aonghais) is a town in Perth and Kinross, Scotland, situated eight kilometres south of Blairgowrie. Alan had married Marjory, a bastard daughter of King Alexander II, by whom he had three children, Ermengarde (who married William de Soules, the royal butler), Anna (who married Colbán, Mormaer of Fife), and another daughter whose name is not known (she married John Bisset). Alexander II ( Mediaeval Gaelic: Alaxandair mac Uilliam; Modern Gaelic Alasdair mac Uilleim) (24 August 1198 &ndash 6 July 1249 King of Scots William de Soulis (d 1320 x 1321 Lord of Liddesdale and Butler of Scotland was a Scottish Border noble during the Wars of Scottish Independence. Mormaer Colbán of Fife ruled Fife, 1266 &ndash 1270/2 He was probably the son of Maol Choluim II. Alan also had at least one bastard son, Thomas Durward. None of these children carried on their father's illustrious political career.
| Legal offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Philip de Melville and Robert de Monte Alto |
Justiciar of Scotia 1244– 1251 |
Succeeded by Philip de Meldrum and Michael de Monte Alto |
| Preceded by Philip de Meldrum and Michael de Monte Alto |
Justiciar of Scotia 1255– 1257 |
Succeeded by Alexander Comyn, Earl of Buchan |
References
- Barrow, G. The Justiciar of Scotia (in Norman - Latin, Justiciarus Scotie) was the most senior legal office in the High Medieval Kingdom of The Justiciar of Scotia (in Norman - Latin, Justiciarus Scotie) was the most senior legal office in the High Medieval Kingdom of Alexander Comyn Earl of Buchan (died 1289 was a Scoto-Norman magnate who was one of the most important figures in the 13th century Kingdom of Scotland W. S. , "Badenoch and Strathspey, 1130-1312: 1 Secular and Political" in Northern Scotland, VIII, pp. 1-15
- Hammond, Matthew H. , "The Durward family in the thirteenth century", in Steve Boardman and Alasdair Ross (eds. ), The Exercise of Power in Medieval Scotland, c. 1200–1500, (Dublin/Portland, 2003), pp. 118-38
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