Adam de Kald
Encyclopedia
Adam de Kald [de Kalder, Crail] was an early 13th century Bishop of Aberdeen
. His name, de Kald or de Caral could refer to, among other places, Calder
in Nairnshire or Crail
in Fife
. Either location may mark his origin place, but this is speculation. It can be noted that there is a river in West Yorkshire
called Calder
. His origins remain obscure.
He seems to have risen as a clerk of King William the Lion; he is styled clericus domini regis ("clerk of the lord King") as a witness to a charter
of the latter king. In 1207, as a sub-deacon, he was elected Bishop of Aberdeen
. According to Hector Boece
, an often highly unreliable authority of a much later date, Adam was the choice of the king rather than the clergy of the diocese of Aberdeen
. He was confirmed in his position only after a mandate
of Pope Innocent III
. The mandate was issued to the Bishop of Dunkeld
, the Bishop of Brechin
and the Abbot of Kelso
, who were ordered to determine whether or not Adam was created sub-deacon merely in order to become bishop.
Not a lot is known about Adam's episcopate. He left at least three charters, including confirmations of grants made by Morggán, Mormaer of Mar
and the latter's kinsman Thomas mac Maíl Choluim
, Royal Doorward
. There is a little evidence that he served as Chancellor
at some point under King William. He died at some point in the year 1228. He was succeeded by Gilbert de Stirling
.
Bishop of Aberdeen
The Bishop of Aberdeen was the ecclesiastical head of the Diocese of Aberdeen, one of Scotland's 13 medieval bishoprics, whose first recorded bishop is an early 12th century cleric named Nechtan...
. His name, de Kald or de Caral could refer to, among other places, Calder
Calder
-Places:*Several rivers in Scotland and Northern England*East Calder, Mid Calder and West Calder, three villages in West Lothian, Scotland*Calder, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, a town on the island of Saint Vincent...
in Nairnshire or Crail
Crail
Crail ; ) is a former royal burgh in the East Neuk of Fife, Scotland.-History:Crail probably dates from at least as far back as the Pictish period, as the place-name includes the Pictish/Brythonic element caer, 'fort', and there is a Dark Age cross-slab preserved in the parish kirk, itself...
in Fife
Fife
Fife is a council area and former county of Scotland. It is situated between the Firth of Tay and the Firth of Forth, with inland boundaries to Perth and Kinross and Clackmannanshire...
. Either location may mark his origin place, but this is speculation. It can be noted that there is a river in West Yorkshire
West Yorkshire
West Yorkshire is a metropolitan county within the Yorkshire and the Humber region of England with a population of 2.2 million. West Yorkshire came into existence as a metropolitan county in 1974 after the passage of the Local Government Act 1972....
called Calder
River Calder, West Yorkshire
The River Calder is a river in West Yorkshire, in Northern England.The Calder rises on the green eastern slopes of the Pennines flows through alternating green countryside, former woollen-mill villages, and large and small towns before joining the River Aire near Castleford.The river's valley is...
. His origins remain obscure.
He seems to have risen as a clerk of King William the Lion; he is styled clericus domini regis ("clerk of the lord King") as a witness to a 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...
of the latter king. In 1207, as a sub-deacon, he was elected Bishop of Aberdeen
Bishop of Aberdeen
The Bishop of Aberdeen was the ecclesiastical head of the Diocese of Aberdeen, one of Scotland's 13 medieval bishoprics, whose first recorded bishop is an early 12th century cleric named Nechtan...
. According to Hector Boece
Hector Boece
Hector Boece , known in Latin as Hector Boecius or Boethius, was a Scottish philosopher and first Principal of King's College in Aberdeen, a predecessor of the University of Aberdeen.-Biography:He was born in Dundee where he attended school...
, an often highly unreliable authority of a much later date, Adam was the choice of the king rather than the clergy of the diocese of Aberdeen
Diocese of Aberdeen
Diocese of Aberdeen was one of the 13 dioceses of the Scottish church, before the abolition of the episcopacy in 1689.-Early history:...
. He was confirmed in his position only after a mandate
Mandate (theology)
In Christian theology, a mandate is an order given from God that must be obeyed without question. For example, the mandate given to Abraham to offer his son Isaac as a sacrifice to God....
of Pope Innocent III
Pope Innocent III
Pope Innocent III was Pope from 8 January 1198 until his death. His birth name was Lotario dei Conti di Segni, sometimes anglicised to Lothar of Segni....
. The mandate was issued to 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...
, the Bishop of Brechin
Bishop of Brechin
The Bishop of Brechin is the ecclesiastical head of the Diocese of Brechin or Angus, based at Brechin Cathedral, Brechin. The diocese had a long-established Gaelic monastic community which survived into the 13th century. The clerical establishment may very well have traced their earlier origins...
and the Abbot of Kelso
Abbot of Kelso
The Abbot of Kelso was the head of the Tironensian monastic community at Kelso Abbey in the Scottish Borders. Originally, he was the Abbot of Selkirk, because from its foundation in 1113 by David, Prince of the Cumbrians until it was moved to Kelso by David and John, bishop of Glasgow in 1127...
, who were ordered to determine whether or not Adam was created sub-deacon merely in order to become bishop.
Not a lot is known about Adam's episcopate. He left at least three charters, including confirmations of grants made by Morggán, Mormaer of Mar
Morggán, Earl of Mar
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...
and the latter's kinsman Thomas mac Maíl Choluim
Thomas de Lundin
Thomas de Lundin, often referred to as Thomas l'Ussier or Thomas Durward , was a 13th century Scottish nobleman.Thomas takes his name from the villa of Lundie in Angus , and was one of two known sons of Máel Coluim of Lundie . His father had married a daughter of Gille Críst, Earl of Mar...
, Royal Doorward
Hostarius (Scotland)
The Hostarius was an office in medieval Scotland whose holders, eventually hereditary, had the theoretical responsibility of being warden of the king's door, i.e...
. There is a little evidence that he served as Chancellor
Lord Chancellor of Scotland
The Lord Chancellor of Scotland was a Great Officer of State in pre-Union Scotland.Holders of the office are known from 1123 onwards, but its duties were occasionally performed by an official of lower status with the title of Keeper of the Great Seal...
at some point under King William. He died at some point in the year 1228. He was succeeded by Gilbert de Stirling
Gilbert de Stirling
Gilbert de Stirling was an early 13th century bishop of Scotland. His background is unclear, perhaps coming from a burghess family of Stirling; he emerges in 1228 as the newly elected Bishop of Aberdeen, succeeding the recently deceased Adam de Kalder, after Matthew the Scot had turned down his own...
.