Donnchadh, Earl of Mar
Encyclopedia
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 Lundin
, from the succession. Perhaps in gratitude, he named his oldest son William
after King Willian I
, the probable source of the innovation in Mar's inheritance custom. He married Orabillis of Nessius, by whom he fathered William, and died in 1244.
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...
, 1203–1244.
Donnchadh was the son of Morggán
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 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
Gille Críst, Earl of Mar
Gille Críst of Mar is the fourth known Mormaer of Mar, 1183–1203.His relationship to the previous Mormaer, Morggán, is not totally clear; but Gille Críst was not the son of Morggán, and so his succession could probably be explained by operations of Gaelic succession, but as we know almost nothing...
, whose contemporary leader was Thomas de Lundin
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...
, from the succession. Perhaps in gratitude, he named his oldest son William
Uilleam, Earl of Mar
Uilleam of Mar - Uilleam mac Dhonnchaidh - was perhaps the greatest of the Mar mormaers, ruling Mar from 1244 to 1276....
after King Willian 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...
, the probable source of the innovation in Mar's inheritance custom. He married Orabillis of Nessius, by whom he fathered William, and died in 1244.