Fergus, Earl of Buchan
Encyclopedia
Fergus of Buchan was the last native Gaelic Mormaer
of Buchan
, and only the third to be known by name as Mormaer. Fergus appears to have had strong connections in Fife
, and it is possible that his father (if he was his father) Colbán
was a Fifer. A charter issued by Fergus appears to have survived. The charter is a feudal charter granting lands to a subordinate. The charter had a few witnesses with French names, presumably a phenomenon related to the his Comyn connections. Fergus had no male heirs, and married his only daughter Marjory to William Comyn
, bringing Gaelic control of the Mormaership to an end. On Fergus' death, Buchan became the first native mormaerdom to pass into the hands of a foreign family
He died sometime before 1214, possibly much earlier.
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 Buchan
Buchan
Buchan is one of the six committee areas and administrative areas of Aberdeenshire Council, Scotland. These areas were created by the council in 1996, when the Aberdeenshire unitary council area was created under the Local Government etc Act 1994...
, and only the third to be known by name as Mormaer. Fergus appears to have had strong connections 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...
, and it is possible that his father (if he was his father) Colbán
Colbán, Earl of Buchan
Colbán of Buchan is the second Mormaer of Buchan to be known by name as Mormaer.Colbán was not the son of his predecessor Gartnait. It is possible that Colbán came from another Buchan family, or even, as some have suggested, Fife. He perhaps obtained Buchan by marrying the daughter of Gartnait,...
was a Fifer. A charter issued by Fergus appears to have survived. The charter is a feudal charter granting lands to a subordinate. The charter had a few witnesses with French names, presumably a phenomenon related to the his Comyn connections. Fergus had no male heirs, and married his only daughter Marjory to William Comyn
William Comyn
William Comyn can refer to:*William Comyn *William Comyn, jure uxoris Earl of Buchan*William Comyns Beaumont, British journalist, author and lecturer*William Comyns silversmith late 19th century....
, bringing Gaelic control of the Mormaership to an end. On Fergus' death, Buchan became the first native mormaerdom to pass into the hands of a foreign family
He died sometime before 1214, possibly much earlier.
See also
- Earl of BuchanEarl of BuchanThe Mormaer or Earl of Buchan was originally the provincial ruler of the medieval province of Buchan. Buchan was the first Mormaerdom in the High Medieval Kingdom of the Scots to pass into the hands of a non-Scottish family in the male line. The earldom had three lines in its history, not counting...