Maol Choluim II, Earl of Fife
Encyclopedia
Máel Coluim II was a 13th century Mormaer of Fife who ruled the mormaerdom or earldom of Fife
between 1228 and 1266. He was the nephew of Máel Coluim I, the previous mormaer
, and the son of Máel Coluim I's brother Donnchadh, son of Donnchadh II
.
He is one of the Scottish magnates whose name occurred as a guarantor in the Treaty of York
, September 25, 1237. He participated in the famous inauguration of King Alexander III of Scotland
at Scone
on 13 July 1249, where the mormaers of Fife had a traditional senior role in the coronation. He played a role during the minority of Alexander III of Scotland, being appointed one of the guardians in the king, September 20, 1255.
He appears to have had a close relationship with Henry III of England
, both during the minority and after, and in Scotland may have been allied with Alan Durward
. He was fined in Northumberland
on April 24, 1256, for not appearing before royal justices on the first day of their session, as presumably ordered. He disappears from the records after the coup against the minority administration in 1256-57, but reappears a few years later when he is recorded swearing an oath to Henry to promise to maintain the position of the young king and queen when the latter, Henry III's daughter Margaret
, went to England in 1260.
Máel Coluim II died in 1266. He had married Elen ferch Llywelyn, who after Máel Coluim's death married the Mormaer of Mar, Domhnall
. He had two sons who are known to us. The elder was Colbán
, to whom the mormaerdom passed after Máel Coluim's death. Chieftancy of Clann Meic Duibh
went to another son, whose name however is unknown as he was only referred to by his title MacDuibh. Máel Coluim appears from later records to have granted lands to this younger son, which were later dispossessed by William Wishart
, Bishop of St Andrews, later backed by King John de Balliol
, against whom MacDuibh appealed to King Edward I of England
.
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...
between 1228 and 1266. He was the nephew of Máel Coluim I, the previous mormaer
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:...
, and the son of Máel Coluim I's brother Donnchadh, son of Donnchadh II
Donnchad II, Earl of Fife
Mormaer Donnchad II , anglicized as Duncan II or Dunecan II, succeeded his father Donnchad I as a child. As a child of the previous Mormaer, he was entitled to succeed his father through primogeniture, but not to lead his kin-group, Clann MacDuib. That probably fell to his cousin, Aed mac Gille...
.
He is one of the Scottish magnates whose name occurred as a guarantor in the Treaty of York
Treaty of York
The Treaty of York was an agreement between Henry III of England and Alexander II of Scotland, signed at York on 25 September 1237. It detailed the future status of several feudal properties and addressed other issues between the two kings, and indirectly marked the end of Scotland's attempts to...
, September 25, 1237. He participated in the famous inauguration of King Alexander III of Scotland
Alexander III of Scotland
Alexander III was King of Scots from 1249 to his death.-Life:...
at Scone
Scone, Scotland
Scone is a village in Perth and Kinross, Scotland. The medieval village of Scone, which grew up around the monastery and royal residence, was abandoned in the early 19th century when the residents were removed and a new palace was built on the site by the Earl of Mansfield...
on 13 July 1249, where the mormaers of Fife had a traditional senior role in the coronation. He played a role during the minority of Alexander III of Scotland, being appointed one of the guardians in the king, September 20, 1255.
Henry III of England
Henry III was the son and successor of John as King of England, reigning for 56 years from 1216 until his death. His contemporaries knew him as Henry of Winchester. He was the first child king in England since the reign of Æthelred the Unready...
, both during the minority and after, and in Scotland may have been allied with Alan Durward
Alan Durward
Alan Hostarius was the son of Thomas de Lundin, a grandson of Gille Críst, Mormaer of Mar. 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.Alan was one of the most important...
. He was fined in Northumberland
Northumberland
Northumberland is the northernmost ceremonial county and a unitary district in North East England. For Eurostat purposes Northumberland is a NUTS 3 region and is one of three boroughs or unitary districts that comprise the "Northumberland and Tyne and Wear" NUTS 2 region...
on April 24, 1256, for not appearing before royal justices on the first day of their session, as presumably ordered. He disappears from the records after the coup against the minority administration in 1256-57, but reappears a few years later when he is recorded swearing an oath to Henry to promise to maintain the position of the young king and queen when the latter, Henry III's daughter Margaret
Margaret of England
Margaret of England was a medieval English princess who became Queen of Scots. A daughter of the Plantagenet king Henry III of England and his queen, Eleanor of Provence, she was Queen consort to Alexander III "the Glorious", King of the Scots.- Family :She was the second child of Henry III of...
, went to England in 1260.
Máel Coluim II died in 1266. He had married Elen ferch Llywelyn, who after Máel Coluim's death married the Mormaer of Mar, Domhnall
Domhnall I, Earl of Mar
Domhnall I Earl of Mar - Domhnall mac Uilleim - was the seventh known Mormaer of Mar, ruling from 1276 until his death somewhere between 1297 and 1302....
. He had two sons who are known to us. The elder was Colbán
Colbán, Earl of Fife
Mormaer Colbán of Fife ruled Fife, 1266 – 1270/2. He was probably the son of Maol Choluim II. Not much is known about his life and reign. Colbán's death is disputed, and depends on what evidence one interprets. G.W.S. Barrow gives 1272, but Bannerman gives 1270. He married Anna, the daughter...
, to whom the mormaerdom passed after Máel Coluim's death. Chieftancy of Clann Meic Duibh
Clan MacDuff
Clan MacDuff is a Scottish armigerous clan, which is registered with Lyon Court, though currently without a chief. Moncreiffe wrote that the Clan MacDuff was the premier clan among the Scottish Gaels. The early chiefs of Clan MacDuff were the Earls of Fife...
went to another son, whose name however is unknown as he was only referred to by his title MacDuibh. Máel Coluim appears from later records to have granted lands to this younger son, which were later dispossessed by William Wishart
William Wishart
William Wishart was a 13th century Bishop of St. Andrews. He was postulated to the see of St. Andrews while holding the position as Bishop-elect of Glasgow, which he resigned when, on 2 June 1271, he was elected to that vacant see. He was succeeded at Glasgow by his cousin , Robert Wishart...
, Bishop of St Andrews, later backed by King John de Balliol
John of Scotland
John Balliol , known to the Scots as Toom Tabard , was King of Scots from 1292 to 1296.-Early life:Little of John's early life is known. He was born between 1248 and 1250 at an unknown location, possibilities include Galloway, Picardy and Barnard Castle, County Durham...
, against whom MacDuibh appealed to King Edward I of England
Edward I of England
Edward I , also known as Edward Longshanks and the Hammer of the Scots, was King of England from 1272 to 1307. The first son of Henry III, Edward was involved early in the political intrigues of his father's reign, which included an outright rebellion by the English barons...
.