Maol Íosa V, Earl of Strathearn
Encyclopedia
Maol Íosa V of Strathearn (also Maol Íosa of Orkney) was the last of the native Gaelic
family of Strathearn mormaers. He ruled Strathearn as mormaer
/earl
between 1330 and 1334, and was Earl of Orkney between 1331 and 1350.
His career began promisingly. On the death of his father Maol Íosa IV
in 1329, he inherited Strathearn. In 1330, he inherited the title Earldom of Orkney
(with the Mormaerdom of Caithness
) through his great-grandmother, Earl Gilbert
(Gille Brighde)'s daughter Maud, who had married Maol Íosa II
.
Maol Íosa's downfall came as a result of a renewed Balliol
onslaught which followed the death of King Robert I
. Maol Íosa sided with Edward Balliol
and the English
, and fought for the Balliol side at the Battle of Halidon Hill
. However, the Anglo-Balliol alliance turned its back on Maol Íosa, and awarded the Mormaerdom to John de Warenne, 7th Earl of Surrey
.
On the return to power of King David II
, Maol Íosa was forgiven, but his Mormaerdom was not restored, instead going to Sir Maurice de Moravia. Maol Íosa spent the rest of his days vainly trying to regain it.
Maol Íosa married twice, the second time to Marjory, daughter of Aodh, Earl of Ross
. He had four daughters, but no sons.
Maol Íosa died in 1350. Strathearn was never returned to his heirs, who divided or competed over his more northern inheritance. A grandson named Alexander de l'Arde took seat in Caithness, whilst Erengisle Sunesson, the husband of one of his daughters (possibly named Agnes), received the earl's title of Orkney. Ultimately, lands in both of these and the Norse earldom (that by decision of Haakon VI of Norway
in 1379) passed to his grandson Henry Sinclair I, Earl of Orkney, son of William Sinclair, Lord of Rosslyn, and Maol Iosa's (youngest) daughter Isobel of Strathearn.
Gaels
The Gaels or Goidels are speakers of one of the Goidelic Celtic languages: Irish, Scottish Gaelic, and Manx. Goidelic speech originated in Ireland and subsequently spread to western and northern Scotland and the Isle of Man....
family of Strathearn mormaers. He ruled Strathearn as 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:...
/earl
Earl
An earl is a member of the nobility. The title is Anglo-Saxon, akin to the Scandinavian form jarl, and meant "chieftain", particularly a chieftain set to rule a territory in a king's stead. In Scandinavia, it became obsolete in the Middle Ages and was replaced with duke...
between 1330 and 1334, and was Earl of Orkney between 1331 and 1350.
His career began promisingly. On the death of his father Maol Íosa IV
Maol Íosa IV, Earl of Strathearn
Maol Íosa IV of Strathearn, who ruled Strathearn , is the seventh known Mormaer of Strathearn, but of course this is simply a source problem and in no way means that he was the seventh in actuality....
in 1329, he inherited Strathearn. In 1330, he inherited the title Earldom of Orkney
Earl of Orkney
The Earl of Orkney was originally a Norse jarl ruling Orkney, Shetland and parts of Caithness and Sutherland. The Earls were periodically subject to the kings of Norway for the Northern Isles, and later also to the kings of Alba for those parts of their territory in mainland Scotland . The Earl's...
(with the Mormaerdom of Caithness
Caithness
Caithness is a registration county, lieutenancy area and historic local government area of Scotland. The name was used also for the earldom of Caithness and the Caithness constituency of the Parliament of the United Kingdom . Boundaries are not identical in all contexts, but the Caithness area is...
) through his great-grandmother, Earl Gilbert
Gilbert, Earl of Orkney
Gilbert, son of Magnus was Earl of Orkney and Caithness.Son of Earl Magnus II, he succeeded his father in 1239. He was in turn father of Magnus III, who succeeded him, and Matilda , who married Malise II, Earl of Strathearn and was the great-grandmother of Malise V, Earl of Strathearn, who later...
(Gille Brighde)'s daughter Maud, who had married Maol Íosa II
Maol Íosa II, Earl of Strathearn
Maol Íosa II of Strathearn who ruled Strathearn 1245–1271, is the fifth known Mormaer of Strathearn, but of course this is simply a source problem and in no way means that he actually was the fifth....
.
Maol Íosa's downfall came as a result of a renewed Balliol
House of Balliol
The House of Balliol was a Picard and Anglo-Norman family who began to rule some estates in England in the reign of William Rufus. In the late 13th and 14th centuries, two members of the house were kings of Scotland....
onslaught which followed the death of King Robert I
Robert I of Scotland
Robert I , popularly known as Robert the Bruce , was King of Scots from March 25, 1306, until his death in 1329.His paternal ancestors were of Scoto-Norman heritage , and...
. Maol Íosa sided with Edward Balliol
Edward Balliol
Edward Balliol was a claimant to the Scottish throne . With English help, he briefly ruled the country from 1332 to 1336.-Life:...
and the English
Kingdom of England
The Kingdom of England was, from 927 to 1707, a sovereign state to the northwest of continental Europe. At its height, the Kingdom of England spanned the southern two-thirds of the island of Great Britain and several smaller outlying islands; what today comprises the legal jurisdiction of England...
, and fought for the Balliol side at the Battle of Halidon Hill
Battle of Halidon Hill
The Battle of Halidon Hill was fought during the Second War of Scottish Independence. Scottish forces under Sir Archibald Douglas were heavily defeated on unfavourable terrain while trying to relieve Berwick-upon-Tweed.-The Disinherited:...
. However, the Anglo-Balliol alliance turned its back on Maol Íosa, and awarded the Mormaerdom to John de Warenne, 7th Earl of Surrey
John de Warenne, 7th Earl of Surrey
John de Warenne, 6th Earl of Surrey was a prominent English nobleman and military commander during the reigns of Henry III of England and Edward I of England. During the Second Barons' War he switched sides twice, ending up in support of the king, for whose capture he was present at Lewes in 1264...
.
On the return to power of King David II
David II of Scotland
David II was King of Scots from 7 June 1329 until his death.-Early life:...
, Maol Íosa was forgiven, but his Mormaerdom was not restored, instead going to Sir Maurice de Moravia. Maol Íosa spent the rest of his days vainly trying to regain it.
Maol Íosa married twice, the second time to Marjory, daughter of Aodh, Earl of Ross
Aodh, Earl of Ross
Hugh [probably Gaelic: Aodh], was the third successor of Ferchar mac in tSagairt as Mormaer of Ross .Hugh was a favorite of King Robert I of Scotland, who endowed him with many lands. Aodh even married Robert's sister, Maud...
. He had four daughters, but no sons.
Maol Íosa died in 1350. Strathearn was never returned to his heirs, who divided or competed over his more northern inheritance. A grandson named Alexander de l'Arde took seat in Caithness, whilst Erengisle Sunesson, the husband of one of his daughters (possibly named Agnes), received the earl's title of Orkney. Ultimately, lands in both of these and the Norse earldom (that by decision of Haakon VI of Norway
Haakon VI of Norway
Haakon VI of Norway was King of Norway from 1343 until his death and King of Sweden from 1362 until 1364, when he was deposed by Albert of Mecklenburg in Sweden.-Background:...
in 1379) passed to his grandson Henry Sinclair I, Earl of Orkney, son of William Sinclair, Lord of Rosslyn, and Maol Iosa's (youngest) daughter Isobel of Strathearn.