Matad, Earl of Atholl
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Matad of Atholl was Mormaer
of Atholl
, 1130s-1153/9.
It is possible that he was granted the Mormaerdom by a King of Scotland
, as suggested by Roberts, rather than merely inheriting it. However, this is unlikely. If he did inherit it, he inherited it from his father, Máel Muire. According to the Orkneyinga Saga
, Matad was the son of Máel Muire, who was son of king Donnchad I
and younger brother of King Máel Coluim III Cenn Mór
. It is highly unlikely that the kings of Scotland, with little more claim to the kingship than Matad himself, would have been in a position to "grant" the Mormaerdom. It is much more likely that Matad inherited part of a deal made with Máel Muire by the king in order to alienate Máel Muire and his descendants from the kingship.
Mormaer Matad is most famous for being the father of Harald Maddadsson
, or Arailt mac Mataid. He married Margaret, the daughter of Haakon Paulsson (the son of Thorfinn the Mighty
). Through this marriage, their son Harald would succeed to the Earldom of Orkney
(c. 1139).
He is called Maddadr in the Orkneyinga Saga
, and some historians follow on from this and call him Maddad. He also features as a witness to charters of the reign of King David I
, where he is called Madeth Comes and Maddoc Comes (=Mormaer Matad). Other names originating from the obvious difficulties encountered by his name are Madach and Maddad.
According to Anderson, he died sometime between 1151 and 1161. He was succeeded by another of his sons, Máel Coluim
.
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 Atholl
Atholl
Atholl or Athole is a large historical division in the Scottish Highlands. Today it forms the northern part of Perth and Kinross, Scotland bordering Marr, Badenoch, Breadalbane, Strathearn, Perth and Lochaber....
, 1130s-1153/9.
It is possible that he was granted the Mormaerdom by a King of Scotland
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
, as suggested by Roberts, rather than merely inheriting it. However, this is unlikely. If he did inherit it, he inherited it from his father, Máel Muire. According to the Orkneyinga Saga
Orkneyinga saga
The Orkneyinga saga is a historical narrative of the history of the Orkney Islands, from their capture by the Norwegian king in the ninth century onwards until about 1200...
, Matad was the son of Máel Muire, who was son of king Donnchad I
Duncan I of Scotland
Donnchad mac Crínáin was king of Scotland from 1034 to 1040...
and younger brother of King Máel Coluim III Cenn Mór
Malcolm III of Scotland
Máel Coluim mac Donnchada , was King of Scots...
. It is highly unlikely that the kings of Scotland, with little more claim to the kingship than Matad himself, would have been in a position to "grant" the Mormaerdom. It is much more likely that Matad inherited part of a deal made with Máel Muire by the king in order to alienate Máel Muire and his descendants from the kingship.
Mormaer Matad is most famous for being the father of Harald Maddadsson
Harald Maddadsson
Harald Maddadsson was Earl of Orkney and Mormaer of Caithness from 1139 until 1206. He was the son of Matad, Mormaer of Atholl, and Margaret, daughter of Earl Haakon Paulsson of Orkney...
, or Arailt mac Mataid. He married Margaret, the daughter of Haakon Paulsson (the son of Thorfinn the Mighty
Thorfinn Sigurdsson, Earl of Orkney
Thorfinn Sigurdsson , called Thorfinn the Mighty, was an 11th-century Earl of Orkney. One of five brothers , sons of Earl Sigurd Hlodvirsson by his marriage to the daughter of Malcolm II of Scotland...
). Through this marriage, their son Harald would succeed to the 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...
(c. 1139).
He is called Maddadr in the Orkneyinga Saga
Orkneyinga saga
The Orkneyinga saga is a historical narrative of the history of the Orkney Islands, from their capture by the Norwegian king in the ninth century onwards until about 1200...
, and some historians follow on from this and call him Maddad. He also features as a witness to charters of the reign of King David I
David I of Scotland
David I or Dabíd mac Maíl Choluim was a 12th-century ruler who was Prince of the Cumbrians and later King of the Scots...
, where he is called Madeth Comes and Maddoc Comes (=Mormaer Matad). Other names originating from the obvious difficulties encountered by his name are Madach and Maddad.
According to Anderson, he died sometime between 1151 and 1161. He was succeeded by another of his sons, Máel Coluim
Máel Coluim, Earl of Atholl
Máel Coluim of Atholl was Mormaer of Atholl between 1153/9 and the 1190s.The Chronicle of Holyrood tells us that in 1186 Máel Coluim had an outlaw called Adam mac Domnaill killed at the altar of a church in Coupar, and burned 58 of his associates inside the church...
.