Maud of Chester
Encyclopedia
Matilda of Chester, Countess of Huntingdon (1171 – 6 January 1233) was an Anglo-Norman
noblewoman, sometimes known as Maud and sometimes known with the surname de Kevelioc. She was a daughter of Hugh de Kevelioc, 5th Earl of Chester, and the wife of David of Scotland, Earl of Huntingdon. Through her daughter, Isobel, she was an ancestress of Robert the Bruce.
. Her paternal grandparents were Ranulf de Gernon and Maud (Matilda) of Gloucester
, the granddaughter of King Henry I of England
, and her maternal grandparents were Simon III de Montfort, Count of Evreux and Mahaut.
Lady Matilda's five siblings were:
She also had an illegitimate half-sister, Amice of Chester.
Matilda's father died in 1181 when she was ten years of age. He had served in King Henry's Irish campaigns after his estates had been restored to him in 1177. They had been confiscated by the King as a result of his taking part in the baronial Revolt of 1173–1174. His son Ranulf succeeded him as Earl of Chester
, and Matilda became a co-heiress of her brother.
, a Scottish prince, son of Henry of Scotland, 3rd Earl of Huntingdon
, and a younger brother of Malcolm IV of Scotland
and William I of Scotland
. He was almost thirty years Matilda's senior. The marriage was recorded by Benedict of Peterborough.
David and Matilda had seven children:
Her husband David had four illegitimate children by various mistresses.
On her brother Ranulf's death in October 1232 Matilda inherited a share in his estates with her other 3 sisters, and his Earldom of Chester suo jure. Less than a month later with the consent of the King, Matilda gave an inter vivos gift of the Earldom to her son John the Scot
who became Earl of Chester by right of his mother. He was formally invested by King Henry III as Earl of Chester on 21 November 1232.. He became Earl of Chester in his own right on the death of his mother six weeks later.
Matilda died on 6 January 1233 at the age of about sixty-two. Her husband had died in 1219. In 1290, upon the death of Margaret, Maid of Norway
, which caused the extinction of the legitimate line of William I, the descendants of David and Matilda became the prime competitors for the crown of Scotland
. Through their daughter, Isobel, they were the direct ancestors of the renowned Scottish King, Robert the Bruce.
Anglo-Norman
The Anglo-Normans were mainly the descendants of the Normans who ruled England following the Norman conquest by William the Conqueror in 1066. A small number of Normans were already settled in England prior to the conquest...
noblewoman, sometimes known as Maud and sometimes known with the surname de Kevelioc. She was a daughter of Hugh de Kevelioc, 5th Earl of Chester, and the wife of David of Scotland, Earl of Huntingdon. Through her daughter, Isobel, she was an ancestress of Robert the Bruce.
Family
Lady Matilda was born in 1171, the eldest child of Hugh de Kevelioc, 5th Earl of Chester and Bertrade de Montfort, a cousin of King Henry II of EnglandHenry II of England
Henry II ruled as King of England , Count of Anjou, Count of Maine, Duke of Normandy, Duke of Aquitaine, Duke of Gascony, Count of Nantes, Lord of Ireland and, at various times, controlled parts of Wales, Scotland and western France. Henry, the great-grandson of William the Conqueror, was the...
. Her paternal grandparents were Ranulf de Gernon and Maud (Matilda) of Gloucester
Maud of Gloucester
Maud of Gloucester, Countess of Chester , also known as Maud FitzRobert, was an Anglo-Norman noblewoman, and the daughter of Robert, 1st Earl of Gloucester, an illegitimate son of King Henry I of England...
, the granddaughter of King Henry I of England
Henry I of England
Henry I was the fourth son of William I of England. He succeeded his elder brother William II as King of England in 1100 and defeated his eldest brother, Robert Curthose, to become Duke of Normandy in 1106...
, and her maternal grandparents were Simon III de Montfort, Count of Evreux and Mahaut.
Lady Matilda's five siblings were:
- Ranulf de Blondeville, 6th Earl of Chester
- Richard (died young)
- Mabel of Chester, Countess of ArundelEarl of ArundelThe title Earl of Arundel is the oldest extant Earldom and perhaps the oldest extant title in the Peerage of England. It is currently held by the Duke of Norfolk, and is used by his heir apparent as a courtesy title. It was created in 1138 for the Norman baron Sir William d'Aubigny...
- Agnes (Alice) of Chester, Countess of Derby
- Hawise of Chester, Countess of Lincoln.
She also had an illegitimate half-sister, Amice of Chester.
Matilda's father died in 1181 when she was ten years of age. He had served in King Henry's Irish campaigns after his estates had been restored to him in 1177. They had been confiscated by the King as a result of his taking part in the baronial Revolt of 1173–1174. His son Ranulf succeeded him as Earl of Chester
Earl of Chester
The Earldom of Chester was one of the most powerful earldoms in medieval England. Since 1301 the title has generally been granted to heirs-apparent to the English throne, and from the late 14th century it has been given only in conjunction with that of Prince of Wales.- Honour of Chester :The...
, and Matilda became a co-heiress of her brother.
Marriage and issue
On 26 August 1190, she married David of Scotland, 8th Earl of HuntingdonDavid of Scotland, 8th Earl of Huntingdon
David of Scotland was a Scottish prince and Earl of Huntingdon. He was a claimant to the Scottish throne.-Life:He was the youngest surviving son of Henry of Scotland, 3rd Earl of Huntingdon and Ada de Warenne, a daughter of William de Warenne, 2nd Earl of Surrey, and Elizabeth of Vermandois. His...
, a Scottish prince, son of Henry of Scotland, 3rd Earl of Huntingdon
Henry of Scotland, 3rd Earl of Huntingdon
Henry of Scotland was a Prince of Scotland, heir-apparent to the Kingdom of Alba. He was also the 3rd Earl of Northumberland and the 3rd Earl of the Honour of Huntingdon and Northampton....
, and a younger brother of Malcolm IV of Scotland
Malcolm IV of Scotland
Malcolm IV , nicknamed Virgo, "the Maiden" , King of Scots, was the eldest son of Earl Henry and Ada de Warenne...
and William I of Scotland
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...
. He was almost thirty years Matilda's senior. The marriage was recorded by Benedict of Peterborough.
David and Matilda had seven children:
- Margaret of Huntingdon (c. 1194 – after 1 June 1233), married Alan, Lord of GallowayAlan, Lord of GallowayAlan Fitz Roland was the last of the MacFergus dynasty of quasi-independent Lords of Galloway. He was also hereditary Constable of Scotland.-Family:He was the son of Roland, or Lochlann, Lord of Galloway and Helen de Morville...
, by whom she had two daughters, including Dervorguilla of GallowayDervorguilla of GallowayDervorguilla of Galloway was a 'lady of substance' during the 13th century, wife from 1223 of John, 5th Baron de Balliol, and mother of the future king John I of Scotland. The name Dervorguilla or Devorgilla was a Latinization of the Gaelic Dearbhfhorghaill...
. - Robert of Huntingdon (died young)
- Ada of Huntingdon, married Sir Henry de Hastings, by whom she had one son, Henry de Hastings, 1st Baron HastingsHenry de Hastings, 1st Baron HastingsHenry de Hastings was created Baron in 1264 by Simon de Montfort. He led the Londoners at the Battle of Lewes, where he was taken prisoner, and fought at the Battle of Evesham...
. - Matilda (Maud) of Huntingdon (-aft.1219, unmarried)
- Isobel of HuntingdonIsobel of HuntingdonIsobel of Huntingdon was the daughter of David of Scotland, 8th Earl of Huntingdon and Matilda of Chester. She married Robert Bruce, 4th Lord of Annandale and through her came the claims firstly of her son in 1290 and later in the beginning of 14th century of her great-grandson Robert Bruce, 7th...
(1199–1251), married Robert Bruce, 4th Lord of Annandale, by whom she had two sons, including Robert de Brus, 5th Lord of Annandale. - John of Scotland, Earl of Huntingdon (1207 – 6 June 1237), married Elen ferch LlywelynElen ferch LlywelynElen ferch Llywelyn was the daughter of Llywelyn the Great of Gwynedd in north Wales by Lady Joan, daughter of King John of England....
. He succeeded his uncle Ranulf as Earl of ChesterEarl of ChesterThe Earldom of Chester was one of the most powerful earldoms in medieval England. Since 1301 the title has generally been granted to heirs-apparent to the English throne, and from the late 14th century it has been given only in conjunction with that of Prince of Wales.- Honour of Chester :The...
in 1232, but died childless. - Henry of Huntingdon (died young)
Her husband David had four illegitimate children by various mistresses.
On her brother Ranulf's death in October 1232 Matilda inherited a share in his estates with her other 3 sisters, and his Earldom of Chester suo jure. Less than a month later with the consent of the King, Matilda gave an inter vivos gift of the Earldom to her son John the Scot
John de Scotia, 9th Earl of Huntingdon
John of Scotland , Earl of Huntingdon and 7th Earl of Chester , sometimes known as "the Scot", was an Anglo-Scottish magnate, the son of David of Scotland, Earl of Huntingdon by his wife Matilda of Chester, daughter of Hugh de Kevelioc.John married Elen ferch Llywelyn, daughter of Llywelyn the...
who became Earl of Chester by right of his mother. He was formally invested by King Henry III as Earl of Chester on 21 November 1232.. He became Earl of Chester in his own right on the death of his mother six weeks later.
Matilda died on 6 January 1233 at the age of about sixty-two. Her husband had died in 1219. In 1290, upon the death of Margaret, Maid of Norway
Margaret, Maid of Norway
Margaret , usually known as the Maid of Norway , sometimes known as Margaret of Scotland , was a Norwegian princess who was Queen of Scots from 1286 until her death...
, which caused the extinction of the legitimate line of William I, the descendants of David and Matilda became the prime competitors for the crown of Scotland
Competitors for the Crown of Scotland
With the death of Alexander III of Scotland in 1286 without a male heir, the throne of Scotland had become the possession of the three-year old Margaret, Maid of Norway, the granddaughter of the King...
. Through their daughter, Isobel, they were the direct ancestors of the renowned Scottish King, Robert the Bruce.