Maurice de Moravia, Earl of Strathearn
Encyclopedia
Maurice de Moravia, Earl of Strathearn (de Moray, Murray) (died 1346) was a Scottish
soldier.
He was the oldest of the sons of Sir John de Moravia of Drumsagard
("ridge of the priest"), and appears in sources for the first time in October 1334, as the Sheriff
of Lanark
. By this point he had become a powerful military leader, being styled by Walter Bower
"Lord of Clydesdale". In 1339, Maurice served under Robert Stewart
at the siege of Perth
, but when King David II
returned from exile in France
in 1341, Maurice became a royal favourite and was used by King David against Stewart, his rival and heir.
Maurice held Stirling Castle
for David from 1342, and was granted the baronies of Strathaven
(Lanarkshire
) and Hawick
(Roxburghshire
). On October 31, 1343, King David assigned to Maurice the forfeited Earldom of Strathearn. Maurice had a vague claim to this earldom, as in 1339 he had married Joanna of Menteith, widow of Maol Íosa IV, Earl of Strathearn
. Despite the royal grant, the legality of Maurice's possession was challenged, partly because a parliament at Perth in 1339 had cleared the previous earl, Maol Íosa V
, of treason. However, as Maol Íosa V had surrendered his earldom to Edward Balliol
, the parliament of Scone
in June 1344 declared the earldom forfeit and confirmed the possession of Maurice. Earl Maurice continued his service as a royal retainer and by 1346 was made Justiciar of Scotia
.
Earl Maurice was killed at the Battle of Neville's Cross
on October 17, 1346. Maurice had no known legitimate children, but did have a bastard by the name of Maurice who later found patronage with King David.
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...
soldier.
He was the oldest of the sons of Sir John de Moravia of Drumsagard
Cambuslang
Cambuslang is a suburban town on the south-eastern outskirts of Glasgow, Scotland. It is within the local authority area of South Lanarkshire. Historically, it was a large rural Parish incorporating nearby hamlets of Newton, Flemington, and Halfway. It is known as "the largest village in...
("ridge of the priest"), and appears in sources for the first time in October 1334, as the Sheriff
Sheriff
A sheriff is in principle a legal official with responsibility for a county. In practice, the specific combination of legal, political, and ceremonial duties of a sheriff varies greatly from country to country....
of Lanark
Lanark
Lanark is a small town in the central belt of Scotland. Its population of 8,253 makes it the 100th largest settlement in Scotland. The name is believed to come from the Cumbric Lanerc meaning "clear space, glade"....
. By this point he had become a powerful military leader, being styled by Walter Bower
Walter Bower
Walter Bower , Scottish chronicler, was born about 1385 at Haddington, East Lothian.He was abbot of Inchcolm Abbey from 1418, was one of the commissioners for the collection of the ransom of James I, King of Scots, in 1423 and 1424, and in 1433 one of the embassy to Paris on the business of the...
"Lord of Clydesdale". In 1339, Maurice served under Robert Stewart
Robert II of Scotland
Robert II became King of Scots in 1371 as the first monarch of the House of Stewart. He was the son of Walter Stewart, hereditary High Steward of Scotland and of Marjorie Bruce, daughter of Robert I and of his first wife Isabella of Mar...
at the siege of Perth
Perth, Scotland
Perth is a town and former city and royal burgh in central Scotland. Located on the banks of the River Tay, it is the administrative centre of Perth and Kinross council area and the historic county town of Perthshire...
, but when King David II
David II of Scotland
David II was King of Scots from 7 June 1329 until his death.-Early life:...
returned from exile in France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
in 1341, Maurice became a royal favourite and was used by King David against Stewart, his rival and heir.
Maurice held Stirling Castle
Stirling Castle
Stirling Castle, located in Stirling, is one of the largest and most important castles, both historically and architecturally, in Scotland. The castle sits atop Castle Hill, an intrusive crag, which forms part of the Stirling Sill geological formation. It is surrounded on three sides by steep...
for David from 1342, and was granted the baronies of Strathaven
Strathaven
Strathaven is a historic market town in South Lanarkshire, Scotland. The town was granted a Royal Charter in 1450, making the Town of Strathaven a burgh of barony. The town's principal industry was primarily weaving in the 19th and early 20th centuries, however this declined when faced by...
(Lanarkshire
Lanarkshire
Lanarkshire or the County of Lanark ) is a Lieutenancy area, registration county and former local government county in the central Lowlands of Scotland...
) and Hawick
Hawick
Hawick is a town in the Scottish Borders of south east Scotland. It is south-west of Jedburgh and south-southeast of Selkirk. It is one of the farthest towns from the sea in Scotland, in the heart of Teviotdale, and the biggest town in the former county of Roxburghshire. Hawick's architecture is...
(Roxburghshire
Roxburghshire
Roxburghshire or the County of Roxburgh is a registration county of Scotland. It borders Dumfries to the west, Selkirk to the north-west, and Berwick to the north. To the south-east it borders Cumbria and Northumberland in England.It was named after the Royal Burgh of Roxburgh...
). On October 31, 1343, King David assigned to Maurice the forfeited Earldom of Strathearn. Maurice had a vague claim to this earldom, as in 1339 he had married Joanna of Menteith, widow of Maol Íosa IV, Earl of Strathearn
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....
. Despite the royal grant, the legality of Maurice's possession was challenged, partly because a parliament at Perth in 1339 had cleared the previous earl, Maol Íosa V
Maol Íosa V, Earl of Strathearn
Maol Íosa V of Strathearn 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....
, of treason. However, as Maol Íosa V had surrendered his earldom to 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:...
, the parliament of 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...
in June 1344 declared the earldom forfeit and confirmed the possession of Maurice. Earl Maurice continued his service as a royal retainer and by 1346 was made Justiciar of Scotia
Justiciar of Scotia
The Justiciar of Scotia was the most senior legal office in the High Medieval Kingdom of Scotland. Scotia in this context refers to Scotland to the north of the River Forth and River Clyde....
.
Earl Maurice was killed at the Battle of Neville's Cross
Battle of Neville's Cross
The Battle of Neville's Cross took place to the west of Durham, England on 17 October 1346.-Background:In 1346, England was embroiled in the Hundred Years' War with France. In order to divert his enemy Philip VI of France appealed to David II of Scotland to attack the English from the north in...
on October 17, 1346. Maurice had no known legitimate children, but did have a bastard by the name of Maurice who later found patronage with King David.