Thomas de Lundin
Encyclopedia
Thomas de Lundin, often referred to as Thomas l'Ussier or Thomas Durward , was a 13th century Scottish nobleman.
Thomas takes his name from the villa of Lundie
in Angus
(not to be confused with Lundie in Fife
), and was one of two known sons of Máel Coluim of Lundie (the other was Eóghan). His father had married a daughter of Gille Críst, Earl of Mar
. It was for this reason that, after the death of Gille Críst, Thomas challenged the right of his successor Donnchad
. The dispute resulted in a division of the Earldom. Although Donnchad kept the title and most of the territory, Thomas and his family received much of the lowland part of the earldom in compensation.
Thomas was the hostarius of King Alexander II of Scotland
until his own death. It was for this reason that his descendants took the surname "Hostarius" (or Durward). He married a daughter, whose name is not known, of Máel Coluim, Earl of Atholl
, and by her he sired at least two sons, Alan
and Cailean. Thomas appears for the last time in a document dated to 1228.
"Thomas , son of Malcolm of Lunden" who gave the church of Echt (and its revenues) to "God, St. Mary, St Michael and all Saints and to the Abbot and Convent of Scona" at some time between 1214 and 1227. Echt is not far from Birse. "Scona" is Scone, where the Kings of Scots were crowned at that time, so it was arguably the most prestigious abbey in Scotland, which would confirm that Thomas had influential connections. Walter of Lundin, was granted the barony of Benvie (near Dundee) by King David I (1124–53).
Alan Durward, whose lands of Fichlie were forfeited by King Edward of England in 1306-7 because of his (Alan's) support for Robert the Bruce. Fichlie is in Aberdeenshire, but in Strathdon, near Kildrummy. Kildrummy was the seat of the Earls of Mar, and Thomas the Durward failed in his claim to the earldom. There is also a "motte" (the site of a mediaeval castle) at Fichlie. Alan Durward must have been at least an ally if not a follower.
Thomas de Lundin, became Door-ward or Usher to King William the Lion, and was granted large estates in Aberdeenshire. His son Alan the Durward owned even larger estates, which were divided among his three daughters after his death in 1275.
Thomas de Lundin was the son of Malcolm de Lundin and a daughter of Gilchrist, Earl of Mar. Whoever he was, he was already important enough to marry the daughter of one of only about a dozen earls existing at that time. Gilchrist is described as "mysterious", and after his death in 1203 his sons didn't succeed to the earldom of Mar but, after some time, a son of the earl previous to Gilchrist did. Thomas de Lundin subsequently claimed the earldom without success, but was allocated a large part of its territory. His son Alan, as well as the estates in Aberdeenshire, was granted Urquhart on the west side of Loch Ness and probably built the oldest surviving part of Castle Urquhart (today regarded as the best place to see the Loch Ness Monster!). And "Gilbert Durward, as yet another member of the Durward family, was granted the lands of Boleskin on the eastern shores of Loch Ness around the same time as Alan was granted Urquhart"
Thomas takes his name from the villa of Lundie
Lundie
Lundie is a parish and small hamlet in Angus, Scotland, northwest of Dundee, situated at the head of the Dighty valley in the Sidlaws, off the A923 Dundee to Coupar Angus road. The name Lundie probably derives from the Gaelic "lunnd" or "lunndann", meaning "little marsh", although "lon dubh"...
in Angus
Angus
Angus is one of the 32 local government council areas of Scotland, a registration county and a lieutenancy area. The council area borders Aberdeenshire, Perth and Kinross and Dundee City...
(not to be confused with Lundie in Fife
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...
), and was one of two known sons of Máel Coluim of Lundie (the other was Eóghan). His father had married a daughter of Gille Críst, Earl of Mar
Gille Críst, Earl of Mar
Gille Críst of Mar is the fourth known Mormaer of Mar, 1183–1203.His relationship to the previous Mormaer, Morggán, is not totally clear; but Gille Críst was not the son of Morggán, and so his succession could probably be explained by operations of Gaelic succession, but as we know almost nothing...
. It was for this reason that, after the death of Gille Críst, Thomas challenged the right of his successor Donnchad
Donnchadh, Earl of Mar
Donnchadh of Mar is the fifth known Mormaer of Mar, 1203–1244.Donnchadh was the son of Morggán and Agnes. Donnchadh benefited from the introduction of feudal primogeniture as a custom, as it enabled him and his kin to exclude the descendants of Gille Críst, whose contemporary leader was Thomas de...
. The dispute resulted in a division of the Earldom. Although Donnchad kept the title and most of the territory, Thomas and his family received much of the lowland part of the earldom in compensation.
Thomas was the hostarius of King Alexander II of Scotland
Alexander II of Scotland
Alexander II was King of Scots from1214 to his death.-Early life:...
until his own death. It was for this reason that his descendants took the surname "Hostarius" (or Durward). He married a daughter, whose name is not known, of Máel Coluim, Earl of Atholl
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...
, and by her he sired at least two sons, Alan
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...
and Cailean. Thomas appears for the last time in a document dated to 1228.
"Thomas , son of Malcolm of Lunden" who gave the church of Echt (and its revenues) to "God, St. Mary, St Michael and all Saints and to the Abbot and Convent of Scona" at some time between 1214 and 1227. Echt is not far from Birse. "Scona" is Scone, where the Kings of Scots were crowned at that time, so it was arguably the most prestigious abbey in Scotland, which would confirm that Thomas had influential connections. Walter of Lundin, was granted the barony of Benvie (near Dundee) by King David I (1124–53).
Alan Durward, whose lands of Fichlie were forfeited by King Edward of England in 1306-7 because of his (Alan's) support for Robert the Bruce. Fichlie is in Aberdeenshire, but in Strathdon, near Kildrummy. Kildrummy was the seat of the Earls of Mar, and Thomas the Durward failed in his claim to the earldom. There is also a "motte" (the site of a mediaeval castle) at Fichlie. Alan Durward must have been at least an ally if not a follower.
Thomas de Lundin, became Door-ward or Usher to King William the Lion, and was granted large estates in Aberdeenshire. His son Alan the Durward owned even larger estates, which were divided among his three daughters after his death in 1275.
Thomas de Lundin was the son of Malcolm de Lundin and a daughter of Gilchrist, Earl of Mar. Whoever he was, he was already important enough to marry the daughter of one of only about a dozen earls existing at that time. Gilchrist is described as "mysterious", and after his death in 1203 his sons didn't succeed to the earldom of Mar but, after some time, a son of the earl previous to Gilchrist did. Thomas de Lundin subsequently claimed the earldom without success, but was allocated a large part of its territory. His son Alan, as well as the estates in Aberdeenshire, was granted Urquhart on the west side of Loch Ness and probably built the oldest surviving part of Castle Urquhart (today regarded as the best place to see the Loch Ness Monster!). And "Gilbert Durward, as yet another member of the Durward family, was granted the lands of Boleskin on the eastern shores of Loch Ness around the same time as Alan was granted Urquhart"