Walter Comyn, Lord of Badenoch, jure uxoris Earl of Menteith
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Walter Comyn, Lord of Badenoch
, jure uxoris Earl of Menteith
(died 1258) was the son of William Comyn
, Justiciar of Scotia
and Mormaer or Earl of Buchan
by right of his second wife.
Walter makes his first appearance in royal charters as early as 1211–1214. In 1220, he accompanied King Alexander II of Scotland
during the latter's visit to York
. He appears as "Lord of Badenoch" as early as 1229, after the defeat of the Meic Uilleim
by his father. Like his father, Walter was given the hand of an heiress, Isabella, Countess of Menteith
. By 1234, Isabella had inherited the Mormaerdom of Menteith, and so Walter became Mormaer or Earl of Menteith by right of his wife (jure uxoris). Walter appears to have had at least one child, a man called Henry who witnessed a charter, dated to 1250, of Maol Domhnaich
, Mormaer of Lennox.
Walter was one of the leading political figures in the Kingdom of Scotland
, especially during the minority of King Alexander III
, when, along with Alan Durward
, he essentially ran the country. He died suddenly in either the October or November of 1258. By this time, his son Henry must have been dead. Isabella remained countess until 1260–1261, when Walter Stewart
, husband of Isabella's sister Mary, seized the province. As Walter had no surviving male children, the Lordship of Badenoch passed to Walter's nephew John
. John was unable to inherit Menteith.
He is remembered primarily in the proverbial expression Walter of Guiyock's curse, encountered in Sir Walter Scott
's Rob Roy
, under the English and Lowland form of his name, Walter Cuming, where it appears in chapter 29: "... and that they shuld dee the death of Walter Cuming of Guiyock, wha hadna as muckle o'him left thegither as would supper a messan-dog..."
The origin of this is related in Sir Walter Scott's note at that page:
"A great feudal oppressor, who, riding on some cruel purpose through the forest of Guiyock, was thrown from his horse, and his foot being caught in the stirrup, was dragged along by the frightened animal till he was torn to pieces. The expression, “Walter of Guiyock’s curse,” is proverbial."
An accident such as this was supposed to be a curse akin to that dealt upon Walter Cuming for his sins. It was thus that the expression originated.
Lord of Badenoch
The Lord of Badenoch was a magnate who ruled the lordship of Badenoch in the 13th century and early 14th century. The lordship may have been created out of the territory of the Meic Uilleim, after William Comyn, jure uxoris Earl of Buchan, Justiciar of Scotia and Warden of Moray defeated Gille...
, jure uxoris Earl of Menteith
Earl of Menteith
The Mormaer or Earl of Menteith was originally the ruler of the province of Menteith in the Middle Ages. The first mormaer is usually regarded as Gille Críst, simply because he is the earliest on record. The title was held in a continuous line from Gille Crist until Muireadhach IV , although the...
(died 1258) was the son of William Comyn
William Comyn, jure uxoris Earl of Buchan
William Comyn was one of four sons of Richard Comyn, Justiciar of Lothian and Hextilda of Tynedale. He was born in Scotland, in Altyre, Moray in 1163 and died in Buchan in 1233 where he is buried in Deer Abbey...
, 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....
and Mormaer or Earl of Buchan
Earl of Buchan
The Mormaer or Earl of Buchan was originally the provincial ruler of the medieval province of Buchan. Buchan was the first Mormaerdom in the High Medieval Kingdom of the Scots to pass into the hands of a non-Scottish family in the male line. The earldom had three lines in its history, not counting...
by right of his second wife.
Walter makes his first appearance in royal charters as early as 1211–1214. In 1220, he accompanied King Alexander II of Scotland
Alexander II of Scotland
Alexander II was King of Scots from1214 to his death.-Early life:...
during the latter's visit to York
York
York is a walled city, situated at the confluence of the Rivers Ouse and Foss in North Yorkshire, England. The city has a rich heritage and has provided the backdrop to major political events throughout much of its two millennia of existence...
. He appears as "Lord of Badenoch" as early as 1229, after the defeat of the Meic Uilleim
Meic Uilleim
The Meic Uilleim were the Gaelic descendants of William fitz Duncan, grandson of Máel Coluim mac Donnchada, king of Scots. They were excluded from the succession by the descendants of Máel Coluim's son David I during the 12th century and raised a number of rebellions to vindicate their claims to...
by his father. Like his father, Walter was given the hand of an heiress, Isabella, Countess of Menteith
Isabella, Countess of Menteith
Isabella, Countess of Menteith was the eldest daughter of Muireadhach II, Mormaer of Menteith. When the old mormaer died without legitimate male heir in 1233, the province passed to Isabella....
. By 1234, Isabella had inherited the Mormaerdom of Menteith, and so Walter became Mormaer or Earl of Menteith by right of his wife (jure uxoris). Walter appears to have had at least one child, a man called Henry who witnessed a charter, dated to 1250, of Maol Domhnaich
Maol Domhnaich, Earl of Lennox
Mormaer Maol Domhnaich was the son of Mormaer Ailín II, and ruled Lennox 1217–1250.Like his predecessor Ailín II, he showed absolutely no interest in extending an inviting hand to oncoming French or English settlers...
, Mormaer of Lennox.
Walter was one of the leading political figures in the Kingdom of Scotland
Kingdom of Scotland
The Kingdom of Scotland was a Sovereign state in North-West Europe that existed from 843 until 1707. It occupied the northern third of the island of Great Britain and shared a land border to the south with the Kingdom of England...
, especially during the minority of King Alexander III
Alexander III of Scotland
Alexander III was King of Scots from 1249 to his death.-Life:...
, when, along with Alan Durward
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...
, he essentially ran the country. He died suddenly in either the October or November of 1258. By this time, his son Henry must have been dead. Isabella remained countess until 1260–1261, when Walter Stewart
Walter Bailloch
Walter Bailloch or Walter Bailloch Stewart , was third son of Walter Stewart, 3rd High Steward of Scotland, and Earl of Menteith jure uxoris. His wife was Mary I, Countess of Menteith...
, husband of Isabella's sister Mary, seized the province. As Walter had no surviving male children, the Lordship of Badenoch passed to Walter's nephew John
John I Comyn, Lord of Badenoch
John Comyn was Lord of Badenoch in Scotland. He was justiciar of Galloway in 1258. He held lands in Nithsdale and Tynedale.-Life:...
. John was unable to inherit Menteith.
He is remembered primarily in the proverbial expression Walter of Guiyock's curse, encountered in Sir Walter Scott
Walter Scott
Sir Walter Scott, 1st Baronet was a Scottish historical novelist, playwright, and poet, popular throughout much of the world during his time....
's Rob Roy
Rob Roy (novel)
Rob Roy is a historical novel by Walter Scott. It is narrated by Frank Osbaldistone, the son of an English merchant who travels first to the North of England, and subsequently to the Scottish Highlands to collect a debt stolen from his father. On the way he encounters the larger-than-life title...
, under the English and Lowland form of his name, Walter Cuming, where it appears in chapter 29: "... and that they shuld dee the death of Walter Cuming of Guiyock, wha hadna as muckle o'him left thegither as would supper a messan-dog..."
The origin of this is related in Sir Walter Scott's note at that page:
"A great feudal oppressor, who, riding on some cruel purpose through the forest of Guiyock, was thrown from his horse, and his foot being caught in the stirrup, was dragged along by the frightened animal till he was torn to pieces. The expression, “Walter of Guiyock’s curse,” is proverbial."
An accident such as this was supposed to be a curse akin to that dealt upon Walter Cuming for his sins. It was thus that the expression originated.