Walter Fitzalan
Encyclopedia
Walter fitz Alan was the 1st hereditary High Steward of Scotland
(ca. 1150-1177), and described as "a Norman by culture and by blood a Breton". He was the third son of a Breton knight, Alan fitz Flaad, feudal lord of Oswestry
, by his spouse Aveline, daughter of Ernoulf de Hesdin.
took hold in England and civil war between Empress Matilda
and Stephen
, Walter rallied to the support of the Empress. Her cause lost, Walter befriended David I
who was an uncle of Matilda, and became, appropriately, David's Dapifer or Steward. Accompanied by his brother Simon, Walter came to Scotland about 1136 and fought for Scotland at the Battle of the Standard
at Northallerton
in 1138 under the command of David I's son, Prince Henry
.
, Steward of Scotland; in 1157 it was confirmed as a hereditary office. David also granted him what eventually comprised Renfrewshire
, for the service of five knights; the lands of Paisley
, Pollok
, Cathcart
, and Ayrshire
, reconfirmed in a charter in 1157 by Malcolm IV
. In 1163 Walter founded, first at Renfrew
but shortly afterwards at Paisley
, a house of monks of the Cluniac order
drawn from the priory of Much Wenlock
, in his native county of Shropshire. Walter acquired directly from the Crown the Berwickshire
estates of Birkenside and Legerwood
on the eastern or left bank of the Leader Water and presented to the monks the church of Legerwood, which they held from 1164 until the Reformation
in 1560. The monastery steadily grew and by 1219 became Paisley Abbey
.
In 1164 he led a force which defeated Somerled
, King of the Hebrides (Gaelic "ri Innse Gall") in the Battle of Renfrew
.
, the burying-place of his family before their later accession to the throne.
. Upon Walter's death his widow married Henry de Molle, whose new surname is probably taken from his wife's lands.
She and Walter had three children:
High Steward of Scotland
The title of High Steward or Great Steward was given in the 12th century to Walter Fitzalan, whose descendants became the House of Stewart. In 1371, the last High Steward inherited the throne, and thereafter the title of High Steward of Scotland has been held as a subsidiary title to that of Duke...
(ca. 1150-1177), and described as "a Norman by culture and by blood a Breton". He was the third son of a Breton knight, Alan fitz Flaad, feudal lord of Oswestry
Oswestry
Oswestry is a town and civil parish in Shropshire, England, close to the Welsh border. It is at the junction of the A5, A483, and A495 roads....
, by his spouse Aveline, daughter of Ernoulf de Hesdin.
To Scotland
When The AnarchyThe Anarchy
The Anarchy or The Nineteen-Year Winter was a period of English history during the reign of King Stephen, which was characterised by civil war and unsettled government...
took hold in England and civil war between Empress Matilda
Empress Matilda
Empress Matilda , also known as Matilda of England or Maude, was the daughter and heir of King Henry I of England. Matilda and her younger brother, William Adelin, were the only legitimate children of King Henry to survive to adulthood...
and Stephen
Stephen of England
Stephen , often referred to as Stephen of Blois , was a grandson of William the Conqueror. He was King of England from 1135 to his death, and also the Count of Boulogne by right of his wife. Stephen's reign was marked by the Anarchy, a civil war with his cousin and rival, the Empress Matilda...
, Walter rallied to the support of the Empress. Her cause lost, Walter befriended 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...
who was an uncle of Matilda, and became, appropriately, David's Dapifer or Steward. Accompanied by his brother Simon, Walter came to Scotland about 1136 and fought for Scotland at the Battle of the Standard
Battle of the Standard
The Battle of the Standard, sometimes called the Battle of Northallerton, in which English forces repelled a Scottish army, took place on 22 August 1138 on Cowton Moor near Northallerton in Yorkshire. The Scottish forces were led by King David I of Scotland...
at Northallerton
Northallerton
Northallerton is an affluent market town and civil parish in the Hambleton district of North Yorkshire, England. It lies in the Vale of Mowbray and at the northern end of the Vale of York. It has a population of 15,741 according to the 2001 census...
in 1138 under the command of David I's son, Prince Henry
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....
.
Career
He was subsequently appointed by King David IDavid 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...
, Steward of Scotland; in 1157 it was confirmed as a hereditary office. David also granted him what eventually comprised Renfrewshire
Renfrewshire (historic)
Renfrewshire or the County of Renfrew is a registration county, the Lieutenancy area of the Lord Lieutenant of Renfrewshire, and one of the counties of Scotland used for local government until 1975. Renfrewshire is located in the West Central Lowlands of Scotland, south of the River Clyde,...
, for the service of five knights; the lands of Paisley
Paisley
Paisley is the largest town in the historic county of Renfrewshire in the west central Lowlands of Scotland and serves as the administrative centre for the Renfrewshire council area...
, Pollok
Pollok
Pollok is a large district on the south-western side of the city of Glasgow, Scotland. It was built to house families from the overcrowded inner city...
, Cathcart
Cathcart
Cathcart is an area of Glasgow between Mount Florida, King's Park, Muirend and Newlands. The White Cart Water flows through Cathcart, downstream from Linn Park....
, and Ayrshire
Ayrshire
Ayrshire is a registration county, and former administrative county in south-west Scotland, United Kingdom, located on the shores of the Firth of Clyde. Its principal towns include Ayr, Kilmarnock and Irvine. The town of Troon on the coast has hosted the British Open Golf Championship twice in the...
, reconfirmed in a charter in 1157 by Malcolm IV
Malcolm IV of Scotland
Malcolm IV , nicknamed Virgo, "the Maiden" , King of Scots, was the eldest son of Earl Henry and Ada de Warenne...
. In 1163 Walter founded, first at Renfrew
Renfrew
-Local government:The town of Renfrew gave its name to a number of local government areas used at various times:*Renfrew a town to the west of Glasgow*Renfrewshire, the present unitary local council area in which Renfrew is situatated....
but shortly afterwards at Paisley
Paisley
Paisley is the largest town in the historic county of Renfrewshire in the west central Lowlands of Scotland and serves as the administrative centre for the Renfrewshire council area...
, a house of monks of the Cluniac order
Cluny Abbey
Cluny Abbey is a Benedictine monastery in Cluny, Saône-et-Loire, France. It was built in the Romanesque style, with three churches built in succession from the 10th to the early 12th centuries....
drawn from the priory of Much Wenlock
Much Wenlock
Much Wenlock, earlier known as Wenlock, is a small town in central Shropshire, England. It is situated on the A458 road between Shrewsbury and Bridgnorth. Nearby, to the northeast, is the Ironbridge Gorge, and the new town of Telford...
, in his native county of Shropshire. Walter acquired directly from the Crown the Berwickshire
Berwickshire
Berwickshire or the County of Berwick is a registration county, a committee area of the Scottish Borders Council, and a lieutenancy area of Scotland, on the border with England. The town after which it is named—Berwick-upon-Tweed—was lost by Scotland to England in 1482...
estates of Birkenside and Legerwood
Legerwood
Legerwood is a village by the Eden Water, in the Scottish Borders area of Scotland, near Lauder, near the Southern Upland Way.Legerwood Kirk is outside the village and has been present there since at least 1127....
on the eastern or left bank of the Leader Water and presented to the monks the church of Legerwood, which they held from 1164 until the Reformation
Scottish Reformation
The Scottish Reformation was Scotland's formal break with the Papacy in 1560, and the events surrounding this. It was part of the wider European Protestant Reformation; and in Scotland's case culminated ecclesiastically in the re-establishment of the church along Reformed lines, and politically in...
in 1560. The monastery steadily grew and by 1219 became Paisley Abbey
Paisley Abbey
Paisley Abbey is a former Cluniac monastery, and current Church of Scotland parish kirk, located on the east bank of the White Cart Water in the centre of the town of Paisley, Renfrewshire, in west central Scotland.-History:...
.
In 1164 he led a force which defeated Somerled
Somerled
Somerled was a military and political leader of the Scottish Isles in the 12th century who was known in Gaelic as rí Innse Gall . His father was Gillebride...
, King of the Hebrides (Gaelic "ri Innse Gall") in the Battle of Renfrew
Battle of Renfrew
The Battle of Renfrew in 1164 was a significant engagement near Renfrew, Scotland. The army of King Malcolm IV of Scotland led by Walter fitz Alan was attacked by forces led by Somerled mac Gillebride , including the Celtic King of Mann and the Isles, King of Argyll, Cinn Tìre and Lorne...
.
Death
Walter, The Steward, died in 1177 and was interred in the monastery at PaisleyPaisley
Paisley is the largest town in the historic county of Renfrewshire in the west central Lowlands of Scotland and serves as the administrative centre for the Renfrewshire council area...
, the burying-place of his family before their later accession to the throne.
Marriage
Walter fitz Alan was married to Eschyna de Londoniis, heiress of Uchtred de Molla (Molle) & Huntlaw (territorial designations, not then surnames) and widow of Robert CrocRobert Croc
Sir Robert Croc was an Anglo-Norman Knight and landowner of Scotland in the High Middle Ages. He was gifted the Levern valley in Scotland by King David I of Scotland in 1170....
. Upon Walter's death his widow married Henry de Molle, whose new surname is probably taken from his wife's lands.
She and Walter had three children:
- Alan fitz WalterAlan fitz Walter, 2nd High Steward of ScotlandAlan fitz Walter was hereditary High Steward of Scotland and a crusader.Alan was the eldest son of Walter fitz Alan by his spouse Eschyna de Londoniis, of Molla & Huntlaw, and succeeded, upon his father's death in 1177, as High Steward of Scotland.Alan fitz Walter accompanied Richard the Lionheart...
- Walter fitz Walter
- Margaret fitz Walter