He succeeded as only a child, the son of the previous Mormaer Colbán, who died young. During his minority, William Wishart, Bishop of St Andrews, became custos of the Mormaerdom. Perhaps owing to a power-struggle within the Mormaerdom, the Bishop confiscated some lands from the MacDuib chief, head of Fife's Gaelic society. Later, King Edward I of England ordered the Guardians of Scotland to restore these lands. Donnchadh himself was one of these guardians, responsible for supervising the government of Scotland in the absence of the King. He had in 1284 joined with other Scottish noblemen who acknowledged Margaret of Norway as the heir of Alexander III.[2]
Donnchadh married Johanna (or Joan), daughter of Gilbert de Clare, 7th Earl of Gloucester by his first wife Alice de Lusignan (div. 1271)[3] and had at least two sons, Duncan and an anonymous MacDuibh (=MacDuff). The latter's first name is unknown, but the style implies he was head of Clann mac Duib. He also had a daughter, Isabella, who married John Comyn, Earl of Buchan.
The Mormaer's last historical appearance is in a document (possibly after his death) dated August, 1289. He was murdered in his prime at Pittillock near Falkland, while on his way to Dunfermline, the seat of Scottish government at that time, by some of his kinsmen in September. The Chronicle of Lanercost called the mormaer "cruel and greedy beyond the average" (Barrow, Robert Bruce, p. 332, n. 33). He was buried at Cupar Abbey.
Notesedit
^Donaldson, Gordon, Scottish Historical Documents, Edinburgh, 1970, ISBN0-7011-1604-8 p. 37, in the 1284 document acknowledging the Maid of Norway as heir, he is described as "Duncan, Earl of Fife"
^Richardson, Douglas, Plantagenet Ancestry, Baltimore, 2004, ISBN0-8063-1750-7 p. 505
Referencesedit
Bannerman, John, "MacDuff of Fife," in A. Grant & K.Stringer (eds.) Medieval Scotland: Crown, Lordship and Community, Essays Presented to G.W.S. Barrow, (Edinburgh, 1993), pp. 20–38
Barrow, G. W. S., Robert Bruce and the Community of the Realm of Scotland, (Edinburgh, 1988)
Rymer, Thomas,Foedera Conventiones, Literae et cuiuscunque generis Acta Publica inter Reges Angliae. London. 1745. (Latin) [1]
donnchadh, earl, fife, donnchadh, duncan, earl, fife, mormaer, from, 1270, 1288, donnchadh, iiiearl, fifein, office, 1270, 1288he, succeeded, only, child, previous, mormaer, colbán, died, young, during, minority, william, wishart, bishop, andrews, became, cust. Donnchadh III or Duncan 1 was Earl of Fife or Mormaer from 1270 2 to 1288 Donnchadh IIIEarl of FifeIn office 1270 1288He succeeded as only a child the son of the previous Mormaer Colban who died young During his minority William Wishart Bishop of St Andrews became custos of the Mormaerdom Perhaps owing to a power struggle within the Mormaerdom the Bishop confiscated some lands from the MacDuib chief head of Fife s Gaelic society Later King Edward I of England ordered the Guardians of Scotland to restore these lands Donnchadh himself was one of these guardians responsible for supervising the government of Scotland in the absence of the King He had in 1284 joined with other Scottish noblemen who acknowledged Margaret of Norway as the heir of Alexander III 2 Donnchadh married Johanna or Joan daughter of Gilbert de Clare 7th Earl of Gloucester by his first wife Alice de Lusignan div 1271 3 and had at least two sons Duncan and an anonymous MacDuibh MacDuff The latter s first name is unknown but the style implies he was head of Clann mac Duib He also had a daughter Isabella who married John Comyn Earl of Buchan The Mormaer s last historical appearance is in a document possibly after his death dated August 1289 He was murdered in his prime at Pittillock near Falkland while on his way to Dunfermline the seat of Scottish government at that time by some of his kinsmen in September The Chronicle of Lanercost called the mormaer cruel and greedy beyond the average Barrow Robert Bruce p 332 n 33 He was buried at Cupar Abbey Notes edit Donaldson Gordon Scottish Historical Documents Edinburgh 1970 ISBN 0 7011 1604 8 p 37 in the 1284 document acknowledging the Maid of Norway as heir he is described as Duncan Earl of Fife Foedera p 228 Richardson Douglas Plantagenet Ancestry Baltimore 2004 ISBN 0 8063 1750 7 p 505References editBannerman John MacDuff of Fife in A Grant amp K Stringer eds Medieval Scotland Crown Lordship and Community Essays Presented to G W S Barrow Edinburgh 1993 pp 20 38 Barrow G W S Robert Bruce and the Community of the Realm of Scotland Edinburgh 1988 Rymer Thomas Foedera Conventiones Literae et cuiuscunque generis Acta Publica inter Reges Angliae London 1745 Latin 1 Preceded byColban Mormaer of Fife1270 1288 Succeeded byDonnchadh IV Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Donnchadh III Earl of Fife amp oldid 1081584954, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
