Strathearn
Strathearn or Strath Earn (/stræθˈɜːrn/, from Scottish Gaelic: Srath Èireann) is the strath of the River Earn, in Scotland, extending from Loch Earn in the West to the River Tay in the east.[1] Strathearn was one of the original provinces of the Kingdom of Alba,[2] and was led by a mormaer and then an Earl. The province was bounded on the north by Atholl, north west by Breadalbane, south west by Menteith, south east by Fife, and on the east by Perthia.
History edit
In 904, during the reign of Constantine II of Scotland, sons of Bárid mac Ímair sent a Danish army to attack Strathearn, and were ultimately defeated, the Kingdom of Scotland wasn't attacked by Vikings for the next 50 years.
| Battle of Strathearn | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| |||||||
| Belligerents | |||||||
| Kingdom of Scotland | Uí Ímair | ||||||
| Commanders and leaders | |||||||
| Constantine II of Scotland | Ímar ua Ímair † and more descendants of Ímar | ||||||
The earliest attested mormaer of Strathearn is Mael Ísu I, who is recorded fighting alongside David I at the Battle of the Standard in 1138.[3] Unlike some provinces where the holder of the office of mormaer rotated between kin-groups, the mormaership of Strathearn was dominated by a single family, with a Mael Ísu in every generation until the death of Mael Ísu V in the mid 14th century.[3]
In medieval times, Strathearn was part of the region administered by the sheriff based at Perth. When 19th century local government reforms replaced the ancient provinces by new Counties (shires), based on sheriffdom boundaries, Strathearn, therefore, became the south-central part of Perthshire. As a result of late 20th century reforms, it is now part of Perth and Kinross.
Royal dukedoms of Cumberland and Strathearn, of Kent and Strathearn and of Connaught and Strathearn have been awarded to members of the British Royal Family. Prince William was created Earl of Strathearn, as a subsidiary title to Duke of Cambridge, on 29 April 2011, the day of his wedding to Catherine Middleton.
Other uses edit
"Strathearn" / "Strathern" is also a surname in the United States and Northern Ireland, predominantly in the Bellaghy area of County Londonderry.
See also edit
References edit
- ^ http://www.strathearn.com/st_where.htm Derivation of name
- ^ MacQueen 2008, p. 287.
- ^ a b Broun 2015, p. 27.
Bibliography edit
- Broun, Dauvit (2015). "Statehood and lordship in 'Scotland' before the midtwelfth century". Innes Review. 66 (1): 1–71. doi:10.3366/inr.2015.0084. Retrieved 17 October 2021.
- MacQueen, Hector L. (2008). "Scotland: Politics, Government and Law". In Rigby, S. H. (ed.). A Companion to Britain in the Later Middle Ages. Chichester: John Wiley & Sons. pp. 283–308. ISBN 0470998776.
External links edit
- Historic map showing Strathearn in the Shire of Perth
56°19′57″N 3°40′57″W / 56.33250°N 3.68250°W