Alexander Comyn, Earl of Buchan
Alexander Comyn, 2nd Earl Buchan | |
|---|---|
.svg) Coat of arms as Earl of Buchan. | |
| Guardian of Scotland | |
| In office 1286–1289 | |
| Preceded by | Duncan Macduff |
| Succeeded by | James Stewart |
| Justiciar of Scotia | |
| In office 1258–1289 | |
| Preceded by | Alan Durward |
| Succeeded by | Andreas de Moravia |
| Constable of Scotland | |
| In office 1275–1289 | |
| Preceded by | Marjory Countess of Buchan |
| Succeeded by | John Comyn |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Unknown (circa 1218) Buchan, Aberdeenshire |
| Died | Unknown (late 1289) Northern Scotland |
| Spouse | Elizabeth de Quincy |
| Children | Roger, Marjorie, Elisabetha, William, Emma, John, Elena |
| Occupation | Sheriff, baillie |
| Also served as Sheriff of Wigtown and Dingwall and Baillie of Inverie. Dates of rule unknown. | |
Alexander Comyn, 2nd Earl of Buchan (died 1289) was a Scoto-Norman magnate who was one of the most important figures in the 13th century Kingdom of Scotland. He was the son of William Comyn, jure uxoris Earl of Buchan, and Marjory, Countess of Buchan, the heiress of the last native Scottish Mormaer of Buchan, Fergus. He was the chief counsellor of Alexander III, King of Scots for the entire period of the king's majority and, as Scotland's leading magnate, played a key role in safeguarding the independence of the Scottish monarchy. During his long career, Alexander Comyn was Justiciar of Scotia (1258–89), Constable of Scotland (1275–89),[1] Sheriff of Wigtown (1263–66), Sheriff of Dingwall (1264–66), Ballie of Inverie (in Knoydart) and finally, Guardian of Scotland (1286–89) during the first interregnum following the death of Alexander III. In 1284 he joined with other Scottish noblemen who acknowledged Margaret of Norway as the heiress to King Alexander.[2] He died sometime after 10 July 1289.
Alexander had at least nine children with his wife, Elizabeth, daughter of Roger de Quincy, 2nd Earl of Winchester:
- John Comyn, 3rd Earl of Buchan, Alexander's successor as Earl of Buchan
- Roger
- Lord Alexander Comyn, sheriff of Aberdeen, married Joan, sister of William le Latimer, and had issue. Henry de Beaumont would claim the Earldom of Buchan through marriage to their daughter, Alice.
- Lord William Comyn, Provost of St. Mary's Church, St. Andrews
- Lady Marjorie Comyn, m. Patrick Dunbar, 8th Earl of Dunbar
- Lady Agnes Egidia Comyn, m. Maol Íosa III, Earl of Strathearn
- Lady Elisabetha Comyn, m. Gilbert de Umfraville, 1st Earl of Angus
- Lady Elena Comyn, m. Sir William de Brechin
- Lady Annora Comyn, m. Nicholas de Soules
References
Notes
Sources
- Rymer, Thomas,Foedera Conventiones, Literae et cuiuscunque generis Acta Publica inter Reges Angliae. London. 1745. (Latin) [1]
- Young, Alan, Robert the Bruce's Rivals: The Comyns, 1213-1314, (East Linton, 1997)
- Young, Alan & Cumming, George, The Real Patriots of Early Scottish Independence, Birlinn, (Edinburgh, 2014)