Causantín, Earl of Fife
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Causantín of Fife is the first man we know for certain to have been Mormaer of Fife. Causantín's floruit
can be placed between 1095 and 1128. Very little is known about his life and reign as Mormaer of Fife. His father, for instance, is not known by name. He may have been the son or grandson of the Mac Duib who gave rise to William Shakespeare's character Macduff
; the latter being the son of Giric, son of Cináed mac Duib
, king of Alba (997-1005). His role as a senior lawman makes it likely that he spent some time in his early life at a native Scottish law school, but this is simply reasoned conjecture.
His first appearance in history is a charter dated to 1095, he appears as Constantinus filius Magduffe. The historian John Bannerman suggests that this represents a translation of Causantín mac meic Duib. Here, mac meic means grandson, or ancestor, in the same way that the Irish used Ua. The mac meic formula can be shown in Ireland. The Annals of Ulster
(s.a. 1028), for instance, used this formula where they would later use Ua. If Bannerman's suggestion is correct, the charter is calling Causantin the "descendant of Dub
" rather than a son of a man with the name MacDuib (=Clan MacDuff
). Similar examples can, again, be seen for the more extensive evidence offered by contemporary Ireland. For example, the Annals of Ulster style Tadg, son of Muiredach, as Mac Carthaig, but it was Tadg's grandfather (and Muiredach's father) who was called Carthach. By comparison, the Annals of Innisfallen call the same man mac meic Carthaig. Staying in Ireland, the Kings of Cenél nEógain
call themselves Meic Lochlainn. One is called Conchobar mac Meic Lochlainn; This very same kindred were also known as the Uí Lochlainn (AU, s.a. 1102 & 1109).
In the 1128, in the fourth year of the reign of King David I of Scotland
, Causantín appears as Magnus Judex in Scotia, "High Brithem
" of Scotland north of the river Forth
, an office held to be the Gaelic precursor to what would become the Justiciarship of Scotia
. In this role, he appears alongside the Judex Máel Domnaich mac Meic Bethad (Maldoven son of Macbeth) as arbitrator in a land dispute between a knight called Robert of Burgon (aka Robert the Burgundian, who owned the estate of Lochore
,which bordered the disputed territory), and the Céli Dé
of St Serf's Inch
. In this case, both Causantín and Máel Domnaich chose to defer to the superior legal wisdom of another Judex, Dubgall mac Mocche (Dufgal son of Mochta(?)). Causantín appears in a charter of King David's, dated 1126, giving confirmation of the rights of Dunfermline Priory
and promoting it to Abbey status. His name occurs as a witness, alongside bishops John of Glasgow
, Robert of St Andrews
, Cormac of Dunkeld
, Gregoir of Moray
, Mac Bethad of Rosemarkie
, and mormaers Máel Ísu of Strathearn
, Ruadrí of Mar
, Matad of Atholl
, as well as his kinsman, Gille Míchéil, chief of Clann meic Duib
and others. It so happens that Causantín appears to have gotten involved in several disputes with the said monastery, and he is alleged to have withheld lands around Kirkcaldy which had been granted to the monastery.
He appears to have been dead by 1130, when another member of the Mac Duib kindred, the Gille Míchéil who appeared alongside Causantín in the charter of 1126, is ruling as mormaer; although the latter may have been using the title comes (mormaer) as early as 1126, and had been using the style Mac Duib since at least 1126. Donnchad I
, who succeeded Gille Mícheil, may have been Causantín's son.
Floruit
Floruit , abbreviated fl. , is a Latin verb meaning "flourished", denoting the period of time during which something was active...
can be placed between 1095 and 1128. Very little is known about his life and reign as Mormaer of Fife. His father, for instance, is not known by name. He may have been the son or grandson of the Mac Duib who gave rise to William Shakespeare's character Macduff
Macduff (thane)
Macduff, the Thane of Fife, is a character in William Shakespeare's Macbeth . Macduff plays a pivotal role in the play: he suspects Macbeth of regicide and eventually kills Macbeth in the final act...
; the latter being the son of Giric, son of Cináed mac Duib
Kenneth III of Scotland
Cináed mac Duib anglicised as Kenneth III, and nicknamed An Donn, "the Chief" or "the Brown", was King of Scots from 997 to 1005. He was the son of Dub...
, king of Alba (997-1005). His role as a senior lawman makes it likely that he spent some time in his early life at a native Scottish law school, but this is simply reasoned conjecture.
His first appearance in history is a charter dated to 1095, he appears as Constantinus filius Magduffe. The historian John Bannerman suggests that this represents a translation of Causantín mac meic Duib. Here, mac meic means grandson, or ancestor, in the same way that the Irish used Ua. The mac meic formula can be shown in Ireland. The Annals of Ulster
Annals of Ulster
The Annals of Ulster are annals of medieval Ireland. The entries span the years between AD 431 to AD 1540. The entries up to AD 1489 were compiled in the late 15th century by the scribe Ruaidhrí Ó Luinín, under his patron Cathal Óg Mac Maghnusa on the island of Belle Isle on Lough Erne in the...
(s.a. 1028), for instance, used this formula where they would later use Ua. If Bannerman's suggestion is correct, the charter is calling Causantin the "descendant of Dub
Dub of Scotland
Dub mac Maíl Coluim , sometimes anglicised as Duff MacMalcolm, called Dén, "the Vehement" and Niger, "the Black" was king of Alba...
" rather than a son of a man with the name MacDuib (=Clan MacDuff
Clan MacDuff
Clan MacDuff is a Scottish armigerous clan, which is registered with Lyon Court, though currently without a chief. Moncreiffe wrote that the Clan MacDuff was the premier clan among the Scottish Gaels. The early chiefs of Clan MacDuff were the Earls of Fife...
). Similar examples can, again, be seen for the more extensive evidence offered by contemporary Ireland. For example, the Annals of Ulster style Tadg, son of Muiredach, as Mac Carthaig, but it was Tadg's grandfather (and Muiredach's father) who was called Carthach. By comparison, the Annals of Innisfallen call the same man mac meic Carthaig. Staying in Ireland, the Kings of Cenél nEógain
Cenél nEógain
Cenél nEóġain is the name of the "kindred" or descendants of Eógan mac Néill , son of Niall Noígiallach who founded the kingdom of Tír Eoghain in the 5th century...
call themselves Meic Lochlainn. One is called Conchobar mac Meic Lochlainn; This very same kindred were also known as the Uí Lochlainn (AU, s.a. 1102 & 1109).
In the 1128, in the fourth year of the reign of King David I of Scotland
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...
, Causantín appears as Magnus Judex in Scotia, "High Brithem
Brehon
Brehon is the term in Gaelic-Irish culture for a judge. The Brehons were part of the system of "Brehon Law". The Brehons wore yellow robes when delivering verdicts. Several dozen families were recognised as hereditary brehon clans.-See also:* Mac an Bhaird...
" of Scotland north of the river Forth
River Forth
The River Forth , long, is the major river draining the eastern part of the central belt of Scotland.The Forth rises in Loch Ard in the Trossachs, a mountainous area some west of Stirling...
, an office held to be the Gaelic precursor to what would become the Justiciarship 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....
. In this role, he appears alongside the Judex Máel Domnaich mac Meic Bethad (Maldoven son of Macbeth) as arbitrator in a land dispute between a knight called Robert of Burgon (aka Robert the Burgundian, who owned the estate of Lochore
Lochore
Lochore is a former mining village in Fife, Scotland. It takes its name from the nearby Loch Ore.It is largely joined to the adjacent villages of Ballingry to the north and Crosshill to the south.-Education:...
,which bordered the disputed territory), and the Céli Dé
Culdee
Céli Dé or Culdees were originally members of ascetic Christian monastic and eremitical communities of Ireland, Scotland and England in the Middle Ages. The term is used of St. John the Apostle, of a missioner from abroad recorded in the Annals of the Four Masters at the year 806, and of Óengus...
of St Serf's Inch
St Serf's Inch
St Serf's Inch or St Serf's Island is an island in Loch Leven, in south-eastern Perth and Kinross, Scotland. It was the home of a Culdee and then an Augustinian monastic community, St Serf's Inch Priory.-History:...
. In this case, both Causantín and Máel Domnaich chose to defer to the superior legal wisdom of another Judex, Dubgall mac Mocche (Dufgal son of Mochta(?)). Causantín appears in a charter of King David's, dated 1126, giving confirmation of the rights of Dunfermline Priory
Dunfermline Abbey
Dunfermline Abbey is as a Church of Scotland Parish Church located in Dunfermline, Fife, Scotland. In 2002 the congregation had 806 members. The minister is the Reverend Alastair Jessamine...
and promoting it to Abbey status. His name occurs as a witness, alongside bishops John of Glasgow
John the Chaplain
John was an early 12th century Tironensian cleric. He was the chaplain and close confident of King David I of Scotland, before becoming Bishop of Glasgow and founder of Glasgow Cathedral. He was one of the most significant religious reformers in the history of Scotland...
, Robert of St Andrews
Robert of Scone
Robert of Scone was a 12th century bishop of Cell Rígmonaid . Robert's exact origins are unclear. He was an Augustinian canon at the Priory of St. Oswalds, at Nostell...
, Cormac of Dunkeld
Cormac of Dunkeld
Cormac, Bishop of Dunkeld is the earliest recorded Bishop of Dunkeld in the 12th century, although he was not the first bishop of Dunkeld. It is possible, that he was the first bishop of Dunkeld distinct from the abbot, but there is no evidence for this...
, Gregoir of Moray
Gregoir of Moray
Gregoir of Moray [Giric, Gregory] is the first attested Bishop of Moray. His name occur in witness lists in two charters. The first is the witness list appended to a charter of King Alexander I of Scotland defining the legal powers held by Priory of Scone...
, Mac Bethad of Rosemarkie
Mac Bethad of Rosemarkie
Mac Bethad is the first recorded High Medieval Bishop of Ross, a See then located at Rosemarkie.He makes his only historical appearance as Macbeth Rosmarkensis Episcopus Mac Bethad (fl. 1127 x 1131) is the first recorded High Medieval Bishop of Ross, a See then located at Rosemarkie.He makes his...
, and mormaers Máel Ísu of Strathearn
Máel Ísu I, Earl of Strathearn
Máel Ísu I , , is the earliest known Mormaer of Strathearn...
, Ruadrí of Mar
Ruadrí, Earl of Mar
Ruadrí of Mar is the first known Mormaer of Mar from the 12th century, although that the mormaerdom was much older. For instance, there was a Mormaer of Mar at the Battle of Clontarf, 1014....
, Matad of Atholl
Matad, Earl of Atholl
Matad of Atholl was Mormaer of Atholl, 1130s-1153/9.It is possible that he was granted the Mormaerdom by a King of Scotland, as suggested by Roberts, rather than merely inheriting it. However, this is unlikely. If he did inherit it, he inherited it from his father, Máel Muire...
, as well as his kinsman, Gille Míchéil, chief of Clann meic Duib
Gille Míchéil, Earl of Fife
Mormaer Gille Míchéil, is the second man we know for certain to have been Mormaer of Fife from 1130 to 1133, although it is unlikely he actually was the second. He had at least one son, called Aed...
and others. It so happens that Causantín appears to have gotten involved in several disputes with the said monastery, and he is alleged to have withheld lands around Kirkcaldy which had been granted to the monastery.
He appears to have been dead by 1130, when another member of the Mac Duib kindred, the Gille Míchéil who appeared alongside Causantín in the charter of 1126, is ruling as mormaer; although the latter may have been using the title comes (mormaer) as early as 1126, and had been using the style Mac Duib since at least 1126. Donnchad I
Donnchad I, Earl of Fife
Mormaer Donnchad I , anglicized as Duncan or Dunecan, was the first Gaelic magnate to have his territory regranted to him by feudal charter, by David I in 1136. Donnchad I, as head of the native Scottish nobility, had the job of introducing and conducting King Máel Coluim IV around the Kingdom upon...
, who succeeded Gille Mícheil, may have been Causantín's son.