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Ferchar, Earl of Strathearn

 

 
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Ferchar, Earl of Strathearn
 
 
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Mormaer
Mormaer

The title of Mormaer designates a regional or provincial ruler in the medieval Kingdom of the Scots. In theory, although not always in practice, a Mormaer was second only to the Kings of Scots, and the senior of a toisech....
 Ferchar (fl. 1138) is the second earliest known Mormaer of Strathearn, but as with other Mormaerdoms, this is simply a source problem and in no way means the he actually was the second.

Ferchar, like his predecessor Máel Ísu I, is largely absent from the witness lists of Scottish royal charter
Charter

A charter is the grant of authority or rights, stating that the granter formally recognizes the prerogative of the recipient to exercise the rights specified....
s, indicating a lack of involvement with the Franco-Gaelic Kings of the Scots
List of monarchs of Scotland

The monarch of Scotland was the head of state of the Kingdom of Scotland. According to tradition, the first King of Scots was Kenneth MacAlpin , who founded the state in 843, although this is no longer taken seriously by historians....
. However, after the defeat of the Scottish army at the Battle of the Standard
Battle of the Standard

The Battle of the Standard, sometimes called the Battle of Northallerton, in which History of the British Army repelled a Military of Scotland, took place on 22 August 1138 on Cowton Moor near Northallerton in Yorkshire....
, his father Máel Ísu was required to give a son as a hostage; it is possible, but of course not certain, that this son was Ferchar.

It is clear that Ferchar was regarded as the most important native Scottish noble of his time, especially during the minority of Donnchad II, Mormaer of Fife.






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Mormaer
Mormaer

The title of Mormaer designates a regional or provincial ruler in the medieval Kingdom of the Scots. In theory, although not always in practice, a Mormaer was second only to the Kings of Scots, and the senior of a toisech....
 Ferchar (fl. 1138) is the second earliest known Mormaer of Strathearn, but as with other Mormaerdoms, this is simply a source problem and in no way means the he actually was the second.

Ferchar, like his predecessor Máel Ísu I, is largely absent from the witness lists of Scottish royal charter
Charter

A charter is the grant of authority or rights, stating that the granter formally recognizes the prerogative of the recipient to exercise the rights specified....
s, indicating a lack of involvement with the Franco-Gaelic Kings of the Scots
List of monarchs of Scotland

The monarch of Scotland was the head of state of the Kingdom of Scotland. According to tradition, the first King of Scots was Kenneth MacAlpin , who founded the state in 843, although this is no longer taken seriously by historians....
. However, after the defeat of the Scottish army at the Battle of the Standard
Battle of the Standard

The Battle of the Standard, sometimes called the Battle of Northallerton, in which History of the British Army repelled a Military of Scotland, took place on 22 August 1138 on Cowton Moor near Northallerton in Yorkshire....
, his father Máel Ísu was required to give a son as a hostage; it is possible, but of course not certain, that this son was Ferchar.

It is clear that Ferchar was regarded as the most important native Scottish noble of his time, especially during the minority of Donnchad II, Mormaer of Fife. Ferchar is most famous perhaps for leading the so-called Revolt of the Earls
Revolt of the Earls

The Revolt of the Earls in 1075 was a rebellion of three earls against William I of England . It was the last serious act of resistance against William in the Norman Conquest....
, a protest against King Máel Coluim IV
Malcolm IV of Scotland

Malcolm IV , nicknamed Virgo, "the Maiden" , King of Scots, was the eldest son of Henry of Scotland, 3rd Earl of Huntingdon and Ada de Warenne....
's expedition to Toulouse
Toulouse

Toulouse is a commune of France in southwest France on the banks of the Garonne, half-way between the Atlantic Ocean and the Mediterranean Sea....
 in the entourage of his overlord Henry II of England
Henry II of England

Henry II, called Curtmantle ruled as King of England , Count of Anjou, Duke of Normandy, Duke of Aquitaine, Duke of Gascony, Count of Nantes, Lord of Ireland and, at various times, controlled parts of Wales, Scotland and western France....
. King Máel Coluim seems to have believed the revolt to have some justification
Justification

Justification can mean:*theory of justification*Justification *Justification ** Justification Bibliography *Justification *Rationalization ...
, as there is no evidence that any retribution
Retributive justice

Retributive justice is a theory of justice that considers that punishment, if Eye for an eye, is a morally acceptable response to crime, with an eye to the satisfaction and psychological benefits it can bestow to the aggrieved party, its intimates and society....
 was taken against either Ferchar or any of the other six Mormaers involved.

Ferchar married a woman named Ethne. He had three sons, Gille Brigte
Gille Brigte, Earl of Strathearn

Gille Brigte of Strathearn is the third known Mormaer of Strathearn. He is one of the most famous of the Strathearn mormaers. He succeeded his father Ferchar, Earl of Strathearn in 1171....
, Máel Ísu and Christian. The first of these succeeded him to the Mormaerdom.

Bibliography

  • Neville, Cynthia J., Native Lordship in Medieval Scotland: The Earldoms of Strathearn and Lennox, c. 1140-1365, (Portland & Dublin, 2005)