Richard de Moravia | |
|---|---|
| Lord of Culbin and Skelbo | |
| Died | c.1245 |
| Buried | Dornoch Cathedral, Dornoch, Sutherland |
| Residence | Skelbo Castle, Dornoch, Sutherland |
| Noble family | Murray family |
| Spouse(s) | Marjorie de Lascelles |
| Issue | Alexander William Malcolm Patrick. |
Richard de Moravia or Richard de Moray of Culbin or of Cubyn, [2] was a Scottish nobleman famed for his victory over the Vikings at the Battle of Embo which took place in Sutherland, Scotland in 1245. [3]
Richard was a son of Murdac (Muiredach), son of Alexander de Moravia. [4] This is proven in a charter from Abbot of Dunfermline, which identifies Richard as "Ric de Moravia fil Murdaci filii Alexandri de Moravia". [5]
He was also either the cousin, [6] [7] or nephew, [8] [7] of Hugh or Hugo de Moravia, also known as Hugh Freskin, [7] who was the first Lord of Sutherland and whose son was William de Moravia, 1st Earl of Sutherland (d.1284). [7] [6] Richard's brother was Gilbert de Moravia (d.1245) who was Bishop of Caithness. [2] [7] Gilbert is also known to have had an older brother John, and a younger brother, Simon. [9]
Richard de Moravia received from his elder brother, Gilbert, all of the lands that Gilbert had received from Hugo Freskyn, [2] (also recorded as Hugo de Moravia) and the charter was confirmed by Alexander II of Scotland. [2] Richard was also given Skelbo Castle by his brother Gilbert in 1235. [10] He also held lands at Kincorth, Kintessoch, Kildun, Ethder, Calder, Newton, Invershin, Ferrinbuscay and Assynt. [11] His wife Marjorie, brought lands at Naughton as part of her dowry. [11]
William, Earl of Sutherland asked Richard de Moravia to engage a party of Danes (Vikings) who had landed at Littleferry, Sutherland until the Earl could come to his aid with a stronger force. [12] The plan worked and the Danes were routed by the arrival of the Earl. [12] [6] However, Richard was killed during the battle. [12] The Earl then arranged for Richard's body to be interred in Dornoch Cathedral and his damaged sarcophagus can still be seen there today. [12] This was known as the Battle of Embo and took place in 1245. [3]
Richard de Moravia married Marjorie Lascelles, [13] widow of Peter Hay, she was the daughter and heiress of Alan de Lascelles. They had four sons: Sir Alexander, William, Sir Malcolm, and Sir Patrick. [14]
Their great-grandson Alan; [13] whose son was Reginald; whose son was Gilbert. [2] Gilbert married Eustachia, daughter of Kenneth de Moravia, 4th Earl of Sutherland. [2] Their son was Walter whose daughter and heiress was Egidia de Moravia who carried the estates of Cubyn (Culbin) and Skelbol (Skelbo) into the Kinnaird family. [2]
Richard de Moravia is also believed to have been the ancestor of the Murray of Aberscross family in Sutherland. [15] [16] [6] The surname de Moravia meaning "of Moray" or "of Murray". [17]
The Murrays of Culbin and Pulrossie were also descendants of Richard. [18] [19] The Murray of Culbin coat of arms is recorded as Sable, three stars argent. [1]
Earl of Sutherland is a title in the Peerage of Scotland. It was created circa 1230 for William de Moravia and is the premier earldom in the Peerage of Scotland. The earl or countess of Sutherland is also the chief of Clan Sutherland.
Dornoch Cathedral is a Church of Scotland parish church serving the small Sutherland town of Dornoch, in the Scottish Highlands. As a congregation of the Church of Scotland, which is Presbyterian, the church is not the seat of a bishop but retains the name due to being, historically, the seat of the Bishop of Caithness. The cathedral's churchyard is adjoined by Dornoch Castle, the somewhat reconstructed remains of the medieval palace of the Bishops of Caithness. It was formerly a Catholic Cathedral.
Clan Sutherland also known as House of Sutherland is a Highland Scottish clan whose traditional territory is the shire of Sutherland in the far north of Scotland. The chief of the clan was also the powerful Earl of Sutherland, however in the early 16th century this title passed through marriage to a younger son of the chief of Clan Gordon. The current chief is Alistair Sutherland who holds the title Earl of Sutherland.
Moray was a province within the area of modern-day Scotland, that may at times up to the 12th century have operated as an independent kingdom or as a power base for competing claimants to the Kingdom of Alba. It covered a much larger territory than the modern council area of Moray, extending approximately from the River Spey in the east to the River Beauly in the north, and encompassing Badenoch, Lochaber and Glenelg in the south and west.
Clan Murray is a Highland Scottish clan. The chief of the Clan Murray holds the title of Duke of Atholl. Their ancestors were the Morays of Bothwell who established the family in Scotland in the 12th century. In the 16th century, descendants of the Morays of Bothwell, the Murrays of Tullibardine, secured the chiefship of the clan and were created Earls of Tullibardine in 1606. The first Earl of Tullibardine married the heiress to the Stewart earldom of Atholl and Atholl therefore became a Murray earldom in 1626. The Murray Earl of Atholl was created Marquess of Atholl in 1676 and in 1703 it became a dukedom. The marquess of Tullibardine title has continued as a subsidiary title, being bestowed on elder sons of the chief until they succeed him as Duke of Atholl.
Gilbert de Moravia, later known as Saint Gilbert of Dornoch, or Gilbert of Caithness, was the most famous Bishop of Caithness and founder of Dornoch Cathedral. His name may suggest that he came from the semi-Gaelicized family of Flemish origin who were Lords of Duffus, and who during Gilbert's episcopate would create the Earldom of Sutherland under Gilbert's possible cousin, William de Moravia, 1st Earl of Sutherland.
Freskin was a Flemish nobleman who settled in Scotland during the reign of King David I, becoming the progenitor of the Murray and Sutherland families, and possibly others.
Skelbo Castle is a ruined 14th century keep, located near Dornoch, Sutherland, Scotland. The remaining wall is best preserved at the northern side of the castle. The remains are protected as a scheduled monument. The castle is located at a former ferry crossing and commanded views over Loch Fleet.
Kenneth de Moravia was the 4th Earl of Sutherland and chief of the Clan Sutherland, a Scottish clan of the Scottish Highlands.
Pulrossie is a farm in Sutherland, in the Highland council area of Scotland. It is situated on the northern shore of the Kyle of Sutherland, 8 km west of Dornoch. Skibo Castle is 1.5 km to the north-east, while Meikle Ferry is 1.5 km south-east.
John Sutherland, was the 7th Earl of Sutherland and chief of the Clan Sutherland, a Scottish clan of the Scottish Highlands.
John Sutherland, was the 8th Earl of Sutherland and chief of the Clan Sutherland, a Scottish clan of the Scottish Highlands.
The Murrays of Aberscross were a minor noble Scottish family who were seated at Aberscross Castle, in the county of Sutherland, Scotland. The Murrays in Sutherland are recorded specifically as a clan in two Acts of the Scottish Parliament of the 16th century.
The Battle of Torran-Roy was a Scottish clan battle that took place in the year 1570 in the county of Sutherland, Scotland. It was fought between the forces of Alexander Gordon, 12th Earl of Sutherland and the forces of George Sinclair, 4th Earl of Caithness. The Earl of Sutherland's force consisted primarily of the Murrays of Aberscross who despite their name were not part of the Clan Murray in Atholl, but who were a sept of the Clan Sutherland, and who as the principal vassals of the Earl of Sutherland, were charged with the defense of the shire. The Earl of Caithness's forces consisted primarily of followers of Alexander Sutherland, 8th of Duffus who was a descendant of the old Sutherland Earls of Sutherland who had been ousted and replaced by the Gordons as earls in the early 16th-century.
Sir Alexander Murray, Lord of Culbin and Newton, was a Scottish noble. He was the eldest son of Richard de Moravia and Margery de Lascelles.
The Battle of Embo took place at Embo in Sutherland, Scotland in 1245. It was fought by Scottish forces against Viking invaders who were defeated.
William de Moravia was a Scottish nobleman, Earl of Sutherland and chief of the Clan Sutherland, a Scottish clan of the Scottish Highlands.
William de Moravia, was a Scottish nobleman, 2nd Earl of Sutherland and chief of the Clan Sutherland, a Scottish clan of the Scottish Highlands.
Hugh de Moravia, Lord of Duffus, Strathbrock and Sutherland, was a Scottish noble.
William Sutherland, 7th of Duffus was a Scottish member of the nobility and a cadet of the Clan Sutherland.
Quoting: Forman's MS, Lyon Office, c. 1566
{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)In the "Chartulary of Moray," Gilbert de Moravia is called son of Lord Duffus, who from the date is assumed to be William son of Freskin
{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)Morays of Aberscors
Richard de Moravia ancestor of Sutherland Murrays
