Máel Coluim (son of the king of the Cumbrians)

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Máel Coluim
Refer to caption
Máel Coluim's name as it appears on folio 13v of British Library Cotton Faustina B IX (the Chronicle of Melrose): "Malcolmum".[1]
Fatherpossibly Owain Foel

Máel Coluim (

kingship of Strathclyde
.

The fact that Máel Coluim is described as the son of a "King of the Cumbrians" suggests that he was a member of the Cumbrian royal dynasty of Strathclyde, and could indicate that he was a close relative of

Alpínid dynasty
of Alba, which would have in turn endowed him with a claim to the Scottish throne.

Máel Coluim's fate is unknown. The fact that Siward died in 1055, and Mac Bethad retained authority in Alba, suggests that Máel Coluim was quickly overcome. There is evidence indicating that the southern reaches of the

Máel Coluim mac Donnchada, King of Alba
sometime between 1058 and 1070, and it is uncertain whether an independent Kingdom of Strathclyde still existed by the time of this conquest. In any event, Máel Coluim appears to be the last member of the Cumbrian royal dynasty on record.

Background

Simplified pedigree of the Cumbrian royal dynasty. Máel Coluim is highlighted. It is possible that all these men ruled the Kingdom of Strathclyde.
Dyfnwal ab Owain (died 975)
Rhydderch (fl. 971)Máel Coluim (died 997)Owain (died 1015)
Owain Foel (fl. 1018)
Máel Coluim (fl. 1054)
Map of Britain
The Kingdom of Strathclyde in relation to its neighbours in the early eleventh century.

Máel Coluim seems to have been a member of the Cumbrian royal dynasty that ruled the

Owain Foel, King of Strathclyde,[4] a monarch attested in 1018 assisting the Scots against the Northumbrians at the Battle of Carham.[5] Not only is the fate of Owain Foel uncertain following this Scottish victory, so too is the fate of the Cumbrian kingdom.[6]

Son of the king of the Cumbrians

Chronicon ex chronicis).[7]

In 1054, the

Mac Bethad mac Findlaích, King of Alba.[12][note 2]

One possible interpretation of these sources is that this Máel Coluim refers to Mac Bethad's opponent

Donnchad ua Maíl Choluim—a man who had reigned as King of Alba from 1034 to 1040—had once been King of Strathclyde as well.[15]

Against this hypothetical succession is the fact that it rests solely upon Chronicon ex chronicis and Gesta regum Anglorum.

Northumbria in 1054, or that he had any connection with Siward's victory over Mac Bethad.[18] Mac Bethad seems to have held onto the Scottish kingship until 1057, only to be succeeded by Lulach mac Gilla Comgáin.[19][note 3]

Mac Bethad mac Findlaích as it appears on folio 41v of Oxford Bodleian Library Rawlinson B 489 (the Annals of Ulster).[22]

In fact, the events of 1054 more likely refer to Máel Coluim. Rather than being a member of the royal

puppet, with little support from the Scottish aristocracy.[26]

Refer to caption
The name and title of Siward as it appears on folio 161v of British Library Cotton Tiberius B I (the "C" version of the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle): "Siward eorl".[33]

Although the accounts of 1054 given by both Chronicon ex chronicis and Gesta regum Anglorum can be interpreted as entries about events concerning Máel Coluim,

Jocelin, Abbot of Melrose.[38]

Chronica majora).[39]
The dramatic aftereffects of this king's capture may have had repercussions upon Máel Coluim's portrayal in mediaeval sources.

The first phase in the composition of the Chronicle of Melrose dates to 1173

Historia regum Anglorum.[41] Since the latter source observes that Máel Coluim mac Donnchada unlawfully held Cumbria by force in 1070, the Melrose scribe appears to have been aware that this king was not identical to the Cumbrian Máel Coluim.[42] This may in turn explain why the scribe did not copy over the clause "son of the king of the Cumbrians" from Historia regum Anglorum. The Chronicle of Melrose may therefore be the earliest source to explicitly associate Máel Coluim mac Donnchada with the events of 1054.[43] As a result of this identification, this Scottish monarch was portrayed as a man who only possessed his throne on account of English assistance.[44]

The catalyst behind the monks' misrepresentation of Siward's invasion appears to have been an English revolt dating to

King of England.[45] As a result of this Scottish monarch's capture in the course of the uprising, English lordship over Scotland was conceded by the Scots, with conclusion of the Treaty of Falaise in 1174.[46] The conditions imposed upon the Scots date to the very time the scribe compiled his account of 1054, and it is possible these concessions inspired the Melrose monks to concoct an eleventh-century royal precedent for twelfth-century Scottish subservience.[47][note 5]

Disintegration of the Cumbrian realm

Máel Coluim mac Donnchada as it appears on folio 19v of Oxford Bodleian Library Rawlinson B 488 (the Annals of Tigernach): "Mael Colaim mac Donnchadha".[53]

It is uncertain if the Kingdom of Strathclyde even existed by the time of the events of 1054.

Cynesige, Archbishop of York.[55] Although it is uncertain if Glasgow was indeed a diocesan seat in the eleventh century,[56] the fact that an eleventh-century stone cross, decorated in the Northumbrian style, has been recovered from the site of the Glasgow Cathedral, suggests that this site was increasing in importance before the construction of the cathedral in the twelfth century.[57] This cross may, therefore, corroborate the consecrational claims of Historia ecclesiae Eboracensis,[58] which could in turn indicate that Siward and (the senior Northumbrian cleric) Cynesige were indeed exerting influence over the Cumbrians.[59][note 6] Another piece of evidence for Northumbrian expansion is a particular eleventh-century charter detailing the grant of certain rights and lands from a certain Gospatric to several individuals.[62] According to this contract, the grantees received various lands in what came to form the English county of Cumberland, and they also gained a guarantee of protection from Gospatric and Siward.[63][note 7] The likelihood that Siward would have only granted territories within his own sphere of influence, coupled with the fact that the charter specifically states that the granted lands were "once Cumbrian", suggests that most (if not all) of the Cumbrian territories south of the Solway Firth had been gained by Siward sometimes before his death in 1055.[69]

The name of Gospatric, Earl of Northumbria as it appears on folio 46v of British Library Harley 526 (Vita Ædwardi Regis).[70]

It may have been in the course of Siward's campaign against the Scots that the English gained control of the

Gall Gaidheil—could have meant that the Cumbrian leadership allowed the southerly territories fall under Siward's authority.[6] Whilst these lands indeed seem to have fallen under English authority in the eleventh century, the more northerly Cumbrian territories appear to have been conquered by the Scots. In 1070, for example, Gospatric, Earl of Northumbria is recorded to have led an invasion into Scottish-controlled territory in an effort to counter certain devastating Scottish raids into England. According to Historia regum Anglorum, Gospatric directed his counter-strike into Cumbreland, the former lands of the Cumbrian realm. In fact, this source alleges that Máel Coluim mac Donnchada's royal authority in these lands was unlawful since the Scots had only seized the lands "through violent subjugation".[71]

Map of Britain
The political alignment in the wake of the demise of the Kingdom of Strathclyde in the eleventh century.

Whilst the record of bishops Johannes and Magsuen seems to reveal that the Cumbrians were independent of the Scots during Cynesige's episcopacy (1055–1060)[72]—albeit possibly under Northumbrian domination[73]—the evidence from Historia regum Anglorum reveals that the northernmost portion of the Cumbrian realm had fallen to the Scots by the time of Gospatric's invasion.[72] Although the events noted by Historia regum Anglorum are corroborated by the twelfth century Historia post Bedam,[74] the Scottish conquest is unrecorded.[75] Nevertheless, the takeover seems to have occurred at some point between Máel Coluim mac Donnchada's accession in 1058 and Gospatric's invasion of 1070.[76] One possibility is that the Scots overthrew the father of the Cumbrian Máel Coluim.[6] Another is that Máel Coluim and his dynasty were overcome in the power vacuum left by Siward's demise in 1055.[77] The fact that Historia regum Anglorum questions the legitimacy of Máel Coluim mac Donnchada's possession of Cumbreland could reveal that the compiler of this source regarded the region as rightfully Northumbrian.[6] In any case, Máel Coluim appears to be the last known member of the Cumbrian dynasty.[78]

See also

  • David, Prince of the Cumbrians, a twelfth-century magnate who bore the titles "prince of the Cumbrians" and "prince of the Cumbrian region", according him quasi-regal status over territories that formerly comprised the Kingdom of Strathclyde.[79]

Notes

  1. Historia Anglorum, which states that Siward sent a son to conquer Scotland, and that this son was slain there.[10]
  2. ^ According to the thirteenth-century Gesta antecessorum comitis Waldevi, Siward supported the cause of a deposed king called "Duvenal".[13]
  3. ^ Gesta regum Anglorum erroneously claims that Siward slew Mac Bethad and installed Máel Coluim as king in his place.[20] The twelfth-century Annales Lindisfarnenses et Dunelmenses, relates that Siward inserted a king in Mac Bethad's place before the latter was able to regain control.[21]
  4. Dyfnwal ab Owain, King of Strathclyde. Both men could have been ancestors of Máel Coluim.[26]
  5. hereditary right".[51] As a result of these thirteenth-century alterations, the Chronicle of Melrose portrayed the latter as a legitimate Scottish sovereign who had no need for English intervention.[52]
  6. ^ Although Historia ecclesiae Eboracensis describes Johannes and Magsuen as bishops of Glasgow, it is possible that this is an anachronism for "bishop of Cumbria".[60] If the Cumbrian ecclesiastical centre was not located at Glasgow, it could have been seated at Govan or some place else.[61]
  7. Gaelic, and English elements) partly exemplifies the hybrid culture of the region.[68]

Citations

  1. ^ Anderson (1922) p. 593; Stevenson (1856) p. 112; Stevenson (1835) p. 51; Cotton MS Faustina B IX (n.d.).
  2. ^ a b McGuigan (2015b) p. 100; Clarkson (2014) ch. 9; Edmonds (2014) p. 209; Clarkson (2013); Clarkson (2010) chs. genealogical tables, 9; Davies (2009) p. 78; Woolf (2007) p. 262; Clancy (2006); Taylor, S (2006) p. 26; Broun (2004c) pp. 133–135; Duncan (2002) p. 41.
  3. ^ Toledo Candelaria (2018) p. 57; McGuigan (2015b) p. 100; Clarkson (2014) ch. 9, 9 n. 12.
  4. ^ Taylor, A (2016) p. 10; Clarkson (2014) ch. 9; Edmonds (2014) p. 209; Clarkson (2010) ch. 9; Woolf (2007) p. 262; Taylor, S (2006) p. 26; Broun (2004c) pp. 133–135; Clancy (2006); Duncan (2002) p. 41.
  5. ^ Clarkson (2014) ch. 8, 8 n. 14; Charles-Edwards (2013) p. 573; Woolf (2010) p. 235; Woolf (2007) p. 236; Clancy (2006); Broun (2004c) p. 128; Duncan (1976) p. 21; Anderson (1908) p. 82; Arnold (1885) pp. 155–156 ch. 130; Stevenson (1855) p. 527.
  6. ^ a b c d e f Clarkson (2014) ch. 9.
  7. ^ Anderson (1908) p. 85 n. 4; Forester (1854) p. 156; Stevenson (1853) p. 286; Thorpe (1848) p. 212; Corpus Christi College MS. 157 (n.d.).
  8. ^ Toledo Candelaria (2018) pp. 57–58; Clarkson (2014) ch. 9 ¶¶ 11–12; Parker, E (2014) p. 482; Clarkson (2013); Parker, EC (2012) p. 83, 83 n. 210; Douglas; Greenway (2007) pp. 127–128; Swanton (1998) pp. 184–185; Anderson (1908) pp. 85–86, 85 n. 1; Thorpe (1861) p. 322.
  9. ^ Parker, EC (2012) p. 83, 83 n. 210; Swanton (1998) p. 185; Anderson (1908) pp. 85–86; Thorpe (1861) p. 322.
  10. ^ Parker, EC (2012) pp. 83–84; Anderson (1908) p. 85 n. 4; Arnold (1879) p. 194 bk. 6 ch. 22; Forester (1853) p. 204 bk. 6 ch. 22.
  11. ^ Toledo Candelaria (2018) pp. 9–10, 57; McGuigan (2015a) p. 138; Clarkson (2013); Davies (2009) p. 78; Edmonds (2009) p. 53; Woolf (2007) pp. 261–262; Duncan (2002) p. 40; Anderson (1908) p. 85 n. 4; Giles (1847) p. 214 bk. 2 ch. 13; Hardy (1840) p. 330 bk. 2 ch. 196.
  12. ^ Toledo Candelaria (2018) pp. 9–10, 57; McGuigan (2015a) p. 138; McGuigan (2015b) p. 100; Clarkson (2014) ch. 9, 9 n. 12; Clarkson (2013); Clarkson (2010) ch. 9; Gazzoli (2010) p. 71; Davies (2009) p. 78; Edmonds (2009) p. 53; Woolf (2007) p. 261; Swanton (1998) p. 185 n. 17; Broun (2004c) pp. 133–134; Anderson (1908) p. 85 n. 4; Forester (1854) p. 156; Stevenson (1853) p. 286; Thorpe (1848) p. 212.
  13. ^ Parker, EC (2012) pp. 82–83; Michel (1836) p. 109.
  14. ^ Edmonds (2009) p. 53; Broun (2004c) pp. 133–134.
  15. ^ a b Broun (2004c) pp. 133–134.
  16. ^ McGuigan (2015a) p. 163; Gazzoli (2010) p. 71; Edmonds (2009) p. 53; Broun (2004a); Broun (2004c) pp. 133–134.
  17. ^ McGuigan (2015a) pp. 138–139; Clarkson (2014) ch. 9; Woolf (2007) p. 262; Broun (2004c) pp. 133–134; Duncan (2002) p. 40.
  18. ^ Duncan (2002) pp. 40–41.
  19. ^ Gazzoli (2010) p. 71; Broun (2004b); Duncan (2002) p. 40.
  20. ^ McGuigan (2015a) p. 138; Duncan (2002) p. 40; Anderson (1908) p. 85 n. 4; Giles (1847) p. 214 bk. 2 ch. 13; Hardy (1840) p. 330 bk. 2 ch. 196.
  21. ^ Woolf (2007) p. 262; Anderson (1908) p. 84; Pertz (1866) p. 508.
  22. ^ The Annals of Ulster (2012) § 1058.6; The Annals of Ulster (2008) § 1058.6; Bodleian Library MS. Rawl. B. 489 (n.d.).
  23. ^ Taylor, A (2016) p. 10; Clarkson (2014) ch. 9; Edmonds (2014) p. 209; Clarkson (2013); Davies (2009) p. 78; Edmonds (2009) p. 53; Woolf (2007) p. 262; Taylor, S (2006) p. 26; Broun (2004c) pp. 133–135; Clancy (2006); Duncan (2002) p. 41.
  24. ^ Clarkson (2014) ch. 9; Clarkson (2010) ch. 9.
  25. ^ Clarkson (2014) ch. 9; Clarkson (2013); Broun (2004c) pp. 133–135; Duncan (2002) p. 41.
  26. ^ a b Clarkson (2013).
  27. ^ Clarkson (2014) ch. 9; Edmonds (2014) p. 209; Clarkson (2013); Duncan (2002) p. 41.
  28. ^ Clarkson (2010) ch. 9 ¶ 49.
  29. ^ Clarkson (2014) ch. 9 ¶¶ 11–14; Charles-Edwards (2013) p. 571; Clarkson (2013); Woolf (2007) p. 262; Taylor, S (2006) p. 26.
  30. ^ Toledo Candelaria (2018) p. 58.
  31. ^ Clarkson (2014) ch. 9 ¶ 13; Clarkson (2013); Parsons (2011) p. 123; Clarkson (2010) ch. 9 ¶ 49; Woolf (2007) p. 262.
  32. ^ Clarkson (2014) ch. 9 ¶ 13; Clarkson (2013); Clarkson (2010) ch. 9 ¶ 49; Woolf (2007) p. 262.
  33. ^ O'Keeffe (2001) p. 115; Cotton MS Tiberius B I (n.d.).
  34. ^ Toledo Candelaria (2018) pp. 58.
  35. ^ Toledo Candelaria (2018) p. 58–59.
  36. ^ Toledo Candelaria (2018) pp. 59–60.
  37. ^ Toledo Candelaria (2018) p. 59; Anderson (1922) p. 478; Stevenson (1856) p. 100; Stevenson (1835) p. 34.
  38. ^ Toledo Candelaria (2018) pp. 59–60; Broun (2007) p. 126; Forbes (1874) pp. 54–55 ch. 11, 181–183 ch. 11.
  39. ^ Lewis (1987) pp. 221, 221 fig. 138, 446; Cambridge, Corpus Christi College, MS 026 (n.d.).
  40. ^ Toledo Candelaria (2018) p. 52.
  41. ^ Toledo Candelaria (2018) p. 60, 73.
  42. ^ Toledo Candelaria (2018) p. 60; Anderson (1908) p. 92; Arnold (1885) p. 191 ch. 156; Stevenson (1855) p. 553.
  43. ^ Toledo Candelaria (2018) pp. 60, 75, 75 n. 19, 249, 249 n. 2; Anderson (1922) p. 593; Stevenson (1856) p. 112; Stevenson (1835) p. 51.
  44. ^ Toledo Candelaria (2018) pp. 60–61, 67–68, 73, 234.
  45. ^ Toledo Candelaria (2018) pp. 61–65, 67–68, 234.
  46. ^ Toledo Candelaria (2018) pp. 61–65; Scott (2004); Duncan (1996) pp. 228–231.
  47. ^ Toledo Candelaria (2018) pp. 65–68, 73, 234.
  48. ^ Toledo Candelaria (2018) pp. 73–78, 115, 234; Broun; Harrison (2007) pp. 148–149, 201, 217.
  49. ^ Toledo Candelaria (2018) pp. 75–76, 75 n. 21, 251; Broun; Harrison (2007) pp. 148–149, 201, 217; Anderson (1922) p. 579 n. 4, 600; Stevenson (1856) p. 110; Stevenson (1835) p. 47.
  50. ^ Toledo Candelaria (2018) pp. 75–76, 76 n. 22, 252; Broun; Harrison (2007) pp. 148–149, 201, 217; Anderson (1922) p. 603 n. 4; Stevenson (1835) p. 51.
  51. ^ Toledo Candelaria (2018) p. 76, 76 n. 23; Broun; Harrison (2007) pp. 148–149, 201, 217; Anderson (1922) p. 602 n. 5; Stevenson (1835) p. 51.
  52. ^ Toledo Candelaria (2018) pp. 73–78, 115, 234.
  53. ^ The Annals of Tigernach (2010) § 1093.4; Annals of Tigernach (2005) § 1093.4; Bodleian Library MS. Rawl. B. 488 (n.d.).
  54. ^ McGuigan (2015a) pp. 124–125, 193–195; Edmonds (2014) pp. 209–210; Charles-Edwards (2013) p. 575; Edmonds (2009) pp. 53–54; Woolf (2007) pp. 262–263; Forte; Oram; Pedersen (2005) pp. 204–206.
  55. ^ McGuigan (2015a) p. 193; Clarkson (2014) ch. 9, 9 n. 22; Charles-Edwards (2013) p. 577; Clarkson (2013); Clarkson (2010) ch. 9; Edmonds (2009) p. 53; Woolf (2007) pp. 262–263, 263 n. 63; Forte; Oram; Pedersen (2005) p. 205; Broun (2004c) p. 138; Hicks (2003) p. 46; Durkan (1999) pp. 89–90; Driscoll (1998) p. 106; Shead (1969) p. 220; Raine (1886) p. 127; Haddan; Stubbs (1873) p. 11.
  56. ^ Clarkson (2014) ch. 9; Woolf (2007) p. 263.
  57. ^ Driscoll (2015) p. 12; Clarkson (2014) ch. 9; Davies (2009) pp. 76–77; Edmonds (2009) p. 53; Woolf (2007) p. 263.
  58. ^ a b Woolf (2007) p. 263.
  59. ^ McGuigan (2015a) pp. 124–125; Clarkson (2014) ch. 9; Davies (2009) p. 78; Edmonds (2009) p. 53.
  60. ^ Broun (2004c) p. 138 n. 115.
  61. ^ Clarkson (2014) ch. 9; Woolf (2007) p. 263 n. 65; Driscoll (1998) p. 106.
  62. ^ McGuigan (2015a) pp. 124–125; Clarkson (2014) ch. 9; Edmonds (2014) p. 210; Charles-Edwards (2013) pp. 575–577; Parsons (2011) p. 131; Gazzoli (2010) pp. 70–71; Davies (2009) pp. 78–79; Edmonds (2009) pp. 53–54; Forte; Oram; Pedersen (2005) pp. 204–205; Hicks (2003) pp. 46–47.
  63. ^ Clarkson (2014) ch. 9 ¶ 21–28; Edmonds (2014) p. 210; Edmonds (2009) pp. 53–54; Breeze (1992); Rose (1982) p. 122.
  64. ^ Edmonds (2014) p. 210; Charles-Edwards (2013) p. 575; Parsons (2011) p. 123; Edmonds (2009) pp. 49 n. 42, 54–55, 58.
  65. ^ Clarkson (2014) chs. 1 ¶ 29, 9 ¶¶ 19–28, 10 ¶ 6, 11 ¶ 5.
  66. ^ Breeze (1992).
  67. ^ Edmonds (2009) p. 54; Breeze (1992).
  68. ^ Clarkson (2014) ch. 9 ¶ 28; Charles-Edwards (2013) pp. 575–578; Parsons (2011) p. 133; Breeze (1992); Insley (1987) p. 183.
  69. ^ Clarkson (2014) chs. 9 ¶ 28, 10 ¶ 6; Edmonds (2014) p. 210; Edmonds (2009) pp. 53–54; Charles-Edwards (2013) pp. 575–577; Gazzoli (2010) pp. 70–71.
  70. ^ Barlow (1992) p. 55, 55 n. 136; Harley MS 526 (n.d.).
  71. ^ Taylor, A (2016) p. 10; Clarkson (2014) chs. 9, 10; Woolf (2007) pp. 270–271; Anderson (1908) pp. 91–92; Arnold (1885) pp. 190–191 chs. 155–156; Stevenson (1855) pp. 552–553.
  72. ^ a b Woolf (2007) pp. 270–271.
  73. ^ Broun (2004c) p. 138.
  74. ^ Clarkson (2014) ch. 9; Broun (2004c) p. 138; Stubbs (1868) pp. 121–122.
  75. ^ Clarkson (2014) ch. 9; Clarkson (2012) ch. 11.
  76. ^ Clarkson (2014) chs. 9, 10; Clarkson (2013); Duncan (2002) p. 41.
  77. ^ Clarkson (2013); Broun (2004c) p. 138.
  78. ^ Edmonds (2014) p. 209.
  79. ^ Oram, RD (2011) p. 57; Oram, R (2004) p. 63.

References

Primary sources

Secondary sources

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