Máel Ísu, 1st Earl of Strathearn

Máel Ísu ( Latin Mallus , English Malise , * before 1100 , † after June 14, 1141 ), was a Scottish nobleman and the first historically verifiable Mormaer or Earl of Strathearn .

Life

Only a few details are known about his life: his origin or a descent from Celtic Mormaers cannot be proven. However, he is considered one of the first Scottish aristocrats for whom the transition between the old Celtic tribal system and the new idea of feudal territorial rule had already taken place: In the founding deed of Scone Abbey from 1114/15 he is listed as a witness and there called Mallus Comes ; on the deed giving jurisdiction to the Prior of Scone in 1124, with Malis comite . On a document from Dunfermline Abbey from 1128, he can be found as a witness to the signature of King David I as Malise comes ; and again with Malis comite on the deed with which David I donated the Church of Kirkcaldy to Dunfermline Abbey.

At the foundation of the Church of Glasgow on July 11, 1136 he was one of the most important witnesses along with three clan chiefs from Galloway , and in the standard battle on August 22, 1138 he was referred to as the leader of the "Galloway men" . He survived the battle and was present as a witness in Perth on June 14, 1141 , when David I transferred the lands of Clerkington to the Church of Haddington.

No further historical traces of him can be found after this date. A marriage or direct descendants cannot be proven, but his successor Ferchard was very likely his son.

literature

James Balfour Paul (Ed.): The Ancient Earls of Strathearn. In: The Scots Peerage. Volume 8, David Douglas, Edinburgh 1911, p. 239 ff. ( Archive.org )

Web links

Earl of Strathearn on fmg.ac (accessed August 25, 2014)
Malise, 1st Earl of Strathearn on thepeerage.com , accessed August 20, 2015.

Notes and individual references

↑ James Balfour Paul (Ed.): The Scots Peerage. Volume 8, David Douglas, Edinburgh 1909, p. 240.
↑ The exact date between 1114 and 1124 is disputed. However, on April 23, 1124, King Alexander I , founder of the abbey, died.
^ William Smythe: Liber Ecclesie de Scon. Munimenta Vetustiora Monasterii Sancte Trinitatis et Sancti Michaelis de Scon. T. Constable, Edinburgh 1843, No. 1, p. 3.

predecessor	Office	successor
unknown	Earl of Strathearn before 1114 – after 1141	Ferchard

personal data
SURNAME	Máel Ísu, 1st Earl of Strathearn
ALTERNATIVE NAMES	Malise, Mallus
BRIEF DESCRIPTION	Scottish nobleman
DATE OF BIRTH	uncertain: 10th century
DATE OF DEATH	uncertain: 11th century

[1] James Balfour Paul (Ed.): The Scots Peerage. Volume 8, David Douglas, Edinburgh 1909, p. 240.

[2] The exact date between 1114 and 1124 is disputed. However, on April 23, 1124, King Alexander I , founder of the abbey, died.

[3] William Smythe: Liber Ecclesie de Scon. Munimenta Vetustiora Monasterii Sancte Trinitatis et Sancti Michaelis de Scon. T. Constable, Edinburgh 1843, No. 1, p. 3.