Robert de Keldeleth

Robert de Keldeleth (also: Robert Kenleith ; † 1273 ) was initially a Benedictine , later a Cistercian monk in the 13th century. He was Abbot of Dunfermline (1240–52) and became Lord Chancellor of Scotland in the late 1240s. During the minority period of Alexander III. he was Guardian of Scotland . Since he seems to have been a staunch supporter of Alan Durward , he lost these offices in 1251/52. After he had also resigned as abbot of Dunfermline, he became a simple monk in the Cistercian monastery of Newbattle Abbey. From 1269 until his death he was Abbot of Melrose , the motherhouse of Newbattle.

Working in Dunfermline

The nickname of Robert suggests that he came from or near Kinleith, in the parish of Currie in Midlothian . He first entered the Benedictine monastery in Dunfermline near Fife as a monk . After the death of Abbot Geoffrey III. on October 5, 1240 he was elected his successor. He became one of the most successful abbots of the monastery and maintained close contact with Alexander II. At the request of the Scottish king, Pope Innocent IV granted Robert de Keldeleth the right to wear a miter and a ring on May 3, 1345 , which increased the reputation of the abbey increased. Robert was able to continue Saint Margaret of Scotland , which is considered the founder of the Abbey of Dunfermline, canonize to leave. Her shrine was in the city and the bones were transferred to the abbey in June 1250. The good relationship that Robert had with the Pope was certainly helpful for this. Robert also held the honorary title of papal chaplain . The Pope also asked him to mediate in a dispute with the Bishop of St Andrews over a benefit that he wanted to see awarded to a Florentine supporter.

Working in Scottish Politics

Robert's political rise continued when he was named Lord Chancellor of Scotland at an unknown date between 1247 and 1251. He was also a member of the College of Guardians of Scotland that formed after the death of Alexander II on July 6, 1249 and for the underage Alexander III. exercised the reign. As a result, two power factions formed at the Scottish court, which were formed on the one hand by Walter Comyn and on the other hand by Alan Durward. Robert seems - as the only one of the then Guardians of Scotland - to have been a staunch supporter of Durward. 1251 he was accused of having abused the seal of the Lord Chancellor in an attempt to legitimize the wife Alan Durwards - a bastard daughter of Alexander II. Durward would thereby have become iure uxoris a legitimate heir to the Scottish Crown. Against the background of the increasing political influence of Walter Comyn, Robert de Keldeleth first had to give up his title as Guardian of Scotland in 1251, and in the following year also the office of Lord Chancellor of Scotland.

Work as a Cistercian monk

In 1252 Robert also gave up the office of Abbot of Dunfermline and entered the Cistercian monastery of Newbattle as a simple monk. In spite of this, Robert continued to take a stand on Scottish politics and he continued his exchange with the Pope. In August and September 1260 Robert worked as envoy between Alexander III. and the English King Henry III. After the resignation of John de Ederham , Robert was elected as his successor and rose again to abbot in the late 1260s, this time of Melrose, the motherhouse of Newbattle. He held the highest office of the Cistercian Order in Scotland. Robert filled this post for four years until he finally resigned in 1273 and died that same year. His remains were likely buried in Melrose Abbey.

Individual evidence

1. ↑ cf. Tait, Reid
2. ↑ cf. Watt, Shead p. 68
3. ↑ cf. Anderson p. 518
4. ↑ cf. Laing pp. 250-51; Barrow
5. ↑ cf. Tait, Reid
6. ↑ cf. Anderson p. 563
7. ↑ cf. Anderson p. 518
8. ↑ cf. Tait, Reid
9. ↑ cf. Anderson p. 583
10. ↑ cf. Tait, Reid
11. ↑ cf. Fawcett, Oram p. 34; Tait, Reid
12. ↑ cf. Young p. 136.
13. ↑ Tait, Reid
14. ↑ Watt, Shead p. 68; Tait gives the year 1253, Anderson more precisely "before 13th February 1253" (pp. 661–662)
15. ↑ for example Anderson p. 572
16. ↑ Anderson pp. 661-662
17. ↑ Fawcett, Oram pp. 20-67
18. ^ Watt, Shead, p. 151; Tait, Reid
19. ↑ Tait, Reid

literature

• Alan Orr Anderson : Early Sources of Scottish History. AD 500 to 1286. Volume 2. Oliver and Boyd, Edinburgh et al. 1922, online edition .
• Andrew of Wyntoun : The orygynale cronykil of Scotland. Edited by David Laing. 2nd revised edition. Cambridge Scholars Publishing, Newcastle upon Tyne 2009, ISBN 978-1-151-43677-1 .
• GWS Barrow : Margaret [St Margaret] (d. 1093). In: Oxford Dictionary of National Biography. Oxford University Press, Oxford et al. 2004, online edition .
• Richard Fawcett, Richard Oram: Melrose Abbey. Tempus, Stroud 2004, ISBN 0-7524-2867-5 .
• James Tait: Kenleith, Robert (d.1273). Revised by Norman H. Reid. In: Oxford Dictionary of National Biography. Oxford University Press, Oxford et al. 2004, online edition .
• DER Watt, N. Shead (Ed.): The Heads of Religious Houses in Scotland from Twelfth to Sixteenth Centuries (= The Scottish Records Society. New Series 24). Scottish Record Society, Edinburgh 2001, ISBN 0-902054-18-X .
• Alan Young: The Political Role of Walter Comyn, Earl of Menteith During the Minority of Alexander III of Scotland. In: KJ Stringer (Ed.): Essays on the nobility of medieval Scotland. John Donald Short Run Press, Edinburgh 2007, ISBN 978-1-904607-45-8 .

predecessor	Office	successor
William de Bondington	Lord Chancellor of Scotland between 1247 and 1251–1252	Gamelin
New title created	Guardian of Scotland 1249–1251 Co-regents: Alexander Comyn Walter Comyn John de Balliol Uilleam, 5th Earl of Mar	Gamelin
Geoffrey III.	Abbot of Dunfermline 1240-1252	John
John de Edrom	Abbot of Melrose 1269-1273	Patrick de Selkirk