Earl of Fife Totally Explained

Everything about The Earl Of Fife totally explained

The Earl of Fife or Mormaer of Fife referred to the Gaelic comital lordship of Fife which existed in Scotland until the early 15th century. The Mormaers of Fife were the highest ranking native nobles in Scotland. They frequently held the office of Justiciar of Scotia - highest brithem in the land - and enjoyed the right of crowning the Kings of Scots. The Mormaer's function, as with other medieval Scottish lordships, was kin-based. Hence, in 1385, the Earl of Fife, seen as the successor of the same lordship, is called capitalis legis de Clenmcduffe (=Lord of the Law of the Children of Macduff).
The lordship existed in the Middle Ages until its last earl, Murdoch (Muireadhach), Duke of Albany, was executed by James I of Scotland.

Chief (ceann) of Clann meic Duib

The deputy or complementary position to mormaer or earl of Fife was leadership of Clan Macduff (clann meic Duibh). There is little doubt that the style MacDuib, or Macduff, derives from the name of King Cináed III mac Duib, and ultimately from this man's father, King Dub (d. 966). Compare, for instance, that Domhnall, Lord of the Isles, signed a charter in 1408 as MacDomhnaill. The descendants of Cináed III adopted the name in the same way that the descendants of Brian Bóruma mac Cennétig called themselves Uí Briain, although it does seem that at least initially MacDuff was a style reserved for the man who held the Mormaership of Fife.
The chieftancy of the clan wasn't always held by the mormaer, especially after the mormaerdom became subject to the laws of feudal primogeniture in the reign of Donnchadh I. For example, at the Battle of Falkirk, it's the head of the clan who led the men of Fife, rather than the Mormaer.

List of holders

List of mormaers/earls of Fife

? Giric mac Cináeda meic Duib
?
Macduib; = Shakespeare's MacDuff (fl. 1057–1058)
Causantín, Earl of Fife, (fl. 1095–1128)
- See Mormaer Beth and Ethelred of Scotland for common confusion here
Gille Míchéil, Earl of Fife (1130–1133)
Donnchadh I, Earl of Fife (1133–1154)
Donnchadh II, Earl of Fife (1154–1204)
Maol Choluim I, Earl of Fife (1204–1228)
Maol Choluim II, Earl of Fife (1228–1266)
Colbán, Earl of Fife, (1266–1270/2)
Donnchadh III, Earl of Fife (1270/2–1288)
Donnchadh IV, Earl of Fife (1288–1353), considered by King David II to have forfeited the earldom
Sir William Ramsay of Colluthie, Earl of Fife (1358-c1360), created by King David II
- and William Felton (d.1358)
- and Walter Stewart (d.1362)
- and Thomas Byset (d.1366)
- and John de Dunbar (d.1371)
Isabella, Countess of Fife, (1361–1371), daughter of Donnchadh IV, was persuaded to resign the earldom to
Robert Stewart, Earl of Fife (1371–1420)
Murdoch Stewart, Duke of Albany, Earl of Fife (1420-1425)

Recreation of 1759

William Duff, 1st Earl Fife (c. 1696-1763)

James Duff, 2nd Earl Fife (1729-1809)

Alexander Duff, 3rd Earl Fife (1731-1811)

James Duff, 4th Earl Fife (1776-1857)

James Duff, 5th Earl Fife (1814-1879)

Alexander Duff, 6th Earl Fife (1849-1912) (created Duke of Fife in 1889)

Link

See Clan Mcduff under Scottish Clans under "Clan".Further Information

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