David of Scotland, Earl of Huntingdon

David of Scotland pictured in Sir Walter Scott's 1832 crusader novel The Talisman. Although emphasising his own story is fiction, Scott's Introduction states that David did go on crusade with Richard the Lionheart "and was the hero of some very romantic adventures on his way home".

David of Scotland (c. 1144 – 17 June 1219) was a Scottish prince and Earl of Huntingdon. He was a claimant to the Scottish throne.

Life

He was the youngest surviving son of Henry of Scotland, 3rd Earl of Huntingdon and Ada de Warenne, a daughter of William de Warenne, 2nd Earl of Surrey, and Elizabeth of Vermandois. His paternal grandfather was David I of Scotland. Huntingdon was granted to him after his elder brother William I of Scotland ascended the throne. David's son John succeeded him to the earldom.

In the litigation for succession to the crown of Scotland in 1290–1292, the great-great-grandson Floris V, Count of Holland of David's sister, Ada, claimed that David had renounced his hereditary rights to the throne of Scotland. He therefore declared that his claim to the throne had priority over David's descendants. However, no explanation or firm evidence for the supposed renounciation could be provided.

On 26 August 1190 David married Matilda of Chester, daughter of Hugh de Kevelioc, 3rd Earl of Chester. He was almost thirty years Matilda's senior. The marriage was recorded by Benedict of Peterborough.^[1]

David and Matilda had seven children:

• Margaret of Huntingdon (c. 1194 – c. 1228), married Alan, Lord of Galloway, by whom she had two daughters, including Dervorguilla of Galloway.
• Robert of Huntingdon (died young)
• Ada of Huntingdon, married Sir Henry de Hastings, by whom she had one son, Henry de Hastings, 1st Baron Hastings.
• Matilda (Maud) of Huntingdon (-aft.1219, unmarried)
• Isobel of Huntingdon (1199–1251), married Robert Bruce, 4th Lord of Annandale, by whom she had two sons, including Robert de Brus, 5th Lord of Annandale.
• John of Scotland, Earl of Huntingdon (1207 – 6 June 1237), married Elen ferch Llywelyn. He succeeded his uncle Ranulf as Earl of Chester in 1232, but died childless.
• Henry of Huntingdon (died young)^[2][3]

After the extinction of the senior line of the Scottish royal house in 1290, when the legitimate line of William the Lion of Scotland ended, David's descendants were the prime candidates for the throne. The two most notable claimants to the throne, Robert Bruce, 5th Lord of Annandale (grandfather of King Robert I of Scotland) and John of Scotland were his descendants through David's daughters Isobel and Margaret, respectively.

Robin Hood Connection?

David is a possible inspiration figure for the Robin Hood legend because the legend plays at the same time as David lived in the 1190s. Another similarity is the Earl of Huntingdon question, because a historian names Robin Hood as a possible Earl of that area. Also both had taken part in the Third Crusade and by 1194 David had taken part at the siege of Nottingham Castle where the High Sheriff of Nottinghamshire and Derby County was taken captive. His son Robert who died young was also a possible inspiration for Robin Hood.

Ancestry

Notes

David of Scotland, Earl of Huntingdon House of Dunkeld Born: ? c. 1144 Died: 17 June 1219
Scottish royalty
Preceded by William the Lion	Heir of Scotland as heir presumptive 9 December 1165–1193	Succeeded by Margaret of Scotland, Countess of Kent
Peerage of England
Preceded by Simon of St Liz	Earl of Huntingdon	Succeeded by John de Scotia

References

1. ^ Charles Cawley. "Kings of Scotland". Medieval Lands. http://fmg.ac/Projects/MedLands/SCOTLAND.htm. 
2. ^ Charles Cawley. "England, earls created 1067-1122". Medieval Lands. http://fmg.ac/Projects/MedLands/ENGLISH%20NOBILITY%20MEDIEVAL.htm. 
3. ^ "thePeerage.com - Person Page 10777". Thepeerage.com. http://www.thepeerage.com/p10777.htm#i107766. Retrieved 2008-11-08. 

Persondata
Name	Huntingdon, David Of Scotland, 8th Earl Of
Alternative names
Short description	Scottish prince
Date of birth
Place of birth
Date of death	1219
Place of death