Alexander de Kininmund (d. 1380)

infobox bishopbiog
name = Alexander de Kininmund


religion= Roman Catholic Church
See = Diocese of Aberdeen
Title = Bishop of Aberdeen
Period = 1355–1380
consecration = 1356
Predecessor = John de Rate
Successor = Adam de Tyninghame
post = Archdeacon of Aberdeen| ordination =
bishops =
date of birth = Early-Mid 1300s
place of birth = Scotland.
date of death = 1380
place of death = Scone

Alexander de Kininmund was a 14th century Scottish cleric. Although it is not known which one, it is known that in his youth he went to university and achieved a Licentiate in the Arts;Dowden, "Bishops of Scotland", p. 116.] he was made Dean of Brechin Cathedral in 1350, [Watt, "Fasti Ecclesiae", p. 43.] leaving this post in 1352 to become Archdeacon of Aberdeen. [Watt, "Fasti Ecclesiae", p. 18.] It was the latter position that enabled him, after the death of Bishop John de Rate in either late 1354 or early 1355, to be elected as the new Bishop of Aberdeen.Dowden, "Bishops of Scotland", p. 115; Watt, "Fasti Ecclesiae", p. 43.]

Upon receiving the request for confirmation by the new bishop and the chapter of Aberdeen, the Pope declared that he had previously reserved the see for his own choice; he declared the election void, but nevertheless supported the decision of the chapter, appointing Alexander as bishop on December 4, 1355. He was consecrated before July 12, 1356; [Watt, "Fasti Ecclesiae", p. 43.] according to Hector Boece, this took place at Perth in the presence of the king.Dowden, "Bishops of Scotland", p. 115] Boece also wrote that King David II of Scotland had written to the chapter of Aberdeen requesting that they elect a French follower of his by the name of Nicholas, but that the chapter refused to accommodate this suggestion.

Alexander was one of the proctors appointed for the ransom of King David in 1357, after the latter had been taken as a hostage by the English crown at the Battle of Neville's Cross eleven years earlier. Five years later, in 1362, King David granted the bishopric some land in the County of Banff to augment the income of a canon who in return would say mass for the souls of King David and his ancestors. Bishop Alexander died on July 29, 1380, and was buried before the altar of Aberdeen Cathedral. According to Hector Boece, he was at Scone when he died.

Notes

References

* Dowden, John, "The Bishops of Scotland", ed. J. Maitland Thomson, (Glasgow, 1912)
* Keith, Robert, "An Historical Catalogue of the Scottish Bishops: Down to the Year 1688", (London, 1924)
* Watt, D.E.R., "Fasti Ecclesiae Scotinanae Medii Aevi ad annum 1638", 2nd Draft, (St Andrews, 1969)