Alexander de Kininmund (d. 1344)

Alexander de Kininmund (died 1344) was a 14th century Scottish churchman. The first mention of Alexander occurs when, as a canon of Dunkeld he is part of an embassy sent by King Robert I of Scotland to Rome in 1320.Dowden, "Bishops of Scotland", p. 111.] He became Archdeacon of Lothian in 1327, [Watt, "Fasti Ecclesiae", p. 310.] and by 1329 held a prebend in the diocese of Brechin; he is also a papal chaplain and an auditor of the papal palace at Avignon. [Dowden, "Bishops of Scotland", p. 110; Watt, "Fasti Ecclesiae", p. 2.]

In that year, after the death of Henry le Chen, Walter Herok was elected Bishop of Aberdeen and travelled to Avignon to receive consecration from Pope John XXII. However, Walter died there, apparently before receiving consecration and Alexander, a papal servant from Scotland, was provided to the now vacant see without any consultation of the chapter of Aberdeen. [Dowden, "Bishops of Scotland", pp. 110-1.]

Alexander was back in Scotland by March 29, 1330, when he attended a parliament of King David I of Scotland.Dowden, "Bishops of Scotland", p. 111; Innes, "Registrum Episcopatus Aberdonensis", p. xxxviii.] Four years later, on February 12, 1334, he was present at the parliament of the usurper-king Edward Balliol. In 1335 he was one of the envoys sent to make peace with England. According to Hector Boece, Alexander was a distinguished scholar and began work on building four new episcopal residences, at Mortlach, Aberdeen, Fetternear and Rayne; Aberdeen and Fetterneir were said to have been completed. [Innes, "Registrum Episcopatus Aberdonensis", p. xxxviii.] He died sometime before September 13, 1344. [Dowden, "Bishops of Scotland", p. 112; Watt, "Fasti Ecclesiae", p. 2.]

Notes

References

* Dowden, John, "The Bishops of Scotland", ed. J. Maitland Thomson, (Glasgow, 1912)
* Innes, Cosmo, "Registrum Episcopatus Aberdonensis: Ecclesie Cathedralis Aberdonensis Regesta Que Extant in Unum Collecta", Vol. 1, (Edinburgh, 1845)
* 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)