Crínán of Dunkeld

Crínán of Dunkeld

Crínán of Dunkeld (died 1045) was the lay abbot of the diocese of Dunkeld, and perhaps the Mormaer of Atholl. Crínán was progenitor of the House of Dunkeld, the dynasty which would rule Scotland until the later 13th century.

Crinán was married to Bethoc, daughter of King Malcolm II of Scotland (reigned 1005–1034). As Malcolm II had no son, the strongest hereditary claim to the Scottish throne descended through Bethóc, and Crinán's eldest son Donnchad I (reigned 1034–1040), became King of Scots. Some sources indicate that Malcolm II designated Duncan as his successor under the rules of tanistry because there were other possible claimants to the throne.

Crinán's second son, Maldred of Allerdale, held the title of Lord of Cumbria. It is said that from him, the Earls of Dunbar, for example Patrick Dunbar, 9th Earl of Dunbar, descend in unbroken male line.

Crinán was killed in battle in 1045 at Dunkeld.

Sir Iain Moncreiffe argued he belonged to a Scottish sept of the Irish Cenél Conaill royal dynasty.[1]

Crinán as Lay Abbot of Dunkeld

The monastery of Saint Columba was founded on the north bank of the River Tay in the 6th century or early 7th century following the expedition of Columba into the land of the Picts. Probably originally constructed as a simple group of wattle huts, the monastery - or at least its church - was rebuilt in the 9th century by Kenneth I of Scotland (reigned 843–858). Caustantín of the Picts brought Scotland's share of the relics of Columba from Iona to Dunkeld at the same time others were taken to Kells in Ireland, to protect them from Viking raids. Dunkeld became the prime bishopric in eastern Scotland until supplanted in importance by St Andrews since the 10th century.

While the title of Hereditary Lay Abbot was a feudal position that was often exercised in name only, Crinán does seem to have acted as Abbot in charge of the monastery in his time. He was thus a man of high position in both clerical and secular society.

The magnificent semi-ruined Dunkeld Cathedral, built in stages between 1260 and 1501, stands today on the grounds once occupied by the monastery. The Cathedral contains the only surviving remains of the previous monastic society: a course of red stone visible in the east choir wall that may be re-used from an earlier building, and two stone 9th century-10th century cross-slabs in the Cathedral Museum.

Notes

  1. ^ Sir Iain Moncreiffe of that Ilk, The Highland Clans. Part II. 1982. p. 236

External Source


Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.

Игры ⚽ Поможем написать курсовую

Look at other dictionaries:

  • Crinan de Dunkeld — Crínán de Dunkeld Crínán de Dunkeld (mort en 1045) Abbé Laïc de Dunkeld, Mormaer d’Atholl (?). Crínán mac Donnchad appartenait à une famille qui contrôlait depuis au moins trois générations l’abbatiat de Dun Caillen. Cette fonction était sans… …   Wikipédia en Français

  • Crínán De Dunkeld — (mort en 1045) Abbé Laïc de Dunkeld, Mormaer d’Atholl (?). Crínán mac Donnchad appartenait à une famille qui contrôlait depuis au moins trois générations l’abbatiat de Dun Caillen. Cette fonction était sans doute comme à la même époque en Europe… …   Wikipédia en Français

  • Crínán de dunkeld — (mort en 1045) Abbé Laïc de Dunkeld, Mormaer d’Atholl (?). Crínán mac Donnchad appartenait à une famille qui contrôlait depuis au moins trois générations l’abbatiat de Dun Caillen. Cette fonction était sans doute comme à la même époque en Europe… …   Wikipédia en Français

  • Crínán de Dunkeld — (mort en 1045) Abbé Laïc de Dunkeld, Mormaer d’Atholl (?). Crínán mac Donnchad appartenait à une famille qui contrôlait depuis au moins trois générations l’abbatiat de Dun Caillen. Cette fonction était sans doute comme à la même époque en Europe… …   Wikipédia en Français

  • Dunkeld Cathedral — History Authorising papal bull N/A Significant associated people Crínán of Dunkeld …   Wikipedia

  • Crinan — is a name of Gaelic origin and it has a number of contexts: Crinan, Argyll and Bute, a village in Scotland The Crinan Canal, a waterway in Scotland with one of its outlets at Crinan, linking Loch Fyne with Loch Crinan Crínán of Dunkeld, a… …   Wikipedia

  • Dunkeld — This article is about the town in Scotland. For the town in Australia, see Dunkeld, Victoria. Coordinates: 56°33′52″N 3°35′06″W / 56.564341°N 3.584886°W …   Wikipedia

  • Cormac of Dunkeld — Cormac, Bishop of Dunkeld (fl. x1114 1131x) is the earliest recorded Bishop of Dunkeld in the 12th century, although he was not the first bishop of Dunkeld. It is possible, that he was the first bishop of Dunkeld distinct from the abbot, but… …   Wikipedia

  • House of Dunkeld — The so called House of Dunkeld, in Scottish Gaelic Dùn Chailleann (meaning Fort of the Caledonii or of the Caledonians), is a historiographical and genealogical construct to illustrate the clear succession of Scottish kings from 1034 to 1040 and… …   Wikipedia

  • Diocese of Dunkeld —     Diocese of Dunkeld     † Catholic Encyclopedia ► Diocese of Dunkeld     (DUNKELDENSIS)     Located in Scotland, constituted, as far back as the middle of the ninth century, the primatial see of the Columban Church by King Kenneth Mac Alpine,… …   Catholic encyclopedia

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”