Alexander Bur

infobox bishopbiog
name = Alexander Bur


Seal of Alexander Bur.
religion=Roman Catholic Church
See = Diocese of Moray
Title = Bishop of Moray
Period = 1362—1397
consecration = Early 1363
Predecessor = John de Pilmuir
Successor = William de Spynie
post = Archdeacon of Moray | ordination = before 1343
bishops = None
date of birth = 1320s or 1330s
place of birth = Aberdeenshire.
date of death = May 15, 1397
place of death = Spynie Palace, Moray

Alexander Bur (died 1397) was a 14th century Scottish cleric. It is highly possible that Bur came from somewhere in or around Aberdeenshire, although that is not certain and is only based on the knowledge that Aberdeenshire is where other people bearing his surname come from in this period. [Oram, "Alexander Bur", p. 195.] He entered the service of King David II of Scotland sometime after 1343, perhaps as a member of David's exiled court at Château-Gaillard. Although Alexander by this point in time already held prebends in both the bishopric of Aberdeen and the bishopric of Dunkeld (where he also held a canonry), on that date King David petitioned Pope Clement VI for another canonry in the bishopric of Moray. [Oram, "Alexander Bur", pp. 195-6.] Alexander had become a royal clerk and had obtained a Licentiate in Canon Law by 1350. By the latter date, upon the death of Adam Penny (or Adam Parry), Archdeacon of Moray, Alexander himself became Archdeacon. [Watt, "Fasti Ecclesiae", p. 238; Oram, "Alexander Bur", p. 196.]

In the autumn of this year King David II made an expedition into the north, apparently to escape the effects of the Black Death. [Grant, "The Wolf of Badenoch".] David was also re-establishing his authority in the area, which involved seizing the castle of Kildrummy from its owner, Thomas, Earl of Mar. Soon after David reached Kildrummy, John de Pilmuir, Bishop of Moray, died. This gave King David the opportunity to secure the election of his close follower, Alexander Bur, as the successor to Pilmuir. David had moved to secure the episcopal castle at Spynie, and his presence there undoubtedly made sure that the canons carried out the king's will. [Oram, "Alexander Bur", p. 197.] Alexander was at Avignon in late December, 1362, where he is mentioned as "bishop-elect and confirmed" of Moray, [Dowden, "Bishops of Scotland", p. 154.] but he was not consecrated by the Pope until sometime between early January and early February 1363. [Watt, "Fasti Eccesiae", p. 215.]

Alexander Bur was involved in a famous conflict with Alexander Stewart, Earl of Buchan and Lord of Badenoch which famously led to the burning of Elgin Cathedral. He died at Spynie Palace on May 15, 1397. [Watt, "Fasti Ecclesiae", p. 215.]

Notes

References

*Dowden, John, "The Bishops of Scotland", ed. J. Maitland Thomson, (Glasgow, 1912)
*Grant, Alexander, "The Wolf of Badenoch", in W. D. H. Sellar (ed.), "Moray: Province and People", (Edinburgh, 1993), pp. 143—161
*Keith, Robert, "An Historical Catalogue of the Scottish Bishops: Down to the Year 1688", (London, 1924)
*Oram, Richard, "Alexander Bur, Bishop of Moray, 1362—1397", in Barbara Crawford (ed.), "Church Chronicle and Learning in Medieval and Early Renaissance Scotland", (Edinburgh, 1999), pp. 195-213
*Watt, D.E.R., "Fasti Ecclesiae Scotinanae Medii Aevi ad annum 1638", 2nd Draft, (St Andrews, 1969)