Richard de Moravia
Richard de Moravia of Culbin or of Cubyn,[2] was a Scottish nobleman famed for his victory over the Vikings at the Battle of Embo which took place in Sutherland, Scotland sometime between 1260 and 1270.[3]
Richard de Moravia | |
|---|---|
| Lord of Culbin and Skelbo | |
| Died | c.1270 |
| Buried | Dornoch Cathedral, Dornoch |
| Noble family | Murray family |
| Spouse(s) | Marjorie de Lascelles |
| Issue
AlexanderWilliamMalcolmPatrick. | |
Origins
Richard was a son of Murdac (Muiredach), son of Alexander de Moravia.[4] This is proven in a charter from Abbot of Dunfermline, which identifies Richard as "Ric de Moravia fil Murdaci filii Alexandri de Moravia".[5]
He was also either the cousin,[6][7] or nephew,[7] of Hugh or Hugo de Moravia, also known as Hugh Freskin,[7] who was the first Lord of Sutherland and whose son was William de Moravia, 1st Earl of Sutherland (d.1284).[7][6] Richard's brother was Gilbert de Moravia (d.1245) who was Bishop of Caithness.[2][7]
Castle and lands
Richard de Moravia received from his elder brother, Gilbert, all of the lands that Gilbert had received from Hugo Freskyn,[2] (also recorded as Hugo de Moravia) and the charter was confirmed by Alexander II of Scotland.[2] Richard was also given Skelbo Castle by his brother Gilbert in 1235.[8]
Battle of Embo
William, Earl of Sutherland asked Richard de Moravia to engage a party of Danes (Vikings) who had landed at Littleferry, Sutherland until the Earl could come to his aid with a stronger force.[9] The plan worked and the Danes were routed by the arrival of the Earl.[9][6] However, Richard was killed during the battle.[9] The Earl then arranged for Richard's body to be interred in Dornoch Cathedral and his damaged sarcophagus can still be seen there today.[9] This was known as the Battle of Embo and took place sometime between 1260 and 1270.[9][3]
Family and descendants
Richard de Moravia married Marjorie Lascelles,[10] the daughter and heiress of Alan de Lascelles. They had four sons: Sir Alexander, William, Sir Malcolm, and Sir Patrick.[11]
Their great-grandson Alan;[10] whose son was Reginald; whose son was Gilbert.[2] Gilbert married Eustachia, daughter of Kenneth de Moravia, 4th Earl of Sutherland.[2] Their son was Walter whose daughter and heiress was Egidia de Moravia who carried the estates of Cubyn (Culbin) and Skelbol (Skelbo) into the Kinnaird family.[2]
Richard de Moravia is also believed to have been the ancestor of the Murray of Aberscross family in Sutherland.[12][6] The surname de Moravia meaning "of Moray" or "of Murray".[13]
The Murray of Culbin coat of arms is recorded as Sable, three stars argent.[1]
References
- Johnston, G. Harvey (George Harvey), 1860-1921 (1910). The Heraldry of the Murrays : with notes on all the males of the family, descriptions of the arms, plates and pedigrees. pp. 104–106.
Quoting: Forman's MS, Lyon Office, c. 1566
- Publications (Registrum Episcopatus Moraviensis. Volume 58. Scotland. 1837. p. Xxxiii.
- "Sir Richard de Moravia". findagrave.com. Retrieved 11 February 2018.
- Scottish Notes and Queries, Volume 2. D. Wyllie and Son, 1901. pp.130-131.
- Transactions of the Gaelic Society of Inverness, Volume 25, Gaelic Society of Inverness, 1907.
- "Early History of Clan Murray (Clann Mhoraidh) in New Scotland (Nova Scotia)". chebucto.ns.ca. Retrieved 11 February 2018.
- Rose, Mr D. Murray. Notes on the family of De Moravia, or Moray, Part 1. Retrieved 11 February 2018.
- Fraser, William (1892). The Sutherland Book. Edinburgh. pp. 6-8.
- "Norse Invaders". historylinks.org.uk. Retrieved 2 February 2018.
- McAndrew, Bruce (2006). Scotland’s Historic Heraldry. Woodbridge, UK: The Boydell Press. p. 440.
- Notes and Queries. Oxford University. 1905. p. 242.
- Shaw, Lachlan (1827). The History of the Province of Moray. Moray, Scotland: J. Grant. p. 473. Retrieved 11 January 2020.
Richard de Moravia ancestor of Sutherland Murrays
- Sutherland, Malcolm (1996). A Fighting Clan, Sutherland Officers: 1250 – 1850. Avon Books. p. 3. ISBN 1-897960-47-6.