David (Dunkeld) Eighth Earl of Huntingdon (abt. 1144 - 1219)

Born about 1144 in England

Ancestors

Husband of Mathilda (Chester) of Huntingdon — married 26 Aug 1190 in England [uncertain]

Descendants

Died 17 Jun 1219 at about age 75 in Northamptonshire, England

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David (Dunkeld) Eighth Earl of Huntingdon was a member of Scottish Nobility. Join: Scotland Project Discuss: Scotland

Biography

”Earl of Huntingdon," "Earl of Lennox," "Earl of Kempton and Potton,” “Earl of Bedfordshire,” “Earl of Cronington,” “Earl of Huntingdonshire,” “Earl of Tottenham,” “Earl of Middlesex,” “Earl of Fotheringay,” “Earl of Northhamptonshire," "Daibhidh mac Eanric"

House of Dunkeld

Birth and Parents

David Dunkeld was born in 1144 , or 1152 after the death of his father on 12 Jun 1152, (see Research Notes) the son of Henry Dunkeld and Ada de Warenne ^[1][2][3][4]

Marriage

On 26 Aug 1190, he married Maud of Chester, born in 1171, the daughter of Hugh, Earl of Chester, and Bertrade, daughter of Simon de Montford, Count of Evreux, seigneur of Montfort-l'Amury. ^[2][3][5]

Children of David Dunkeld and Maud of Chester

1. David Dunkeld, died young. ^[2]
2. Robert Dunkeld, died young, buried at Lindores Abbey.^[2][5]
3. Henry Dunkeld, died an infant, unmarried, buried at Lindores Abbey. ^[2][5]
4. John Dunkeld, also known as John of Scotland, Knight, 8th Earl of Chester, 10th Earl of Huntingdon, Warden of all the Forests of the Honour of Huntingdon, 1233, only surviving son and heir, born about 1207; he married about 22 Aug 1222, Ellen of Wales, daughter of Llywelyn ap lorwerth, Prince of North Wales, Prince of Aberffraw, Lord of Snowdon, by his 2nd or 3rd wife, Joan, legitimated daughter of John, King of England; he was senior co-heir in 1232 to his uncle, Ranulph, Earl of Chester; he died 12 Jun 1237. ^[2][5]
5. Margaret Dunkeld, also known as Margaret of Huntingdon, married in 1209, Alan Fitz Roland, son and heir of Roland Fitz Uchtred, Lord of Galloway, Constable of Scotland, and Ellen (or Helen), daughter and heiress of Richard de Morville, Constable of Scotland. ^[2] Her third daughter, Devorguilla was married to John de Baliol of Barnard Castle, a Competitor in 1291. ^[5]
6. Isabel Dunkeld, married Robert de Brus, Lord of Annandale in Scotland. ^[2]
7. Maud Dunkeld, also known as Maud of Huntingdon, married John de Monmouth (or, de Monemuth), probably, John Monmouth, of Monmouth and Penrose, Monmouthshire, Landingat, Carmarthenshire, Sutton Waldron, Dorset, Hewelsted, Gloucestershire, Steeple Langford, Wiltshire, Birtsmorton, Worcestershire, etc., son and heir of John de Monmouth, Knight, of Monmouth, Monmouthshire, Manston, Maiden Newton, and Sutton Waldron, Dosses, Witshred, Gloucestershire, West Dean (in West Tytherley), Hampshire, Great Wishford and Steeple Langton, Southie, Birtsmonton, Worcestershire, etc., Governor of St. Briavel's Castle, Keeper of New Forest, usice of South Wales, and his wife, Ceily, daughter and co-heiress of Walter Waleran, of Steeple Langford.; he died before 1274. ^[2]
8. Ada Dunkeld, married Henry de Hastings, Knight of Blunham, Bedfordshire, Ashill, Norfolk, etc. ^[2]

Natural Children of David Dunkeld and Unknown Mistress or Mistresses)

• Henry de Sterling, Knight, of Inchmartin, Pertshire, and Monorgrund. ^[2]
• Henry de Brechin, Knight, of Brechin, Forfarshire; married Julianne de Cornhill.^[2]
• Philip of Scotland, captured at the Battle of Lincoln in 1217. ^[2]
• Ada of Scotland, married Malaide of Strathearn, son of Ferteth, Earl of Strathearn and his wife, Ada, daughter of Earl David. ^[2]
• Margery, or Margaret, of Scotland, married David de Lindsay, Knight, of Luffness and Crawford. ^[2]

Life Events

The younger brother of Kings, William the Lion and Malcolm IV, and the grandson of David I, King of Scots, ^[4] David's life was filled with both challenges and responsibilities. ^[2]

David Dunkeld was held as a hostage in England in 1163 and emerged as a probable successor to William in Scotland by 1165. Demonstrating unwavering loyalty, especially during the 1179 Ross rebellion, he expanded his territories with the Huntingdon and Lennox earldoms, had pivotal roles in the Treaty of Falaise, and influenced regions like Tayside and Garioch. Globally recognized, he generously endowed St. Mary Clerkenwell's nuns, held a revered sword at Richard I's 1189 coronation, and showcased his spirituality through devotion to the Holy Trinity Priory in London and founding the Lindores Abbey in Fife. His political savvy shone when Richard I recognized Scotland’s sovereignty in 1189 and, after marrying Maud of Chester in 1190, they parented eight children. Despite challenges from King John post-1198, even amidst declining health, he remained a stalwart advocate for Scottish interests, reconciling with the English crown by 1218. Historian Jordan Fantosme lauded him for his wisdom, and his diplomacy underpinned nearly 80 years of Anglo-Scottish peace until 1296. ^[4][2][5]

Death

David Dunkeld died on 12 Jun 1219 in Yardley, or Jerdelay, Northamptonshire. He was laid to rest in Sawtry Abbey, a place befitting his stature. ^[2][3]

Research Notes

Disputed Birth Date

• Dunbar, Lawrie, and Paul cite 1144 as date of birth. ^[3][6][5] Richardson and Stringer cite 1152 as date of birth. ^[2][4]

Sources

1. ↑ Richardson, Douglas. Royal Ancestry: A Study in Colonial and Medieval Families, 5 vols, ed. Kimball G. Everingham (Salt Lake City: the author, 2013), vol. 4, p. 582, SCOTLAND, 3. Henry of Scotland, iii. David of Scotland.
2. ↑ ^{2.00 2.01 2.02 2.03 2.04 2.05 2.06 2.07 2.08 2.09 2.10 2.11 2.12 2.13 2.14 2.15 2.16 2.17 2.18} Richardson, Douglas. Royal Ancestry: A Study in Colonial and Medieval Families, 5 vols, ed. Kimball G. Everingham (Salt Lake City: the author, 2013), vol. 1, pp. 223-228, BALLIOL, 4. David of Scotland.
3. ↑ ^{3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3} Dunbar, Sir Archibald H. Scottish Kings: A Revised Chronology of Scottish History 1005-1625. Edinburgh: D. Douglas (1899), citing, “David, third son of Earl Henry, born about 1144, earl of Huntingdon, married Maud, daughter of Hugh, earl of Chester, 26th August 1190. He founded the abbey of Lundors [now Lindores] in Fife, and died at Jerdelay, 17th June 1219. Buried in the abbey of Sawtrey in Huntingdonshire.” p. 65.
4. ↑ ^{4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3} Stringer, Keith. Oxford Dictionary of National Biography. “David, earl of Huntingdon and lord of Garioch (1152–1219).” United Kingdom: Oxford University Press (2004), David, earl of Huntingdon.
5. ↑ ^{5.0 5.1 5.2 5.3 5.4 5.5 5.6} Paul, Sir James Balfour. The Scotts Peerage. Edinburgh: D. Douglas (1904), vol. 1, p. 4.
6. ↑ Lawrie, Archibald Campbell. Annals of the Reigns of Malcolm and William. Glasgow: J. MacLehose (1910). p. 221

See Also:

• Cawley, Charles. Foundation for Medieval Genealogy: Medieval Lands Database. David, son of Henry of Scotland.
• Wikipedia contributors, David, Earl of Huntingdon, Wikipedia, David, Earl of Huntingdon.