Thomas de Lundin

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Thomas de Lundin, often referred to as Thomas l'Ussier or Thomas Durward (Scottish Gaelic: Tàmhas Gocaman), was a 13th century Scottish nobleman.

Thomas takes his name from the villa of Lundie in Angus (not to be confused with Lundie in Fife), and was one of two known sons of Máel Coluim of Lundie (the other was Eóghan). His father had married a daughter of Gille Críst, Earl of Mar. It was for this reason that, after the death of Gille Críst, Thomas challenged the right of his successor Donnchad. The dispute resulted in a division of the Earldom. Although Donnchad kept the title and most of the territory, Thomas and his family received much of the lowland part of the earldom in compensation.

Thomas was the hostarius of King Alexander II of Scotland until his own death. It was for this reason that his descendants took the surname "hostarius" (or Durward). He married a daughter, whose name is not known, of Máel Coluim, Earl of Atholl, and by her he sired at least two sons, Alan and Cailean. Thomas appears for the last time in a document dated to 1228.

[edit] References

• Hammond, Matthew H., "The Durward family in the thirteenth century", in Steve Boardman and Alasdair Ross (eds.), The Exercise of Power in Medieval Scotland, c.1200–1500, (Dublin/Portland, 2003). pp. 118-37