Alexander de Kininmund (d. 1380)

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Alexander de Kininmund
Denomination   Roman Catholic Church
Senior posting
See   Diocese of Aberdeen
Title   Bishop of Aberdeen
Period in office   13551380
Consecration   1356
Predecessor   John de Rate
Successor   Adam de Tyninghame
Religious career
Previous post   Archdeacon of Aberdeen
Personal
Date of birth   Early-Mid 1300s
Place of birth   Scotland.
Date of death   1380
Place of death   Scone

Alexander de Kininmund was a 14th century Scottish cleric. Although it is not known which one, it is known that in his youth he went to university and achieved a Licentiate in the Arts;[1] he was made Dean of Brechin Cathedral in 1350,[2] leaving this post in 1352 to become Archdeacon of Aberdeen.[3] It was the latter position that enabled him, after the death of Bishop John de Rate in either late 1354 or early 1355, to be elected as the new Bishop of Aberdeen.[4]

Upon receiving the request for confirmation by the new bishop and the chapter of Aberdeen, the Pope declared that he had previously reserved the see for his own choice; he declared the election void, but nevertheless supported the decision of the chapter, appointing Alexander as bishop on December 4, 1355.[4] He was consecrated before July 12, 1356;[5] according to Hector Boece, this took place at Perth in the presence of the king.[6] Boece also wrote that King David II of Scotland had written to the chapter of Aberdeen requesting that they elect a French follower of his by the name of Nicholas, but that the chapter refused to accommodate this suggestion.[6]

Alexander was one of the proctors appointed for the ransom of King David in 1357, after the latter had been taken as a hostage by the English crown at the Battle of Neville's Cross eleven years earlier.[6] Five years later, in 1362, King David granted the bishopric some land in the County of Banff to augment the income of a canon who in return would say mass for the souls of King David and his ancestors.[6] Bishop Alexander died on July 29, 1380, and was buried before the altar of Aberdeen Cathedral.[1] According to Hector Boece, he was at Scone when he died.[1]

[edit] Notes

  1. ^ a b c Dowden, Bishops of Scotland, p. 116.
  2. ^ Watt, Fasti Ecclesiae, p. 43.
  3. ^ Watt, Fasti Ecclesiae, p. 18.
  4. ^ a b Dowden, Bishops of Scotland, p. 115; Watt, Fasti Ecclesiae, p. 43.
  5. ^ Watt, Fasti Ecclesiae, p. 43.
  6. ^ a b c d Dowden, Bishops of Scotland, p. 115

[edit] References

  • Dowden, John, The Bishops of Scotland, ed. J. Maitland Thomson, (Glasgow, 1912)
  • Keith, Robert, An Historical Catalogue of the Scottish Bishops: Down to the Year 1688, (London, 1924)
  • Watt, D.E.R., Fasti Ecclesiae Scotinanae Medii Aevi ad annum 1638, 2nd Draft, (St Andrews, 1969)
Religious Posts
Preceded by
John de Rait
Archdeacon of Aberdeen
x 13521355
Succeeded by
John Barbour
Preceded by
John de Rait
Bishop of Aberdeen
13551380
Succeeded by
Adam de Tyninghame