Maurice de Moravia, Earl of Strathearn

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Maurice de Moravia [de Moray, Murray] was a 14th century warrior and nobleman. The oldest of the sons of Sir John de Moravia of Drumsagard ("ridge of the priest"), Maurice appears in the sources for this first time in October 1334, as the Sheriff of Lanark. By this point he has become a powerful military leader, being styled by Walter Bower "Lord of Clydesdale". In 1339, Maurice served under Robert Stewart at the siege of Perth, but when King David II returned from exile in France in 1441, Maurice became a royal favourite and was used by King David against Stewart, his rival and heir.

Maurice held Stirling Castle for David from 1342, and was granted the baronies of Strathaven (Lanarkshire) and Hawick (Roxburghshire). On October 31, 1343, King David assigned to Maurice the forfeited Earldom of Strathearn. Maurice had a vague claim to this ealrdom, as in 1339 he had married Joanna of Menteith, widow of Maol Íosa IV, Earl of Strathearn. Despite the royal grant, the legality of Maurice's possession was challenged, partly because a parliament at Perth in 1339 had cleared the last earl, Maol Íosa V of the treason charge. However, as Maol Íosa V had surrendered his earldom to Edward Balliol, the parliament of Scone in June 1344 declared the earldom forfeit and confirmed the possession of Maurice. Earl Maurice continued his service as a royal retainer and by 1346 was made Justiciar of Scotia.

However, on October 17, 1346, Earl Maurice was killed at the Battle of Neville's Cross. Maurice had no known legitimate children, but did have a bastard by the name of Maurice who later found patronage with King David.

[edit] References

Balfour-Paul, James, Scots Peerage, (Edinburgh, 1904-1914), vol. 8
Penman, Michael A., "Murray, Maurice, earl of Strathearn (d. 1346)", Oxford Dictionary of National Biography, Oxford University Press, Sept 2004; online edn, May 2006 accessed 27 Feb 2007