Gille Brigte, Earl of Strathearn

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The 2nd seal of Gille Brigte (Gilbert), Earl or Mormaer of Strathearn.

Gille Brigte of Strathearn (Francized as Gilbert) is the third known Mormaer of Strathearn. He is one of the most famous of the Strathearn mormaers. He succeeded his father Ferchar in 1171. He is often known by the Francization of his name, Gilbert, or by various different anglicizations, such as Gilbride, Gilbridge, etc. A more modern version of his name is Giolla or Gille Brighde, and means - roughly - devotee of St Brigit.

Unikely his predecessors, we know for certain that Mormaer Gille Brigte was a regular attendee of the entourage of the Scottish king (in this case, King William I). Gille Brigte even served as the Justiciar of Scotia, an office often held by the Mormaers of Fife, during the minority of Donnchad. Gille Brigte accompanied the King on his expeditions against Harald Maddadsson, the "rebellious" Earl of Orkney and Mormaer of Caithness. When William was captured at Alnwick in 1174, Gille Brigte too became a hostage, and shared William's fate as a prisoner at Falaise.

In 1213, Gille Brigte acted as an arbitrator in the controversy over the succession to the Mormaerdom of Menteith, the neighboruing Mormaerdom. Gille Brigte was one of the Mormaers present at the coronation of King Alexander II in 1215, at Scone.

Gille Brigte's reign brought Strathearn more fully into the fold of Scottish politics, although it does seem that he spent many of his last years in seclusion in Strathearn. He died in 1223.

Gille Brigte had two known canonical wives, Maud d'Aubigny and Iseulte de Kinbuck. He had an extraordinary number of offspring, including seven sons (Gille Críst, William, Ferchar, Mormaer Robert, Fergus, Máel Ísu, Gille Brigte of Glencarny), and three daughters (Maud, who married Maol Choluim I, Earl of Fife, Cecilia, who married Walter fils de Alan and Ethne, who married David de le Haye).

[edit] Bibliography

• Neville, Cynthia J., Native Lordship in Medieval Scotland: The Earldoms of Strathearn and Lennox, c. 1140-1365, (Portland & Dublin, 2005)