Alexander Comyn, 2nd Earl of Buchan (died 1289) was a Scoto-Norman magnate who was one of the most important figures in the 13th century Kingdom of Scotland. He was the son of William Comyn, jure uxoris Earl of Buchan, and Marjory, Countess of Buchan, the heiress of the last

native Scottish The Scots ( sco, Scots Fowk; gd, Albannaich) are an ethnic group and nation native to Scotland. Historically, they emerged in the early Middle Ages from an amalgamation of two Celtic-speaking peoples, the Picts and Gaels, who founded ...

Mormaer of Buchan, Fergus. He was the chief counsellor of Alexander III, King of Scots for the entire period of the king's majority and, as Scotland's leading magnate, played a key role in safeguarding the independence of the Scottish monarchy. During his long career, Alexander Comyn was Justiciar of Scotia (1258–89),

Constable of Scotland The Lord High Constable is a hereditary, now ceremonial, office of Scotland. In the order of precedence of Scotland, the office traditionally ranks above all titles except those of the Royal Family.p60-61, Bruce, Alistair, Keepers of the King ...

(1275–89), Sheriff of Wigtown (1263–66),

Sheriff of Dingwall The Sheriff of Dingwall was historically the office responsible for enforcing law and order in Dingwall, Scotland and bringing criminals to justice. Dingwall was granted royal burgh status in 1226 by King Alexander II of Scotland. The seat of the s ...

(1264–66),

Ballie A bailie or baillie is a civic officer in the local government of Scotland. The position arose in the burghs, where bailies formerly held a post similar to that of an alderman or magistrate (see bailiff). Baillies appointed the high constables ...

of Inverie (in Knoydart) and finally, Guardian of Scotland (1286–89) during the first

interregnum An interregnum (plural interregna or interregnums) is a period of discontinuity or "gap" in a government, organization, or social order. Archetypally, it was the period of time between the reign of one monarch and the next (coming from Latin '' ...

following the death of Alexander III. In 1284 he joined with other Scottish noblemen who acknowledged Margaret of Norway as the heiress to King Alexander.''Foedera'', p. 228 He died sometime after 10 July 1289. Alexander had at least nine children with his wife, Elizabeth, daughter of Roger de Quincy, 2nd Earl of Winchester: * John Comyn, 3rd Earl of Buchan, Alexander's successor as Earl of Buchan * Roger * Lord Alexander Comyn,

sheriff A sheriff is a government official, with varying duties, existing in some countries with historical ties to England where the office originated. There is an analogous, although independently developed, office in Iceland that is commonly transla ...

of Aberdeen, married Joan, sister of William le Latimer, and had issue. Henry de Beaumont would claim the Earldom of Buchan through marriage to their daughter,

Alice Alice may refer to: * Alice (name), most often a feminine given name, but also used as a surname Literature * Alice (''Alice's Adventures in Wonderland''), a character in books by Lewis Carroll * ''Alice'' series, children's and teen books by ...

. * Lord William Comyn, Provost of St. Mary's Church, St. Andrews * Lady Marjorie Comyn, m. Patrick Dunbar, 8th Earl of Dunbar * Lady Agnes Egidia Comyn, m. Maol Íosa III, Earl of Strathearn * Lady Elisabetha Comyn, m.

Gilbert de Umfraville, 1st Earl of Angus Gilbert de Umfraville, Earl of Angus (before 1246 – 1308) was the first of the Anglo-French de Umfraville line to rule the Earldom of Angus in his own right. His father was Gilbert de Umfraville (died shortly before 13 March 1245), a Norman, ...

* Lady Elena Comyn, m. Sir William de Brechin * Lady Annora Comyn, m. Nicholas de Soules

References

Notes

Sources

* Rymer, Thomas,''Foedera Conventiones, Literae et cuiuscunque generis Acta Publica inter Reges Angliae''. London. 1745. (Latin

*Young, Alan, ''Robert the Bruce's Rivals: The Comyns, 1213–1314'', (East Linton, 1997) *Young, Alan & Cumming, George, ''The Real Patriots of Early Scottish Independence'', Birlinn, (Edinburgh, 2014)

External links

Medieval Lands Project on Alexander Comyn
{{DEFAULTSORT:Alexander Comyn, Earl of Buchan 13th-century births, Comyn, Alexander Comyn, Alexander Year of birth unknown Clan Comyn Comyn, Alexander Comyn, Alexander Comyn, Alexander 13th-century mormaers