Richard de Moravia or Richard de Moray of Culbin or of Cubyn, was a Scottish nobleman famed for his victory over the

Vikings Vikings were seafaring people originally from Scandinavia (present-day Denmark, Norway, and Sweden), who from the late 8th to the late 11th centuries raided, pirated, traded, and settled throughout parts of Europe.Roesdahl, pp. 9� ...

at the

Battle of Embo The Battle of Embo took place at Embo in Sutherland, Scotland in 1245. It was fought by Scottish forces against Viking invaders who were defeated. The battle The first account of the Battle of Embo was written by Sir Robert Gordon, 1st Barone ...

which took place in

Sutherland Sutherland () is a Counties of Scotland, historic county, registration county and lieutenancy areas of Scotland, lieutenancy area in the Scottish Highlands, Highlands of Scotland. The name dates from the Scandinavian Scotland, Viking era when t ...

Scotland Scotland is a Countries of the United Kingdom, country that is part of the United Kingdom. It contains nearly one-third of the United Kingdom's land area, consisting of the northern part of the island of Great Britain and more than 790 adjac ...

in 1245.

Origins

Richard was a son of Murdac (Muiredach), son of Alexander de Moravia. This is proven in a charter from Abbot of Dunfermline, which identifies Richard as "Ric de Moravia fil Murdaci filii Alexandri de Moravia". He was also either the cousin, or nephew, of Hugh or Hugo de Moravia, also known as Hugh Freskin, who was the first Lord of Sutherland and whose son was William de Moravia, 1st Earl of Sutherland (d.1284). Richard's brother was

Gilbert de Moravia Gilbert de Moravia (died 1245), later known as Saint Gilbert of Dornoch, or Gilbert of Caithness, was the most famous Bishop of Caithness and founder of Dornoch Cathedral. His name may suggest that he came from the semi-Gaelicized family of ...

(d.1245) who was

Bishop of Caithness The Bishop of Caithness was the ecclesiastical head of the Diocese of Caithness, one of Scotland's 13 medieval bishoprics. The first referenced bishop of Caithness was Aindréas, a Gael who appears in sources between 1146 and 1151 as bishop. Ai ...

. Gilbert is also known to have had an older brother John, and a younger brother, Simon.

Castle and lands

Richard de Moravia received from his elder brother, Gilbert, all of the lands that Gilbert had received from Hugo Freskyn, (also recorded as Hugo de Moravia) and the charter was confirmed by

Alexander II of Scotland Alexander II ( Medieval Gaelic: '; Modern Gaelic: '; nicknamed "the Peaceful" by modern historians; 24 August 1198 – 6 July 1249) was King of Alba (Scotland) from 1214 until his death. He concluded the Treaty of York (1237) which defined t ...

. Richard was also given

Skelbo Castle Skelbo Castle is a ruined 14th century keep, located near Dornoch, Sutherland, Scotland. The remaining wall is best preserved at the northern side of the castle. The remains are protected as a scheduled monument. The castle is located at a former ...

by his brother Gilbert in 1235. He also held lands at

Kincorth Kincorth is a suburb located to the south of Aberdeen, Scotland. The name is a corruption of the Scottish Gaelic "Ceann Coirthe", which probably refers to an old pillar or standing stone A menhir (; from Brittonic languages: ''maen'' or ...

, Kintessoch, Kildun, Ethder, Calder,

Newton Newton most commonly refers to: * Isaac Newton (1642–1726/1727), English scientist * Newton (unit), SI unit of force named after Isaac Newton Newton may also refer to: People * Newton (surname), including a list of people with the surname * ...

Invershin Invershin () is a scattered village in the Parish of Creich, Sutherland, Creich, south of Lairg and north of Bonar Bridge in the south of Sutherland in the Scottish Highlands and is in the Scotland, Scottish council area of Highland Council area ...

, Ferrinbuscay and

Assynt Assynt ( or ) is a sparsely populated area in the south-west of Sutherland, lying north of Ullapool on the west coast of Scotland. Assynt is known for its landscape and its remarkable mountains, which have led to the area, along with neighbour ...

. His wife Marjorie, brought lands at

Naughton Naughton ( or ) is an Irish Gaelic surname derived from the name Ó Neachtain meaning 'descendant of Nechtan'. A Sept of the Dal gCais of the same stock as Quinn and Hartigan where located in Inchiquin Barony, County Clare. Another O'Neachta ...

as part of her dowry.

Battle of Embo

Dornoch Cathedral 20090615 effigy Richard de Moravia

William, Earl of Sutherland asked Richard de Moravia to engage a party of Danes (Vikings) who had landed at Littleferry, Sutherland until the Earl could come to his aid with a stronger force. The plan worked and the Danes were routed by the arrival of the Earl. However, Richard was killed during the battle. The Earl then arranged for Richard's body to be interred in

Dornoch Cathedral Dornoch Cathedral is a Church of Scotland parish church serving the small Sutherland town of Dornoch, in the Scottish Highlands. As a congregation of the Church of Scotland, which is Presbyterian, the church is not the seat of a bishop but retai ...

and his damaged sarcophagus can still be seen there today. This was known as the Battle of Embo and took place in 1245.

Family and descendants

Richard de Moravia married Marjorie Lascelles, widow of Peter Hay, she was the daughter and heiress of Alan de Lascelles. They had four sons: Sir

Alexander Alexander () is a male name of Greek origin. The most prominent bearer of the name is Alexander the Great, the king of the Ancient Greek kingdom of Macedonia who created one of the largest empires in ancient history. Variants listed here ar ...

, William, Sir Malcolm, and Sir Patrick. Their great-grandson Alan; whose son was Reginald; whose son was Gilbert. Gilbert married Eustachia, daughter of

Kenneth de Moravia, 4th Earl of Sutherland Kenneth de Moravia (also known as Kenneth Sutherland) (died 19 July 1333) was the 4th Earl of Sutherland and chief of the Clan Sutherland, a Scottish clan of the Scottish Highlands. Early life Kenneth de Moravia, 4th Earl of Sutherland was the ...

. Their son was Walter whose daughter and heiress was Egidia de Moravia who carried the estates of Cubyn (Culbin) and Skelbol (Skelbo) into the Kinnaird family. Richard de Moravia is also believed to have been the ancestor of the

Murray of Aberscross The Murrays (or Morays) of Aberscross (or Aberscors) were a minor noble Scottish family who were seated at Aberscross Castle, in the county of Sutherland, Scotland. The Murrays in Sutherland are recorded specifically as a clan in two acts of th ...

family in Sutherland. The surname de Moravia meaning "of Moray" or "of Murray". The Murrays of Culbin and Pulrossie were also descendants of Richard. The Murray of Culbin

coat of arms A coat of arms is a heraldry, heraldic communication design, visual design on an escutcheon (heraldry), escutcheon (i.e., shield), surcoat, or tabard (the last two being outer garments), originating in Europe. The coat of arms on an escutcheon f ...

is recorded as ''Sable, three stars argent''.

Origins

Castle and lands

Battle of Embo

Family and descendants

References

See also