Alan Hostarius or Alan Durward (Scottish Gaelic: Ailean Dorsair † 1275) was the son of Thomas de Lundin, a grandson of Gille Críst, Mormaer of Mar. His mother's name is unknown, but she was almost certainly a daughter of Máel Coluim, Mormaer of Atholl, meaning that Alan was the product of two Gaelic comital families. // Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig) is a member of the Goidelic branch of Celtic languages. ... // April 22 - The first of the Statutes of Westminster are passed by the English parliament, establishing a series of laws in its 51 clauses, including equal treatment of rich and poor, free and fair elections, and definition of bailable and non-bailable offenses. ... Thomas de Lundin, often referred to as Thomas lUssier or Thomas Durward (Scottish Gaelic: ), was a 13th century Scottish nobleman. ... Gille Críst of Mar is the fourth known Mormaer of Mar, 1183-1203. ... Máel Coluim of Atholl was Mormaer of Atholl between 1153/9 and the 1190s. ... The title of mormaor or mormaer designated one of the rulers of the seven provinces of Celtic Scotland, i. ...

Alan was one of the most important political figures of 13th century Scotland, and in fact effectively ruled the country at several points during the minority of Alexander III (Gaelic: Alasdair III mac Alasdair). Through his father Thomas, he inherited the office of hostarius, protector of the king's property. Alan probably participated in the campaign to crush the insurrection of Meic Uilleim (Mac Williams) in 1228-29. By 1233, and probably before, Alan was given control of Urquhart on the shores of Loch Ness. Alan was almost certainly responsible for the earliest motte phase of Urquhart Castle. Coronation of King Alexander on Moot Hill, Scone. ... // Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig) is a member of the Goidelic branch of Celtic languages. ... The Hostarius (alternatively, Usher, Doorward or Durward) was an office in medieval Scotland whose holders, eventually hereditary, had the theoretical responsibility of being warden of the kings door, i. ... The Meic Uilleim (MacWilliams) were the Gaelic descendants of William fitz Duncan, grandson of Máel Coluim mac Donnchada, king of Scots. ... Events The Sixth Crusade is launched by Frederick II, Holy Roman Emperor, after delays due to sickness and an excommunication from Pope Gregory IX. Conrad IV of Germany becomes titular King of Jerusalem, with Frederick II as regent. ... Events February 18 - The Sixth Crusade: Frederick II, Holy Roman Emperor signs a ten-year truce with al-Kamil, regaining Jerusalem, Nazareth, and Bethlehem with neither military engagements nor support from the papacy. ... // Events Fortress of Kalan built. ... Urquhart may refer to: Thomas Urquhart (1611–1660), Scottish writer and translator of Rabelais. ... A motte-and-bailey is a form of castle. ... Urquhart Castle, main tower Urquhart Castle ( ; Ordnance Survey grid reference NH530286) sits beside Loch Ness in Scotland along the A82 road, between Fort William and Inverness. ...

At the same point in time, between 1233 and 1235, Alan was styling himself "Count of Atholl". It has often been thought that, after the death of Thomas of Galloway, Earl of Atholl in 1232, Isabella, Countess of Atholl, married Alan. This however, rests solely on the appearance of Alan's styles. However, as Matthew Hammond has shown, this more is more likely to refer to fact that Alan, as a grandson of Máel Coluim, Earl of Atholl, probably sought to inherit the province; by January 9, 1234, King Alexander seems to have recognized this style. However, by the time of a charter of July 7, 1235, the style had disappeared and Alan was never called "Count" (Mormaer or Earl) again. Alan, like his father Thomas, would also challenge the rights of the Mormaers of Mar. Alan was descended from Gille Crist, Mormaer of Mar. However, Gille Críst's descendents had been excluded from inheritance by the line of Morggán, Mormaer of Mar, who were monopolizing the comital title. Alan tried and failed to oust Uilleam from his title. It would be the greatest failure of Alan's career that he failed to rise to comital rank. // Events Fortress of Kalan built. ... Events Anglo-Norman invasion of Connacht St. ... Isabella of Atholl was countess or ban-mormaer of Atholl, Scotland, from the death of her father Henry in 1211 until the accession of her son Padraig in 1236/7. ... is the 9th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... // Supposedly Mali begins revolt against oppressors. ... is the 188th day of the year (189th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... The title of mormaor or mormaer designated one of the rulers of the seven provinces of Celtic Scotland, i. ... For other uses, see Earl (disambiguation). ... The Mormaer or Mormaerdom of Mar was a comparatively long-lasting Mormaerdom in the north-eastern part of the High Medieval Kingdom of the Scots. ... Morggán of Mar, is the first Mormaer of Mar to appear in history as more than a characterless name in a witness-list. ... Uilleam of Mar - Uilleam mac Dhonnchadha (William, Duncans son) - was perhaps the greatest of the Mar mormaers, ruling Mar from 1244 to 1276. ...

Alan's illustrious career was marked by intense rivalry with the Comyns. The rivalry was a national phenomenon, and represented a larger factional conflict within the kingdom. There may have been some reconciliation towards the end of his life. Alan was made Justiciar of Scotia along with Alexander Comyn, Earl of Buchan, and campaigned with the latter in two expeditions against the Norwegians. Alan even witnessed one of Earl Alexander's charters in 1272. Clan Cumming, also known as Clan Comyn, is a Scottish clan from the central Highlands that played a major role in the history of 13th century Scotland and in the Wars of Scottish Independence. ... The Justiciar of Scotia (in Norman-Latin, Justiciarus Scotie) was the most senior legal office in the High Medieval Kingdom of Scotland. ... Alexander Comyn, Earl of Buchan (d. ... For broader historical context, see 1270s and 13th century. ...

Alan spent many of his later years in England. During the minority of Alexander III, Alan had courted the favor of King Henry III of England in an effort to stay in power. The King of the English even gave Alan his own English manor, Bolsover. Henry III (1 October 1207 – 16 November 1272) was crowned King of England in 1216, despite being less than ten years of age. ... Statistics Population: 11,291 Ordnance Survey OS grid reference: SK475706 Administration District: Bolsover Shire county: Derbyshire Region: East Midlands Constituent country: England Sovereign state: United Kingdom Other Ceremonial county: Derbyshire Historic county: Derbyshire Services Police force: Derbyshire Constabulary Fire and rescue: {{{Fire}}} Ambulance: {{{Ambulance}}} Post office and telephone Post town...

He died in 1275. He was buried in the Abbey of Coupar Angus. Alan had married Marjory, a bastard daughter of King Alexander II, by whom he had three children, Ermengarde (who married William de Soules, the royal butler), Anna (who married Colbán, Mormaer of Fife), and another daughter whose name is not known (she married John Bisset). Alan also had at least one bastard son, Thomas Durward. None of these children carried on their father's illustrious political career. Coupar Angus is a town in Perthshire, Scotland, situated on the A94 road five miles south of Blairgowrie. ... Alexander II (August 24, 1198 – July 6, 1249), king of Scotland, son of William I, the Lion, and of Ermengarde of Beaumont, was born at Haddington, East Lothian, in 1198, and succeeded to the kingdom on the death of his father on 4 December 1214. ... Hermitage Castle (in 1814), caput of the small provincial lordship of Liddesdale. ... Mormaer Colbán of Fife ruled Fife, 1266 – 1270/2. ...

References

• Barrow, G.W.S., "Badenoch and Strathspey, 1130-1312: 1 Secular and Political" in Northern Scotland, VIII, pp. 1-15
• Hammond, Matthew H., "The Durward family in the thirteenth century", in Steve Boardman and Alasdair Ross (eds.), The Exercise of Power in Medieval Scotland, c.1200–1500, (Dublin/Portland, 2003), pp. 118-38