Malise (Gaelic: ''Maol Íosa''; fl. 1099–1141) is the earliest-known earl, or

mormaer In early medieval Scotland, a mormaer was the Gaelic name for a regional or provincial ruler, theoretically second only to the King of Scots, and the senior of a ''Toísech'' (chieftain). Mormaers were equivalent to English earls or Continental c ...

, of

Strathearn Strathearn or Strath Earn (, from gd, Srath Èireann) is the strath of the River Earn, in Scotland, extending from Loch Earn in the West to the River Tay in the east.http://www.strathearn.com/st_where.htm Derivation of name Strathearn was on ...

in central

Scotland Scotland (, ) is a Countries of the United Kingdom, country that is part of the United Kingdom. Covering the northern third of the island of Great Britain, mainland Scotland has a Anglo-Scottish border, border with England to the southeast ...

. In 1138, Malise participated in King David's invasion of

England England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Wales to its west and Scotland to its north. The Irish Sea lies northwest and the Celtic Sea to the southwest. It is separated from continental Europe b ...

, and he fought in the vanguard at the Battle of the Standard. Like his son and successor Ferquhard, Malise is largely absent from the witness lists of Scottish royal charters, indicating a lack of involvement in royal government. He was, however, a witness to a charter of David, confirming certain gifts and grants to

Dunfermline Abbey Dunfermline Abbey is a Church of Scotland Parish Church in Dunfermline, Fife, Scotland. The church occupies the site of the ancient chancel and transepts of a large medieval Benedictine abbey, which was sacked in 1560 during the Scottish Reforma ...

, dated about 1128.Gordon A.C.MacGregor, ''Celtic Earls of Strathearn'', in ''The Red Book of Perthshire'' (Perthshire Heritage Trust, 2006)

Aelred of Rievaulx Aelred of Rievaulx ( la, Aelredus Riaevallensis); also Ailred, Ælred, and Æthelred; (1110 – 12 January 1167) was an English Cistercian monk, abbot of Rievaulx from 1147 until his death, and known as a writer. He is regarded by Anglicans an ...

portrays Malise as the chief representative of the native Scottish faction at the royal court, opposed to the faction of Normans led by

Robert de Brus Robert I (11 July 1274 – 7 June 1329), popularly known as Robert the Bruce (Scottish Gaelic: ''Raibeart an Bruis''), was King of Scots from 1306 to his death in 1329. One of the most renowned warriors of his generation, Robert eventuall ...

. He married Rosabella Forteith, by whom he had his son Ferquhard, his only known issue.

Bibliography

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

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Strathearn, Malise I, Earl of 12th-century deaths People from Perth and Kinross 12th-century mormaers Year of birth unknown Place of birth unknown Year of death unknown Place of death unknown Mormaers of Strathearn