Muireadhach I (also written as ''Murethach'', ''Murdoch'' or ''Maurice'') is the second known

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 Continenta ...

Menteith Menteith or Monteith () is a district of south Perthshire, Scotland, roughly comprises the territory between the River Teith, Teith and the River Forth, Forth. Historically, the area between Callander and Dunblane was known in English by the si ...

. He succeeded his father Gille Críst by the time of his appearance in a charter of

William the Lion William the Lion (), sometimes styled William I (; ) and also known by the nickname ; e.g. Annals of Ulster, s.a. 1214.6; Annals of Loch Cé, s.a. 1213.10. ( 1142 – 4 December 1214), reigned as King of Alba from 1165 to 1214. His almost 49 ...

confirming the church at Moulin 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 confiscated and sacked in 1560 during the S ...

. The charter is undated, but must have been written between 1189 and 1198. He appears again in a charter agreement between Gilbert, Prior of St Andrews, and the local ''

Céli Dé The Culdees (; ) were members of ascetic Christian monastic and eremitical communities of Ireland, Scotland, Wales and England in the Middle Ages. Appearing first in Ireland and then in Scotland, subsequently attached to cathedral or collegiate ...

'' dating sometime after 1198. Muireadhach Mór's right to the Mormaerdom was challenged at some stage by his younger brother, also called Muireadhach, hence Muireadhach Óg (in English, "the younger"). The case apparently went to arbitration, and the king decided on the right of Muireadhch Óg. On 13 December 1213, Muireadhach Mór resigned the Mormaerdom, taking lesser lands and titles in compensation. It is not known for how long Muireadhach Mór lived, nor is it known if he had any wives or offspring.

Bibliography

* Paul, James Balfour, ''

The Scots Peerage ''The Scots Peerage'' is a nine-volume book series of the Scottish nobility compiled and edited by Sir James Balfour Paul, published in Edinburgh from 1904 to 1914. The full title is ''The Scots Peerage: Founded on Wood's Edition of Sir Rober ...

'', Vol. VI, (Edinburgh, 1909) * Roberts, John L., ''Lost Kingdoms: Celtic Scotland in the Middle Ages'', (Edinburgh, 1997), pp. 52 {{DEFAULTSORT:Menteith, Muireadhach I, Earl of 12th-century births 13th-century deaths Nobility from Stirling (council area) Mormaers of Menteith 12th-century mormaers 13th-century mormaers