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Uhtred of Galloway

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Uhtred
Lord of Galloway
Reign1161 – 1174
Co-regnantGille Brigte of Galloway
Bornc. 1120 (1120)
DiedSeptember 22, 1174(1174-09-22) (aged 53–54)
SpouseGunhilda of Dunbar
Issue
  • Lochlann of Galloway
  • Fergus
  • Unknown son

Uhtred mac Fergus (c. 1120 – 22 September 1174) was Lord of Galloway from 1161 to 1174, ruling jointly with his brother Gille Brigte (Gilbert). They were sons of Fergus of Galloway; it was believed that they were half brothers, but Duncan of Carrick was addressed as cousin by the English King, as was Uchtred. (The term "cousin" in address does not necessarily connote a family tie; it was used between even minor "kings" to suggest that sender and receiver were of mutually considerable rank). Their mother's name is not known for sure, but she must have been one of the many illegitimate daughters of Henry I of England, most likely Elizabeth Fitzroy.

Career

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As a boy he was sent as a hostage to the court of King Malcolm IV of Scotland. When his father, Prince Fergus, died in 1161, Uchtred was made co-ruler of Galloway along with Gilla Brigte. They participated in the disastrous invasion of Northumberland under William I of Scotland in 1174. King William was captured, and the Galwegians rebelled, taking the opportunity to slaughter the Normans and English in their land. During this time Uchtred was brutally mutilated, blinded, castrated, and killed by his brother Gille Brigte and Gille Brigte's son, Máel Coluim. Gille Brigte then seized control of the whole of Galloway.

Marriage and children

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Uchtred had married Gunhilda of Dunbar, daughter of Waltheof of Allerdale and they were the parents of:

  • Fergus, died after 1213, knight, identified as 'brother of Roland' in 1196 charter[1]
  • ___, son name unknown, died 30 September 1185, in conflict with Gillecolm [1]

Sources

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References

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  1. ^ a b Scots Peerage, Volume 4, "Ancient Lords of Galloway" p. 138 https://www.electricscotland.com/books/pdf/ScotsPeerageVol4.pdf
  • McDonald, R. Andrew. Outlaws of Medieval Scotland, 2003 - Tuckwell Press. ISBN 1-86232-236-8 [McDonald, Outlaws of Medieval Scotland]
Preceded by Lord of Galloway
1161–1174
Succeeded by