University of Strathclyde Lecture Theatre 1B
Glasgow
March 16th 2014
Professor Harry Stirling
‘So why “The Blessed”? What on earth would prompt chroniclers to attach such an epithet to this particular King in the autumn years of his reign?’ The Professor paused, as he did, for effect-his eyes cast upwards behind his old-fashioned horned rimmed glasses. An old man with wispy thinning grey hair-he was what you might imagine of an old eccentric. His ability to enthuse and inspire his young charges in the histories that he taught them, however, was total.
‘Come on!’ He suddenly rapped making the students jump, then smile to themselves. ‘When he died in August 1149 he was 57-not a bad old age. Was it this? Or his twenty five year reign-one of the longest in Scots history? But he left a Kingdom still unquiet, heresies growing in Wales and the Isles and Dyfed and Thomond controlled by other realms-“blessed”! Really?’
A hand went up tentatively:
‘Lauren-you’re one of my brighter ones-yes?’
The girl was pretty, petite with bright red hair,’ I think it was probably less to do with his achievements as King and more to do with his family?’ She offered.
‘Go on…’
‘Well nine kids is going some even by the standards of that age wouldn’t you say Professor? Five sons and four daughters. Maybe he, more than any other Scottish King, really could be credited with building a dynasty..’
‘Some would call so many sons a curse rather than a blessing Lauren-the rest of you are far too QUIET! Come on! Let’s hear you. Yes Ewan-what say you?’
A plump, thin faced lad piped up ‘Let’s talk about my namesake Professor. Let’s be honest any of Laurence’s three eldest sons had the ability to contest the throne at the time of his death but isn’t it interesting that after a decade and more of the King supporting his eldest son, Robert, he suddenly swung in behind his own Lords to promote his second born’s claim-and this not long before he died. In that he was truly blessed!’
This last caused a ripple of mirth from the students-the lively to and fro was one of the main reasons that these lectures were so much fun.
Harry Stirling smiled also, ‘It is very true that his sudden change of heart was opportune in the extreme-many have surmised that had the King not switched and nominated his much more able second son, Ewan, that civil war on his death would have been inevitable. And as you should all know it was not that Prince Robert was not able-it was just his younger sibling was much more able!’
He was striding around the lectern area, commanding his space like an actor, ‘what do the records tell us-you sir! Ahmed!’
‘Umm…’
‘Start at the Marianus Scotus boy! Start at the Marianus Scotus!’
The pretty young Asian youth reached for his iPad and connected to the relevant section:
‘…if of this slight by his father the King there was any effect Duke Robert of Albany showed none of it. At the old King’s passing he respectfully mourned with his siblings then without wroth accepted the decision of the Electors of Scotland, Ireland and Wales to anoint his brother Ewan, Earl of Ross as King of the three Kingdoms…’ A pause then ‘I have to say that if that was me robbed of my inheritance I don’t think I would have taken it lying down!’
‘But it wasn’t a matter of inheritance was it now ‘Med!’ interjected the student sat next to him ‘that was the beauty of Elective succession!’
‘Ok-agreed Kate but I can’t think that Albany would have been pleased as he had been groomed for this all his life’ Stirling countered-but as you say ‘Med-no mention in Marianus Scotus of any ill will and indeed the reign of King Ewan points to a brother loyal in the extreme…throughout his reign.’
The Professor surveyed his students with a downturned smile ’you are all way off the mark! What reason might a King be called blessed? Laurence was no saint-he had lovers, sired at least one bastard-did he promote the church-think?’
‘Was it persuading his Marshall to renounce the Waldensian heresy Harry?’ Shouted Lauren boldly.
‘Aha! You are getting closer-much closer lass! That’s not quite it but almost.’
Hands now shot up all over the theatre
‘Ryan! Tell us!’ The professor was enjoying himself-his students too.
The thin red haired lad now himself grinning broadly first read from his own tablet ‘It says here in A History of Scotland that in the years 1141 to 1143 Laurence put down at least two large rebellions inspired by the same Waldensian heresy-one in Gwent and one on the Isle of Man and it was after these that he became known as “Blessed”’
With a whoop and a fist pump the lecturer raised his baton pointing it towards the triumphant Ryan-‘Got it lad! Consider yourself granted a free miss of any one of my remaining lectures! Yes it was holy church that saw Waldensian principles gaining purchase all over Wales and the Isle of Man but also saw Laurence zealously putting down the revolts-both of over six thousand…’
‘And let’s not forget Professor what Marianus Scotus tells us of his rescue by one of his courtiers, Duncan, from what is described as a great bear! That was in 1142 I believe.’
‘You have the right of it son. If you put together his achievements in beating off two major wars of independence, those of Myfanwy and Malmure plus his prodigious achievements in siring nine children over two wives (and a mistress), his recapture of the remainder of Wales and his putting down of the heretical rebellions-if you put all these together along with the incident with the bear then you have indeed a King who, by those standards, was blessed indeed!’
He stopped to catch his breath-was no longer young though these lectures made him feel so.
‘But what does this really tell us of his character?’ Asked another of the girls: bespectacled Anne, also a Psychology Major and always interested in the personality behind the history.
‘Good question Anne-well you tell me.’
Anne was shy and didn’t really like to be put on the spot but she did rise to the occasion when called upon, ‘well we know that he genuinely loved his children/ My view is that robbing his eldest of what he must have considered his birthright would genuinely have pained him. He died not long after making that switch-how do we know that the tragedy of that wasn’t what finished him off-there was no long illness was there? Or immediate signal he was on his way out-not sure I would have been able to live with the hurt looks that Albany would inevitably have directed towards him…’
‘Brilliant Anne!’ The professor himself was now chuckling. I have here some text from an old manuscript. Many say that it was a contemporary courtier Alan Mac Crinic who wrote. He says: though the old king was much minded to turn his attentions to expansion, maybe into Brittany , maybe to take De Jure lands such as Devon from the still warring English, the last months of his life were wholly granted to keeping the peace between his sons Albany and Ross. Many in the court opined that it was these great efforts that exhausted him to the expiration of his life…’
‘So there it is boys and girls! A king who came to the throne with the promise to his own father that he would reunite the Kingdoms, did that but I am pretty sure that he would have wanted to do more-maybe conquer Celtic Brittany or encroach into England. Hamstrung as he was by lack of funds to muster the necessary forces for this he ended up being a wholly inward looking King…maybe his second born son, the new King Ewan I would change things-watch this space.’
And with that the lecturer threw up the last slide:
King Laurence I’s Achievements:
• Reigned 25 years
• 9 Children (4 legitimate sons)
• 2 Wives (Queens Forflissa and Alienor)
• Regained the Kingdom of Wales including Devon and Cornwall for Scotland (1124)
• Held the 3 Kingdoms together for 25 years despite 2 major wars of Independence in Wales and Ireland
• (Belatedly) threw his weight behind the election of his ‘best’ son, Ewan of Ross (later King Ewan I)
• Put down 2 major Waldensian rebellions (Gwent 1141 and Man 1142)
• Developed 1st Scots Standing Army of 2000 troops including 100 Heavy Cavalry & Schiltroms
And on down side:
• Too inward looking
• No conquest of foreign lands
• Joined Pope Hilarius II’s Crusade to free Jerusalem 1126 but didn’t send any troops
• No major Town, University or castle building within his Demesne as most funds used on fighting his internal wars
•
Glasgow
March 16th 2014
Professor Harry Stirling
‘So why “The Blessed”? What on earth would prompt chroniclers to attach such an epithet to this particular King in the autumn years of his reign?’ The Professor paused, as he did, for effect-his eyes cast upwards behind his old-fashioned horned rimmed glasses. An old man with wispy thinning grey hair-he was what you might imagine of an old eccentric. His ability to enthuse and inspire his young charges in the histories that he taught them, however, was total.
‘Come on!’ He suddenly rapped making the students jump, then smile to themselves. ‘When he died in August 1149 he was 57-not a bad old age. Was it this? Or his twenty five year reign-one of the longest in Scots history? But he left a Kingdom still unquiet, heresies growing in Wales and the Isles and Dyfed and Thomond controlled by other realms-“blessed”! Really?’
A hand went up tentatively:
‘Lauren-you’re one of my brighter ones-yes?’
The girl was pretty, petite with bright red hair,’ I think it was probably less to do with his achievements as King and more to do with his family?’ She offered.
‘Go on…’
‘Well nine kids is going some even by the standards of that age wouldn’t you say Professor? Five sons and four daughters. Maybe he, more than any other Scottish King, really could be credited with building a dynasty..’
‘Some would call so many sons a curse rather than a blessing Lauren-the rest of you are far too QUIET! Come on! Let’s hear you. Yes Ewan-what say you?’
A plump, thin faced lad piped up ‘Let’s talk about my namesake Professor. Let’s be honest any of Laurence’s three eldest sons had the ability to contest the throne at the time of his death but isn’t it interesting that after a decade and more of the King supporting his eldest son, Robert, he suddenly swung in behind his own Lords to promote his second born’s claim-and this not long before he died. In that he was truly blessed!’
This last caused a ripple of mirth from the students-the lively to and fro was one of the main reasons that these lectures were so much fun.
Harry Stirling smiled also, ‘It is very true that his sudden change of heart was opportune in the extreme-many have surmised that had the King not switched and nominated his much more able second son, Ewan, that civil war on his death would have been inevitable. And as you should all know it was not that Prince Robert was not able-it was just his younger sibling was much more able!’
He was striding around the lectern area, commanding his space like an actor, ‘what do the records tell us-you sir! Ahmed!’
‘Umm…’
‘Start at the Marianus Scotus boy! Start at the Marianus Scotus!’
The pretty young Asian youth reached for his iPad and connected to the relevant section:
‘…if of this slight by his father the King there was any effect Duke Robert of Albany showed none of it. At the old King’s passing he respectfully mourned with his siblings then without wroth accepted the decision of the Electors of Scotland, Ireland and Wales to anoint his brother Ewan, Earl of Ross as King of the three Kingdoms…’ A pause then ‘I have to say that if that was me robbed of my inheritance I don’t think I would have taken it lying down!’
‘But it wasn’t a matter of inheritance was it now ‘Med!’ interjected the student sat next to him ‘that was the beauty of Elective succession!’
‘Ok-agreed Kate but I can’t think that Albany would have been pleased as he had been groomed for this all his life’ Stirling countered-but as you say ‘Med-no mention in Marianus Scotus of any ill will and indeed the reign of King Ewan points to a brother loyal in the extreme…throughout his reign.’
The Professor surveyed his students with a downturned smile ’you are all way off the mark! What reason might a King be called blessed? Laurence was no saint-he had lovers, sired at least one bastard-did he promote the church-think?’
‘Was it persuading his Marshall to renounce the Waldensian heresy Harry?’ Shouted Lauren boldly.
‘Aha! You are getting closer-much closer lass! That’s not quite it but almost.’
Hands now shot up all over the theatre
‘Ryan! Tell us!’ The professor was enjoying himself-his students too.
The thin red haired lad now himself grinning broadly first read from his own tablet ‘It says here in A History of Scotland that in the years 1141 to 1143 Laurence put down at least two large rebellions inspired by the same Waldensian heresy-one in Gwent and one on the Isle of Man and it was after these that he became known as “Blessed”’
With a whoop and a fist pump the lecturer raised his baton pointing it towards the triumphant Ryan-‘Got it lad! Consider yourself granted a free miss of any one of my remaining lectures! Yes it was holy church that saw Waldensian principles gaining purchase all over Wales and the Isle of Man but also saw Laurence zealously putting down the revolts-both of over six thousand…’
‘And let’s not forget Professor what Marianus Scotus tells us of his rescue by one of his courtiers, Duncan, from what is described as a great bear! That was in 1142 I believe.’
‘You have the right of it son. If you put together his achievements in beating off two major wars of independence, those of Myfanwy and Malmure plus his prodigious achievements in siring nine children over two wives (and a mistress), his recapture of the remainder of Wales and his putting down of the heretical rebellions-if you put all these together along with the incident with the bear then you have indeed a King who, by those standards, was blessed indeed!’
He stopped to catch his breath-was no longer young though these lectures made him feel so.
‘But what does this really tell us of his character?’ Asked another of the girls: bespectacled Anne, also a Psychology Major and always interested in the personality behind the history.
‘Good question Anne-well you tell me.’
Anne was shy and didn’t really like to be put on the spot but she did rise to the occasion when called upon, ‘well we know that he genuinely loved his children/ My view is that robbing his eldest of what he must have considered his birthright would genuinely have pained him. He died not long after making that switch-how do we know that the tragedy of that wasn’t what finished him off-there was no long illness was there? Or immediate signal he was on his way out-not sure I would have been able to live with the hurt looks that Albany would inevitably have directed towards him…’
‘Brilliant Anne!’ The professor himself was now chuckling. I have here some text from an old manuscript. Many say that it was a contemporary courtier Alan Mac Crinic who wrote. He says: though the old king was much minded to turn his attentions to expansion, maybe into Brittany , maybe to take De Jure lands such as Devon from the still warring English, the last months of his life were wholly granted to keeping the peace between his sons Albany and Ross. Many in the court opined that it was these great efforts that exhausted him to the expiration of his life…’
‘So there it is boys and girls! A king who came to the throne with the promise to his own father that he would reunite the Kingdoms, did that but I am pretty sure that he would have wanted to do more-maybe conquer Celtic Brittany or encroach into England. Hamstrung as he was by lack of funds to muster the necessary forces for this he ended up being a wholly inward looking King…maybe his second born son, the new King Ewan I would change things-watch this space.’
And with that the lecturer threw up the last slide:
King Laurence I’s Achievements:
• Reigned 25 years
• 9 Children (4 legitimate sons)
• 2 Wives (Queens Forflissa and Alienor)
• Regained the Kingdom of Wales including Devon and Cornwall for Scotland (1124)
• Held the 3 Kingdoms together for 25 years despite 2 major wars of Independence in Wales and Ireland
• (Belatedly) threw his weight behind the election of his ‘best’ son, Ewan of Ross (later King Ewan I)
• Put down 2 major Waldensian rebellions (Gwent 1141 and Man 1142)
• Developed 1st Scots Standing Army of 2000 troops including 100 Heavy Cavalry & Schiltroms
And on down side:
• Too inward looking
• No conquest of foreign lands
• Joined Pope Hilarius II’s Crusade to free Jerusalem 1126 but didn’t send any troops
• No major Town, University or castle building within his Demesne as most funds used on fighting his internal wars
•
Lost counties, through inheritance, of Thomond in Ireland, Dyfed in Wales and Devon in England by time of death in 1149. His son Ewan I quickly regained Thomond and DyfedEurope c1149
The known World c1149
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