Ada de Warenne facts for kids

Ada de Warenne (also known as Adeline de Varenne) was an important lady from a long time ago (around 1120 to 1178). She was an Anglo-Norman noblewoman. Ada married Henry of Scotland, who was a prince and an Earl of Northumbria and Huntingdon. Her father was William de Warenne, 2nd Earl of Surrey, and her mother was Elizabeth of Vermandois. Ada was also a great-granddaughter of Henry I of France, a French king. She became the mother of two future Scottish kings: Malcolm IV and William I.

Life of Ada de Warenne

Ada and Prince Henry got married in England in the year 1139. As part of her marriage agreement, Ada received special rights and lands. These included the area of Haddington in East Lothian, Scotland. Haddington was a very old settlement. It is believed to be the first "Royal Burgh" in Scotland. A Royal Burgh was a special town given rights by the king. Ada's father-in-law, David I of Scotland, King of Scots, gave Haddington this special status.

Sadly, both her husband Henry and King David died soon after. Henry passed away in 1152 and was buried at Kelso Abbey. King David died in 1153. Before he died, King David made sure his grandson would become the next king. On May 27, 1153, Ada's son, twelve-year-old Malcolm IV, became King of Scots at Scone.

After Malcolm became king, he made his younger brother William the Earl of Northumbria. However, Malcolm later gave this land back to King Henry II of England in 1157. After these events, Ada moved to her lands in Haddington. On December 9, 1165, King Malcolm died at only 24 years old. He did not have any children. Ada had tried to arrange a marriage for him, but he passed away before it could happen.

After Malcolm's death, Ada's younger son, William, became King of Scots. He was 23 years old. William the Lion ruled for a very long time, until 1214. He became the longest-serving King of Scots up to that point.

Ada's Support for the Church

Religious buildings were built in Haddington a long time ago. These included places for the Blackfriars and the Greyfriars. The Greyfriars' church became very famous. People called it "Lucerna Laudoniae" which means "The Lamp of Lothian." King David I gave the land for this church. He also gave land in Haddington to monks from Dunfermline.

Ada spent her time doing good deeds. She helped improve the Church in Haddington, where she lived. Countess Ada gave land near the River Tyne to start a convent. This was a place for Cistercian Nuns, also called "white nuns." The convent was dedicated to St. Mary. This area became known as Nungate. You can still see parts of the old church of St. Martin there today. Ada gave the nunnery lands in Begbie, Garvald, and Keith Marischal.

Ada's Home in Haddington

Records in Haddington suggest that Countess Ada's home was near where the County buildings are today. Countess Ada died in 1178. People believe she was buried locally in Haddington. After she died, her remaining lands returned to the Royal family. Later, Ermengarde de Beaumont, the wife of William the Lion, gave birth to her son, Alexander II, in Ada's old house. This happened in Haddington in 1198.

Ada's Children

Ada had several children. Here they are, listed in the likely order of their birth:

• Ada of Huntingdon, who married Count Floris III of Holland.
• Margaret of Huntingdon, who married two times. First to Conan IV, Duke of Brittany and then to Humphrey III de Bohun.
• Malcolm IV, who became King of Scots.
• William the Lion, who also became King of Scots.
• David of Scotland, Earl of Huntingdon, who married Matilda of Chester. Their daughter, Isobel, was an ancestor of Robert the Bruce.
• Matilda (or Maud) of Huntingdon, who died in 1152 and never married.
• Marjorie of Huntingdon, who married Gille Críst, Earl of Angus. She was also an ancestor of Robert the Bruce.