Alpín of Strathearn facts for kids

Alpín of Strathearn was an important Scottish church leader in the late 1200s. He came from a noble family in Strathearn, a region in Scotland. This suggests his family was likely connected to the powerful local rulers of Strathearn.

Early Life and Education

Alpín's exact birth year is not known. We first hear about him in 1278 when he was in Bologna, Italy. Bologna was famous for its university, one of the oldest in the world. At this time, he was called dominus, which means he was a knight. He was also an Archdeacon of St Andrews, an important church position in Scotland.

By 1287, Alpín was called magister, which means he had completed his university degree. He had likely been an Archdeacon since 1273, but he gave up this role before August 4, 1279. After his studies, he returned to Scotland and became a canon at Dunblane Cathedral by 1287. A canon is a type of priest who is part of a cathedral's governing group.

Role in Scottish Politics

In the early 1290s, Alpín worked as an official for the church in St Andrews. He played a part in the politics of Scotland during a time of big changes. He supported John Balliol becoming the King of Scotland after a period known as the Great Cause, where many people claimed the throne. Alpín also had a role in King John's government, helping to run the country.

Becoming Bishop of Dunblane

Because he was a canon of Dunblane, Alpín was chosen to be the Bishop of Dunblane. He was elected by a special group of people called compromissarii sometime after May 4, 1295.

He traveled to Rome to be officially made a bishop. This ceremony is called a consecration, and it happened on October 16, 1296. Being away from Scotland at this time turned out to be very important for Alpín. In that same year, King Edward I of England removed King John Balliol from power and took control of Scotland. Because Alpín was in Rome, he did not have to swear loyalty directly to King Edward I.

Later Life and Death

After his consecration, not much is known about Alpín's activities. We don't know for sure if he returned to Scotland. However, records show that he paid money to the Pope's treasury in 1299. This is the last known action of Alpín.

His exact death date is also unknown. But it is believed he died before October 15, 1301. This is because by that date, his successor, Nicholas, was already acting as the new bishop-elect for Dunblane.