Gille Coluim the Marischal facts for kids

Gille Coluim the Marischal was an important official in the Kingdom of Scotland during the late 1100s. He held the title of "Marischal," which meant he was the king's top military commander. He worked for King William I, also known as William the Lion.

Gille Coluim's name appears in old official documents called "charters." These charters were like legal papers that recorded important decisions made by the king. His name is listed as a witness on two charters that King William issued in Perth. This suggests Gille Coluim might have been from the southern part of Perthshire. He was also known as the lord of Madderty in an area called Strathearn.

Working for the King

Gille Coluim was a trusted member of King William's court for some time. He witnessed important land grants made by the king.

Witnessing Charters

• Around 1172 or 1173, Gille Coluim witnessed King William giving land in Ardross to a person named Merleswain mac Cholbaín. Merleswain was related to the mormaer of Fife, a powerful local ruler.
• Between 1178 and 1185, Gille Coluim also witnessed the king granting lands in Inverness-shire to Gille Brigte, who was the Mormaer of Strathearn.

In these documents, Gille Coluim appeared alongside other important native Scots officials. This shows he was part of a group of influential Scottish leaders.

The Rebellion and Auldearn Castle

As the king's Marischal, Gille Coluim was in charge of military matters. This role became very important during a difficult time for King William.

The Meic Uilleim Rebellion

A group known as the Meic Uilleim (pronounced "Mick William") started a rebellion against King William. The Meic Uilleim were a royal family who believed they had a right to the Scottish throne. This rebellion took place between 1179 and 1187.

During this time, Gille Coluim was given control of Auldearn Castle, located in Moray. This castle was a key stronghold, meaning it was very important for controlling the area and stopping the rebels.

Surrendering the Castle

However, something went wrong at Auldearn Castle. A charter issued by King William between 1187 and 1189 tells us what happened. In this document, King William states that Gille Coluim "feloniously surrendered" Auldearn Castle. This means Gille Coluim gave up the castle to the Meic Uilleim rebels.

King William was very angry about this. He wrote that Gille Coluim "went over to my mortal enemies in the manner of a wicked traitor." This suggests that Gille Coluim not only surrendered the castle but also joined the rebels against the king.

Consequences of His Actions

Because of his actions, Gille Coluim lost his land at Madderty. The king's charter clearly states that Gille Coluim and his family would no longer have any right to that land.

After this event, Gille Coluim disappears from historical records. We don't know what happened to him, but the charter shows he was still alive when it was written, which was no later than 1190.