Halydean facts for kids
Halydean (pronounced "Hollydeen," and sometimes spelled "Holydean") is a special historical area in Scotland. It's located in Roxburghshire, near the town of Kelso, right along the River Tweed. This part of Scotland is known as the Borderlands and is home to many famous Scottish families, called "clans." Some of these clans include the Armstrongs, Douglases, Elliots, Johnstones, Kers, and Moffats.
Halydean is a very old "barony" and "lordship." These are old titles and areas of land that were once ruled by a powerful person called a Baron or Lord. Halydean is one of the oldest of these in Scotland, dating back to Norman times, and still has someone who holds the title today.
What is a Barony?
A barony was like a mini-kingdom in old Scotland. It was a large area of land given by the King to a powerful noble. This noble, called a Baron or Lord, would rule the land and the people living on it. They had special rights and duties, like collecting taxes and keeping order.
Early History of Halydean
The first Lord of Halydean was created way back in 1128 by King David I of Scotland. At that time, the local ruler was the Abbot of Kelso from Kelso Abbey. An Abbot was the head of a monastery, and Kelso Abbey was a very powerful religious center. It was one of the most important "burghs" (like a town or city) in Scotland, almost as important as St. Andrews.
King David I brought monks from a place called Tiron to Kelso. These monks were part of the "peerage" of Scotland, which means they had a high social rank and special privileges. However, in 1545, the Earl of Hertford attacked the abbey and left it in ruins.
Halydean's Later Lords
After the abbey was destroyed, the title of Lord of Halydean was given to new people. In 1602, the Barony and Lordship of Halydean were given to Sir Robert Ker of Cessford. He became the 1st Earl of Roxburghe.
Later, one of his family members became the Duke of Roxburghe. Eventually, the Lordship and Barony of Halydean were passed on to a member of Clan Moffat. This is another well-known Scottish border clan.
Today, Taylor Moffitt of Halydean is the current Baron and Lord of Halydean. He is the 15th person to hold this title since it became a non-religious (secular) title in 1602. According to old Scottish traditions, the next person to hold the title will be Ewan Moffitt of Halydean, who is the oldest son. This tradition is called "primogeniture," where the oldest son inherits the title.
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