Isabella, Countess of Atholl facts for kids

Isabella of Atholl was an important noblewoman in Scotland during the 1200s. She held the title of Countess of Atholl, a powerful region in Scotland. She took over this role after her father, Henry, passed away in 1211. She continued to be the Countess until her son, Padraig, became the Earl in 1236 or 1237.

Who Was Isabella of Atholl?

Isabella was a key figure in Scottish history. She was a ban-mormaer, which was a very old Scottish title for a powerful regional ruler, similar to a count or earl. Her family had ruled Atholl for a long time.

Her Role as Countess

As Countess of Atholl, Isabella was in charge of a large area of land and its people. She would have managed the land, collected taxes, and helped keep peace and order. This was a very important job, especially for a woman in the 13th century. She held this position for many years, showing her strength and influence.

A Question of Marriage

For a long time, people thought that Isabella married a powerful man named Alan Durward after her first husband, Thomas of Galloway, died in 1232. This idea came from a few old documents where Alan Durward called himself "Count of Atholl" between 1233 and 1234.

Alan Durward's Claim

However, a historian named Matthew Hammond has looked closely at this. He suggests that Alan Durward probably wasn't Isabella's husband. Instead, Alan was a grandson of an earlier Earl of Atholl, Máel Coluim, Earl of Atholl. It's more likely that Alan was trying to claim the land and title of Atholl for himself because of his family connection, rather than marrying Isabella. This shows how important family ties and inheritance were in those times.