Máel Dúin (bishop of the Scots) facts for kids
Máel Dúin (died 1055) was an important religious leader in early Scotland. He is known as the eighth Bishop of St Andrews. St Andrews was also called Cennrígmonaid back then. Máel Dúin followed Bishop Ailín in this role.
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Who Was Bishop Máel Dúin?
Máel Dúin was a significant figure in the history of the Scottish church. He served as a bishop during the 11th century. Bishops were important leaders who oversaw churches and religious life in their areas.
How We Know About Máel Dúin
Historians from the 1400s, like Walter Bower and Andrew of Wyntoun, wrote about Máel Dúin. They listed him as a bishop who served after Bishop Ailín. These old lists help us learn about leaders from a long time ago.
Máel Dúin's Important Actions
We also know about Máel Dúin from an old document. This document is kept at the Priory of St. Andrews. It's called the Registrum of the Priory of St. Andrews.
The document records an important event. Bishop Máel Dúin gave land and a church in Markinch to a religious group. This group was called the Céli Dé of Loch Leven. The Céli Dé were a special group of monks or priests. This document was probably first written in Gaelic. Later, it was translated into Latin.
Máel Dúin in Irish Records
Máel Dúin is also mentioned in old Irish historical records. These records are called the Irish annals. His death was recorded in the Annals of Tigernach in the year 1055.
The record says: "Mael Duín mac Gilla Odran, espoc Alban & ordan Gaedel o cleircib, in Christo quieuit." This means: "Mael Duín, Gille Odran's son, bishop of Scotland and glory of the Gaels from [their] priests, reposed in Christ." "Reposed in Christ" means he died.
There is a small puzzle about his father's name. The historian Bower called him "filius Gillandris." This suggests his father was named Gille Andréis. It's not clear if Gille Andréis and Gille Odrain are different versions of the same name. Or, if the records simply don't quite agree on his father's name.
What Happened Next?
After Máel Dúin, another bishop took his place. This new bishop was named Túathal.
