William fitz Duncan facts for kids

William fitz Duncan was a Scottish prince. His name means 'William, son of Duncan' in Old French. He was the son of King Duncan II of Scotland and his wife, Ethelreda. William became an important leader and military commander in both northern Scotland and northern England.

Early Life and Royal Connections

William was born around 1090 or 1094. When he was very young, his father, King Duncan II, was killed in 1094. It is thought that William's mother, Ethelreda, took him to a safe place in Cumberland, England. There, William grew up with his cousins.

Later, William went to the court of his half-uncle, King Alexander I of Scotland. During Alexander's rule, William was likely seen as a possible heir to the Scottish throne. However, when David became king, William was given important roles instead of the crown. He often appeared as a witness on important royal documents, showing his high status.

William's Role as a Ruler

A historical record from the 1200s suggests that William became the ruler of Moray in northern Scotland. This likely happened after King Óengus of Moray was defeated in 1130. It's possible that William's marriage to a daughter of Óengus was part of this arrangement.

Besides Moray, William also controlled large areas in northern England. These included lands in Allerdale, Skipton, and Craven. This made him one of the most powerful nobles in the north of England.

William as a Military Leader

William fitz Duncan was known as a very skilled warrior. His uncle, King David, often asked William to lead Scottish armies into battle.

In 1138, William led an army of Scottish soldiers called Gaels. They won an important victory against an English army at the Battle of Clitheroe. This win gave hope to the Scottish royal army, though they later faced a defeat at the Battle of the Standard.

Family and Descendants

William fitz Duncan was married several times. His first marriage ended, probably because his wife died, before 1137. In that year, he married Alice, the daughter of William Meschin.

With Alice, he had a son, also named William, who was sometimes called William of Egremont. This son died in 1160. They also had three daughters, including Cicely, Lady of Skipton. Cicely later married William le Gros, who became the first Earl of Albemarle. Through his marriage to Alice, William fitz Duncan also gained control of the lordship of Copeland.

William also had other children. It is now believed that Domnall mac Uilleim was a legitimate descendant from a marriage to a daughter of Óengus of Moray. Domnall and his family, known as the Meic Uilleim clan, later tried many times to claim the Scottish throne. Domnall mac Uilleim was killed in 1187 during an uprising against King William the Lion.

William fitz Duncan passed away in 1147. After his death, the region of Moray returned to the control of King David.