Justiciar of Scotia

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The Justiciar of Scotia (in Norman-Latin, Justiciarus Scotie) was the most senior legal office in the High Medieval Kingdom of Scotland. Scotia (meaning Scotland) in this context refers to Scotland to the north of the River Forth and River Clyde.

The institution has some Anglo-Norman origins, but in Scotland north of the Forth it represented some form of continuity with an older office, a senior version of a Judex, a native Scottish lawman often with province-wide responsibilities. Mormaer Causantín of Fife was styled judex magnus (i.e. "great Brehon") in Scotia, and it is probable that the Justiciarship of Scotia was just a further Latinisation/Normanisation of that position. By the middle of the thirteenth century, the responsibilities of the Justiciar became fully formalised. He supervised the activity and behaviour of royal sheriffs and sergeants, held courts and reported on these things to the king personally.

[edit] List of Justiciars of Scotia, to 1328

The following list, going up to 1328, consists of names who appears as Justiciar of Scotia in sources. The sources, especially in the twelfth century, are far from exhaustive, and so many names are doubtless missing. Note also that, in the earliest period, there could be more than one Justiciar in operation at the same point in time.

Causantín, Mormaer of Fife, judex magnus in Scotia, 1128x30
Donnchad II, Mormaer of Fife, 1154x1164-1203
Matthew, Bishop of Aberdeen, 1172x1199
Gille Brigte, Mormaer of Strathearn, 1172x1199
William Comyn, Earl of Buchan, 1205-32
Walter fitz Alan, High Steward, 1232-41
Philip de Melville and Robert de Monte Alto, 1241-44
Alan, Royal Hostarius, 1244-51
Philip de Meldrum or Ferdarg (Feradach) and Michael de Monte Alto, 1251-53
Alan, Royal Hostarius, 1255-57
Alexander Comyn, Earl of Buchan, 1258-89
Andreas de Moravia (father of the famous Andrew Moray), 1289x93-96x
John Comyn, Earl of Buchan, 1300-x1305
English Tetrarchy, 2 North and 2 South of the Mounth, 1305-6:
- Reginald Cheyne and John de Vaux (north)
- Robert Keith and William Inge (south)
Sir Robert Lauder of Quarrelwood, appointed 1328.

[edit] References

Barow, G.W.S., "The Judex", in Barrow (ed.) The Kingdom of the Scots, (Edinburgh, 2003), pp. 57-67
Barow, G.W.S. "The Justiciar", in Barrow (ed.) The Kingdom of the Scots, (Edinburgh, 2003), pp. 68–111