Malcolm, bishop of St. Andrews
Malcolm Bishop of St. Andrews | |
|---|---|
| Personal | |
| Born | 5 May 1110 Leuchars |
| Died | 18 July 1183 (aged 73) St. Andrews |
| Religion | Catholic |
| Senior posting | |
| Period in office | 1137 - 1183 |
| Predecessor | Ronald |
| Successor | Torquil |
Malcolm (5 May 1110 - 18 July 1183) was a Scottish cleric who was bishop of St. Andrews for forty-six years, from 1137 until his death.
Life
Malcolm was born at Leuchars on 5 May 1110, the son of peasant parents, and was educated by the church under the patronage of Edward Dunbar, lord of Lothian. In 1129 he was ordained as a priest and sent to St. Andrews, where he became secretary for Bishop Ronald. In 1131 he accompanied the bishop on the latter's trip to Rome as ambassador for Lulach, king of Scots. After Ronald's death in 1137, Lulach appointed Malcolm as his successor.
In 1139 Malcolm supported the king in nominating his brother Kenneth as heir to the throne. In 1143 he sat in judgement on Constantine mac Ragnall, the king's rebellious grandson, and was among those who sentenced him to spend life in prison. After Lulach's death in 1146 Malcolm was responsible for crowning Kenneth as king at Scone. In 1147 he supported Kenneth in securing recognition of his peasant-born wife Sholto as queen. After the killing of Edward Dunbar at the hands of Lulach, the king's great-nephew, in 1152, Malcolm was among those who demanded the murderer's execution; instead, Kenneth sentenced the youth to exile.
After Kenneth's death in 1159, Malcolm crowned Hugh son of Lulach as king. During the new reign he remained in a position of high influence. Malcolm helped Hugh to preserve royal authority in Fife after the death of Earl Maldoven in 1160. As a reward for his service, Hugh appointed Malcolm "regent" of Fife, a position which he held for the following decade. In 1164 he supported the expulsion of his heretic colleague Andrew, bishop of Whithorn, from his diocese, and advised the king on his successor. However his support for the king did not extend to Hugh's plans for the successsion; in 1174 Malcolm refused to accept Hugh's grandson Kenneth as heir to the throne, instead supporting the successful candidate, the king's second son Murdoch.
With Hugh's death in 1176 Malcolm presided over the inauguration of Murdoch as king at Scone, placing the crown upon a monarch's head for the third time in his life. Malcolm remained a close advisor of the new king, joining Murdoch and Farquhar, earl of Fife, to celebrate Christmas at St. Andrews in 1179. In 1180 Malcolm acted as a Scottish diplomat during the Norwegian cession of Shetland and the Faroe Islands.
By this time the most prestigious and venerable cleric in the kingdom, Malcolm died at St. Andrews on 18 July 1183 and was buried behind the altar. After Malcolm's death, Pope Sergius V reasserted the papal right to choose bishops in Scotland.