Maol Íosa II, Earl of Strathearn
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Maol Íosa II of Strathearn, who ruled Strathearn 1245 - 1271, is the fifth known Mormaer of Strathearn, but of course this is simply a source problem and in no way means that he actually was the fifth.
Maol Íosa II, was the first known son of Mormaer Robert. He has been noted as the first Mormaer to encourage the movement of French and English settlers into his Mormaerdom, or at least to allow an influx of French-speaking warriors into his entourage (Neville, 2005, pp.23-4). We might regard it as part of the same phenomenon that following the reign of Maol Íosa II, the Mormaers of Strathearn thereafter remained pivotal and dynamic figures in the larger world of northern British politics, never again confining themselves purely within their mormaerdom.
Maol Íosa was an intelligent figure who managed to retain the favor of both the Scottish and English kings, and steer a middle line between the Comyn-Durward rivalry that dominated Scottish court politics in the middle of the 13th century
Maol Íosa married four times. These marriages included a marriage to the daughter of the Earl of Orkney, and one to the daughter of Ewen MacDougall. He had two known sons, Maol Íosa and Robert; and three known daughters, Muriel, Maria and Cecilia.
Maol Íosa II died in 1271, and was succeeded by his son, Maol Íosa III
[edit] Bibliography
- Neville, Cynthia J., Native Lorship in Medieval Scotland: The Earldoms of Strathearn and Lennox, c. 1140-1365, (Portland & Dublin, 2005)
| Preceded by Robert |
Mormaer of Strathearn 1245-1271 |
Succeeded by Maol Íosa III |
