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- BIOGRAPHY
Alan FitzRoland, lord of Galloway, constable of Scotland, was born about 1175, the son of Roland, lord of Galloway, constable of Scotland, and Elena de Moreville. He was the last of the MacFergus dynasty of quasi-independent lords of Galloway. He was also hereditary constable of Scotland. In right of his mother, Alan inherited the de Moreville lordship of Lauderdale, as well as others in that vicinity.
Alan married at least three times. By an unnamed wife, given in one source as Hilda (Helen) de L'Isle, he had a daughter Helen who would have progeny, marrying Roger de Quincy, 2nd earl of Winchester. In 1209 he married Margaret of Huntingdon, daughter of David, earl of Huntingdon, and Maud of Chester. They were reprimanded for marrying within the forbidden limits of kinship and had to obtain a dispensation by Pope Innocent III, but then they had at least three children of whom Devorguilla would have progeny, marrying John Baliol of Bywell. In 1229 he married Rohese de Lacy, daughter of Hugh de Lacy, earl of Ulster, and Lesceline de Verdun. No progeny is recorded from this marriage. Alan also had an illegitimate son Thomas.
In 1212 Alan responded to a summons from King John of England by sending 1,000 troops to join the war against the Welsh. In this year he also sent one of his daughters to England as a hostage. She died in 1213 in the custody of her maternal uncle. Alan is also listed as one of the 16 men who counselled King John regarding the Magna Carta. Alan, like his forebears, maintained a carefully ambiguous relationship with both the English and Scottish states, acting as a vassal when it suited his purpose and as an independent ruler when he could get away with it. His considerable sea power allowed him to supply fleets and armies to aid the English King John in campaigns both in France and Ireland.
In 1228 he invaded the Isle of Man and fought a sea-war against Norway, in support of Reginald IV, king of Man, who was engaged in a fratricidal struggle with his half-brother Olaf II for possession of the Island.
Alan died in 1234 and is buried in Dundrennan Abbey in Galloway. With Alan's death his holdings were divided between his three daughters and their husbands. A popular attempt was made within Galloway to establish his illegitimate son Thomas as ruler, but this failed, and Galloway's period as an independent political entity came to an end.
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Abt 1175 - 1234 (~ 59 years)
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