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Fergus of Galloway (died 12 May 1161) was a twelfth-century Lord of Galloway. Although his familial origins are unknown, it is possible that he was of Norse-Gaelic ancestry. Fergus first appears on record in 1136, when he witnessed a charter of David I, King of Scotland. There is considerable evidence indicating that Fergus was married to a bastard daughter of Henry I, King of England. Although her identity is unknown it is possible that she was the mother of Fergus' three children. Fergus forged a marital alliance with Óláfr Guðrøðarson, King of the Isles, through the marriage of the latter to Fergus' daughter, Affraic. As a consequence of this union, the leading branch of the Crovan dynasty descended from Fergus. When Óláfr was assassinated by a rival branch of the dynasty, Galloway itself was attacked before Fergus' grandson, Guðrøðr Óláfsson, was able to seize control of Isles. Both Fergus and his grandson appear to have overseen military operations in Ireland, before the latter was overthrown by Somairle mac Gilla Brigte, Lord of Argyll. The fact that there is no record of Fergus lending Guðrøðr support could be evidence of a slackening of Fergus' authority. Contemporary sources certainly report that Galloway was wracked by inter-dynastic strife during the decade. Fergus' fall from power came in 1160, after Malcolm IV, King of Scotland settled a dispute amongst his leading magnates and launched three military campaigns into Galloway. The reasons for the Scottish invasion are unknown. On one hand, it is possible that Fergus had precipitated events by preying upon Scottish territories. In the aftermath of the attack, the king came to terms with Somairle which could be evidence that he had either been allied with Fergus against the Scots or that he had aided in Fergus' destruction. Whatever the case, Fergus himself was driven from power, and forced to retire to the abbey of Holyrood. He died the next year. The Lordship of Galloway appears to have been partitioned between his sons, Gilla Brigte and Uhtred, and Scottish influence further penetrated into Galloway. ==Origins== Fergus' familial origins are unknown.〔Oram (2004).〕 He is not accorded a patronym in contemporary sources,〔Oram (1991) p. ; Oram (1988) p. 27, 32.〕 and his later descendants are traced no further than him in their charters.〔McDonald (2000) p. 172; Oram (1991) p. 119.〕 The fact that he tends to be styled "of Galloway" in contemporary sources suggests that he was the head of the most important family in the region. Such appears to have been the case with Fergus' contemporary Freskin, a significant settler in Moray, who was styled ''de Moravia''.〔Oram (1988) p. 32.〕 One source that may possibly cast light on Fergus' familial origins is ''Roman de Fergus'',〔McDonald (2000) p. 173; Oram (2000) pp. 53–54; Oram (1991) pp. 119–120; Oram (1988) pp. 35–41.〕 a mediaeval Arthurian romance, mainly set in southern Scotland,〔Wenthe (2012) pp. 28, 33, 35–36; Hunt 2005 pp. 55–56; Besamusca (2002) p. 213.〕 which tells the tale of a knight who may represent Fergus himself.〔Hunt (2005) p. 55; McDonald (2002) p. 116 n. 53; Oram (1988) pp. 35–41.〕 The name of the knight's father in this source is a form of the name borne by Fergus' neighbouring contemporary Somairle mac Gilla Brigte, Lord of Argyll (died 1164), and could be evidence that Fergus' father bore the same name.〔Oram (1988) pp. 35–41; Martin (1872) pp. 9 § 37, 10 § 27, 15 § 16, 32 § 37, 73 § 25.〕 Conversely, the name of the knight's father could suggest that this character represents the historical Somairle himself, rather than the father of Fergus.〔Hunt (2005) p. 61 n. 26; McDonald (2003) p. 177.〕 Whatever the case, the romance itself appears to be a literary pastiche or parody of the compositions of Chrétien de Troyes;〔Archibald (2009) p. 144; Hunt (2005); Besamusca (2002) p. 213; Kuiper (2000); Oram (1991) p. 120; Oram (1988) p. 37; Freeman (1983).〕 and besides the coincidence of names, the romance itself has little to commend it to the historical Fergus himself.〔Kuiper (2000); Oram (2000) pp. 53–54; Oram (1991) pp. 119–120; Oram (1988) pp. 35–41.〕 Despite the uncertainty surrounding his origins, it is possible that Fergus was of Norse-Gaelic and native Gallovdian ancestry.〔Scott, JG (1997) p. 25; Oram (1991) pp. 121–122.〕 Traditionally, the Gallovidians appear to have looked towards the Isles instead of Scotland, and the core of his family's lands seems to have centred in valley of the river Dee and the coastal area around Whithorn, regions of substantial Scandinavian settlement.〔Scott, JG (1997) p. 25; Oram (1991) p. 122.〕 Whatever the case, the fact that Fergus died as an old man in 1161 suggests that he was born before 1100.〔Scott, JG (1997) p. 25.〕 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「Fergus of Galloway」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
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