Alan Durward Justiciar of Scotia

   Other names for Alan were Ailean Dorsair and Alan Dureward.¹²¹⁸

  Information about this person:

• Background Information. ¹²¹⁸
Nicolas de Soulis had been a competitor for the crown as the grandson of Majory, daughter of Alexander the second, and wife of Alan Durward; an undeniable claim, had is ancestress be legitimate.

~Sir Walter Scott's, History of Scotland, Vol, I p.143

• Web Reference: Alan Dunward from Wikipedia.
Alan Durward was the son of Thomas de Lundin, a grandson of Gille Críst, Mormaer of Mar. His mother's name is unknown, but she was almost certainly a daughter of Máel Coluim, Mormaer of Atholl, meaning that Alan was the product of two Gaelic comital families.

Alan was one of the most important political figures of 13th century Scotland, and in fact effectively ruled the country at several points during the minority of Alexander III. Through his father Thomas, he inherited the office of hostarius, protector of the king's property.


Alan Durward died in 1275. He was buried in the Abbey of Coupar Angus. Alan had married Marjory, a bastard daughter of King Alexander II, by whom he had three children, Ermengarde (who married William II de Soules, the royal butler), Anna (who married first Colbán, Earl of Fife and then Sir William de Ferrers, of Groby, Leicestershire, and of Scotland, who died in 1287. Alan also had at least one bastard son, Thomas Durward.

Alan married Majory of Scotland, daughter of Alexander II King of Scotland and Unknown.¹²¹⁸