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William of Mar, also known by the name Uilleam mac Dhonnchaidh (Anglici z e d a s " W illiam, Duncan's son"), was the mormaer of Mar in medieval Sco t l a n d f rom 1244 to 1276. His father was Donnchadh of Mar.
Uilleam was responsible for the construction of Kildrummy Castle, the g r e a t e st castle to have been built in 13th-century northern Scotland. It i s o n e o f t h e few examples where a native Scottish magnate built a large -s c a le f o rtification, something normally practiced by the incoming Norm a n s .
Uilleam, more than any of his predecessors, participated in Scottish an d e v e n B r itish-wide politics, becoming a leading figure in the royal re gi m e o f A l exander II, and the minority of Alexander III. By 1244, Uille a m h a d m a rried into the Comyn house, the fastest rising French family i n t h e S c o ttish kingdom. He married Elisabeth Comyn, the daughter of Wil li a m C o m yn, jure uxoris Earl of Buchan and Marjory, Countess of Buchan. T h e C o m y n-Mar alliance helped fight off the ambitions of the Durwards, w h o w e r e t hen in prime favor with the king.
Alan Durward used his descent from a daughter of Gille CrÃst to contest U i l l e a m's right to the Mormaerdom, but Uilleam successfully held off the s e c l a i ms. Uilleam and the Comyn Earl of Menteith then launched accusat i o n s o f t reason towards Alan while at the court of Henry III of England a t Y o r k .
Chamberlain to Alexander III, Sheriff of Dunbarton
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