Gille Críst, Earl of Mar

Who was Gille Críst, Earl of Mar?

Gille Críst of Mar is the fourth known Mormaer of Mar, 1183–1203.

His relationship to the previous Mormaer, Morggán, is not totally clear; but Gille Críst was not the son of Morggán, and so his succession could probably be explained by operations of Gaelic succession, but as we know almost nothing about the internal functions of Mar in this period, we cannot say more.

He had two sons, Máel Coluim and Eoin. He also had a daughter, whose name is unknown. Her importance though is high, because she married Máel Coluim of Lundie, and their son Thomas Durward eventually contested the inheritance of Mar by the line of Morggán. He died in 1203.