Donnchadh (Duncan), Earl of Carrick (died 1250), was a Gall-Gaidhil prince and one of the longest serving magnates in medieval Scotland. His father, Gille-Brighde of Galloway, and his uncle, Uhtred of Galloway, were the two rival sons of Fergus, Lord of Galloway. As a result of Gille-Brighde's conflict with Uhtred and the Scottish monarch William the Lion, Donnchadh became a hostage of King Henry II of England. He probably remained in England for almost a decade before returning north on the death of his father. Although denied succession over all the lands of Galloway, he was granted lordship over Carrick in the north. Allied to John de Courcy, Donnchadh fought battles in Ireland, acquiring and losing land there. A patron of religious houses, particularly Melrose Abbey and North Berwick priory nunnery, he attempted to establish a monastery in his own territory, at Crossraguel. He married the daughter of Alan fitz Walter, a leading member of the family later known as the House of Stewart—future monarchs of Scotland and England. His descendants include the Bruce, the Stewart Kings of Scotland, and probably the Campbell Dukes of Argyll.

Read more: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Donnchadh,_Earl_of_Carrick

_______________________________ Today's selected anniversaries:

797:

Byzantine emperor Constantine VI was captured, blinded, and imprisoned by the supporters of his mother Irene. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Constantine_VI

1809:

War of the Fifth Coalition: The French won a hard-fought victory over Austria in Lower Bavaria when their opponents withdrew from the field of battle that evening. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Teugen-Hausen

1927:

American actress Mae West was sentenced to ten days in jail for "corrupting the morals of youth" for her play Sex. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mae_West

1984:

Scottish-born composer Peter Dodds McCormick's "Advance Australia Fair", a patriotic song that was first performed in 1878, officially replaced "God Save the Queen" as Australia's national anthem. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Advance_Australia_Fair

2005:

Joseph Alois Ratzinger was elected Pope Benedict XVI on the second day of the papal conclave. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pope_Benedict_XVI

_____________________________ Wiktionary's word of the day:

syllabub: 1. A drink dating back to the 16th century consisting primarily of milk curdled with an alcoholic beverage or some acid such as lemon juice, which is usually then sweetened and spiced. 2. Also everlasting syllabub or solid syllabub: a dessert pudding derived from the drink. 3. (figuratively) Something lacking substance; something frothy, insubstantial, or lightweight. https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/syllabub

___________________________ Wikiquote quote of the day:

In studying the literature connected with my work, I became aware of the great universal significance of visionary experience. It plays a dominant role, not only in mysticism and the history of religion, but also in the creative process in art, literature, and science. More recent investigations have shown that many persons also have visionary experiences in daily life, though most of us fail to recognize their meaning and value. Mystical experiences, like those that marked my childhood, are apparently far from rare.   --Albert Hofmann https://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Albert_Hofmann