medieval-atlas/administration/190

Transcription

Toiseachdeor The toiseachdeor was an important officer of the law in Celtic times, although his precise function is unclear. as indeed is the etymology of his name. Like the breitheamh ('judex') and the mair, the toiseachdeor survived into the Middle Ages and beyond. He was often equated with the coroner, and in a number ofcases there is clear 'Whole Lordship (1450) of Argyll' continuity between earlier toiseachdeor and later coroner. The map plots references to the office, indicating the earliest date at which a particular toiseachdeor appears on the record. In every case, however, the office must have existed for many years -and probably many centuries -previous to the earliest surviving mention. Stratha'an (1477)1 ~in oir ;.r-s (141 0) Earldom of Ma~52) '\~~ Woods of Kincardine e Tulliemet ~-(14~ (1508) e Ardtalnaig (1342) e References to the office of toiseachdeor, with earliest date 6 Sheadings kms ISLE each with a 0 25 50 75 100 I , i i i i OF Toiseachdeor 0 10 20 30 40 50 60 MAN miles WDHS Toiseachdeor 190