Welcome back to "This Day in Scottish History." I’m your host, Colin MacDonald, and today we travel back to a fateful moment in 12th century Galloway: the 22nd of September, 1174. This was the day that Gilbert, known as Gille Brigte, ordered a brutal attack on his own brother, Uchtred, a crime that reverberated across Scotland and England.

Now, before we dive into this dark chapter of history, let me explain that the name "Gilbert" is the French translation of Gille Brigte, which is what I’ll use for clarity. Gilbert, or Gille Brigte, was the Lord of Galloway, a title he shared with his brother Uchtred following the death of their father, Fergus, the founder of the Kingdom of Galloway. Fergus’s death in 1161 left his two sons to split Galloway, with Gilbert taking control of the west, and Uchtred ruling the east.

But by 1174, a rift had formed between these two brothers, a division that culminated in one of the most infamous acts of sibling rivalry in Scottish history. Their shared rule was already fraught with tension, but it was King William I of Scotland’s failed invasion of England that truly set things in motion. You see, William, known as "The Lion," had attempted to capture Northumberland, but his campaign ended in disaster when he was taken prisoner at Alnwick. And it was at this moment, when news reached Galloway of the king's capture, that Gilbert took a drastic step.

Benedict of Peterborough, a chronicler from the time, tells us that when Gilbert and his Galwegian followers heard of King William’s capture, they immediately returned to Galloway and expelled the royal officials from their lands. Any English or French settlers they found were slaughtered, and the fortifications King William had built in Galloway were besieged and destroyed.

Though Uchtred, Gilbert’s brother, had been part of King William’s campaign, he opposed these attacks. And here is where the story takes a dark and violent turn. Gilbert’s son, Mael Coluim, attacked Uchtred on a small island in Galloway, capturing his uncle. What followed was a gruesome act of revenge and power. Mael Coluim blinded Uchtred, castrated him, and cut out his tongue before finally killing him. It was a brutal and barbaric way to eliminate a rival, even by the standards of the time.

Gilbert, however, didn’t stop there. Having rid himself of his brother, he made a bold political move. He sent a message to King Henry II of England, asking for direct lordship over Galloway, effectively offering to rule the region without the Scottish crown’s oversight. In return, Gilbert promised Henry a large payment of 2,000 marks and an annual tribute of 500 cows and 500 swine. It was an audacious bid for power, but Henry’s response would be shaped by more than just politics.

When Henry’s envoys, Roger de Hoveden and Robert de Vaux, arrived in Galloway to assess the situation, they were horrified to learn about Uchtred’s barbaric murder. Uchtred, after all, was a cousin of Henry, and the cruelty of his death destroyed any hope Gilbert had of securing a deal with the English king. Instead, Henry and William of Scotland would sign the Treaty of Falaise, reaffirming William’s authority over Galloway and forcing Gilbert to come to terms.

Two years later, in 1176, Gilbert was summoned to England, where he was fined 1,000 marks by Henry II. As a show of good faith—and to ensure his cooperation—Gilbert had to hand over his son, Duncan, as a hostage. Though Gilbert remained in power for a few more years, his ambitions for independence were effectively crushed.

So, what was the legacy of Gilbert’s reign? In many ways, it was marked by his defiance of the Scottish kings, especially his hostility toward William the Lion. Unlike his brother Uchtred, who had attempted to maintain a more traditional Gaelic following and opposed the influence of Norman settlers, Gilbert sought greater autonomy and often clashed with the Scottish crown. His policies may have won him support from the Galwegian populace, but they alienated him from the Scottish and English rulers.

By the 1180s, Gilbert was still raiding Scottish-controlled areas of eastern Galloway, and tensions with King William remained high. But in 1185, just as these conflicts were reaching their peak, Gilbert met his end, likely in battle against William’s forces. His death opened the door for William to install Uchtred’s son, Lochlann—known in English as Roland—as the new Lord of Galloway. With Gilbert’s son Duncan still held hostage by the English, the line of succession shifted, and Galloway returned to a closer alignment with the Scottish crown.

The events of September 22, 1174, marked a turning point in Galloway’s history. Gilbert’s ruthless actions against his brother not only destroyed his family but also ended his hopes of securing independence from Scotland. His brutal tactics, particularly the horrific fate of Uchtred, shocked the political landscape of the time and ultimately backfired, leaving Galloway vulnerable to Scottish control.

That’s all for today’s episode. Thank you for joining me on this journey through one of the bloodiest sibling rivalries in Scottish history. Tune in next time for another chapter in "This Day in Scottish History." I’m your host, Colin MacDonald—Haste Ye Back!

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