William de Moravia, 5th Earl of Sutherland

William de Moravia (also known as William Sutherland) (died 1370) was the 5th Earl of Sutherland and chief of the Clan Sutherland, a Scottish clan of the Scottish Highlands. William, 5th Earl of Sutherland was a loyal supporter of David II of Scotland in the wars against England.

Earl of Sutherland Wars of Scottish Independence

According to 17th-century historian Sir Robert Gordon, 1st Baronet, William, 5th Earl of Sutherland joined Andrew Moray and the Earl of Dunbar in raising the siege of Kildrummy Castle and also took part in the Battle of Culblean on 30 November 1335. According to Sir Robert Gordon, 1st Baronet, who was a younger son of Alexander Gordon, 12th Earl of Sutherland, "the Earl of Sutherland had great controversy with the house and family of Mackay, chief of the Clan Vic-Morgan of Stathnaver, which did continue a long time between the inhabitants of Sutherland and Strahnaver, although with some intermission". According to historian Angus Mackay, this account corroborates with a complaint made by William, 5th Earl of Sutherland in 1342 when he applied to the Pope for a dispensation of marriage with Margaret Bruce (daughter of Robert I of Scotland) against "an ancient enemy" who caused "wars, disputes and many offences, in these parts". According to historian William Fraser, if as contended the Mackays are descendants of Malcolm MacHeth, 1st Earl of Ross, then it would make sense for them to be referred to as an ancient enemy of the Sutherlands, as the MacHeths gave trouble to the Scottish kings and their henchmen in the north the Earls of Sutherland.

According to the Blackcastle MS (which was written by Alexander Mackay of Blackcastle who had access to the Mackay chief's family charters and papers), a meeting was arranged in 1370 at Dingwall between the Earl of Sutherland and Mackay to settle the dispute. |group=note It suited royal policy to put pressure upon the Earl of Sutherland by favouring their "ancient enemy", Mackay of Strathnaver. It is confirmed that William, Earl of Sutherland was definitely dead before 1389 when his son, Robert, Earl of Sutherland, succeeded him.

John of Sutherland, who was to succeed to the throne of Scotland by royal descent through his mother Margaret Bruce, but died of plague in London and so Robert II of Scotland, nephew of David II of Scotland became the next king.

Robert Sutherland, 6th Earl of Sutherland (the surname Sutherland now being fully used by the Earls). Kenneth Sutherland, 1st Laird of the Sutherland of Forse family. John Beg Sutherland, 1st Laird of the Sutherland of Langwell family (1st line).