Cupar is a community, previous royal burgh as well as parish in Fife, Scotland. It lies in between Dundee and also Glenrothes. According to a 2011 population estimate, Cupar had a population around 9,000, making it the 9th largest negotiation in Fife, and the civil parish a population of 11,183 (in 2011). It is the historical county town of Fife, although the council currently rests at Glenrothes. The community is believed to have actually expanded around the site of Cupar Castle, which was the seat of the sheriff as well as was owned by the earls of Fife. The location ended up being a centre for judiciary as the region of Fife and also as a market community providing for both livestock and also sheep. Towards the latter phases of the 13th century, the burgh ended up being the website of an assembly of the 3 estates - clergy, the aristocracy as well as citizens - organised by Alexander III in 1276 as a predecessor of the Parliament of Scotland. Although written info of a charter for the contemporary town was shed, proof recommended that this existed as one of the many homes owned by the Earls of Fife by 1294. Throughout the middle of the 14th century, the burgh began to pay customs on taxable incomes, which most likely implied that royal burgh status was granted sometime between 1294 and also 1328. The oldest document, describing the royal burgh, was a give by Robert II in 1381 to offer a port at Guardbridge on the River Eden to help enhance trade with Flanders. This grant was formally recognised by James II in 1428.