King of Scots Robert II of Scotland

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• Reference Number: 37171

Notes:

Fought at Halidon Hill, 19 July 1333.

Created Earl of Strathearn after forfeiture of Malise, earl of Strathearn, 1343.

'Robertus Senescallus Scocie ac comes de Stratherne' (Red Book of Menteith II: 249-50, no 32)

Succeeded Uncle (David II) as King of Scots, 22 Feb 1370-71.

Founder of the Royal House of Stewart.

Buried:
Scone Abby

Died:
Dundonald Castle

Robert — Elizabeth Mure. Elizabeth (daughter of Adam Mure and Joan Cunningham) was born Abt 1320; died Bef May 1355. [Group Sheet]

1. Robert III of Scotland was born Abt 1337; died Apr 1406, Rothesay, Bute, Scotland; was buried , Paisley, Renfrewshire, Scotland.
2. Walter Stewart was born Abt 1338; died 1362.
3. Robert Stewart was born Abt 1340; died 3 Sep 1420.
4. Alexander Stewart was born 1343; died 20 Jun 1405.
5. Elizabeth Stewart was born Abt 1351.
6. Margaret Stewart
7. Marjory Stewart
8. Johanna Stewart
9. Isabella Stewart
10. Katherine Stewart

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• Reference Number: 13605

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Died:
Bathgate Castle

Walter — Marjorie Bruce. Marjorie (daughter of Robert Bruce, I and Isabella of Mar) was born Dec 1296; died 2 Mar 1316; was buried , Paisley, Renfrewshire, Scotland. [Group Sheet]

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• Name: Marjory Bruce
• Reference Number: 37173

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Buried:
Paisley Abbey

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• Reference Number: 13593

James — Egidia Burgh. Egidia was born 1263. [Group Sheet]

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• Reference Number: 2424

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• Name: Robert the Bruce
• Reference Number: 2326

Notes:

Robert I (11 July 1274 - 7 June 1329), popularly known as Robert the Bruce (Medieval Gaelic: Roibert a Briuis; modern Scottish Gaelic: Raibeart Bruis; Norman French: Robert de Brus or Robert de Bruys), was King of Scots from 25 March 1306, until his death in 1329.

His paternal ancestors were of Scoto-Norman heritage (originating in Brix, Manche, Normandy), and his maternal of Franco-Gaelic. He became one of Scotland's greatest kings, as well as one of the most famous warriors of his generation, eventually leading Scotland during the Wars of Scottish Independence against the Kingdom of England. He claimed the Scottish throne as a fourth great-grandson of David I, and fought successfully during his reign to regain Scotland's place as an independent nation. Today in Scotland, Bruce is remembered as a national hero.
His body is buried in Dunfermline Abbey, while it is believed his heart was interred in Melrose Abbey. Bruce's lieutenant and friend Sir James Douglas agreed to take the late King's embalmed heart on crusade to the Holy Land, but he only reached Moorish Granada. According to tradition, Douglas was carrying the heart in a silver casket when he died at the head of the Scottish contingent at the Battle of Teba. He was killed in the battle fighting the Moors, but the king's heart was recovered and brought back to Scotland.

The first of the Bruces or de Brus line arrived in Scotland with David I in 1124 and was given the lands of Annandale in Dumfries and Galloway.

Robert was the first son of Robert de Brus, 6th Lord of Annandale and Marjorie, Countess of Carrick, and claimed the Scottish throne as a fourth great-grandson of David I.

His mother, Marjorie, Countess of Carrick, was by all accounts a formidable woman who, legend would have it, kept Robert Bruce's father captive until he agreed to marry her. From his mother, he inherited the Earldom of Carrick, and through his father a Royal lineage that would give him a claim to the Scottish throne.

Although his date of birth is known, his place of birth is less certain, but it was probably Turnberry Castle in Ayrshire.

Very little is known of his youth. He was probably brought up in a mixture of the Anglo-French culture of northern England and south-eastern Scotland, and the Gaelic culture of Carrick and the Irish Sea, French being his paternal-tongue and Gaelic his maternal-tongue. He may have been fostered with a local family, as was the custom (Barbour mentions his foster-brother); it is suspected that his brother Edward was fostered with his second-cousin Domhnall O'Neill. Robert's first appearance in history is on a witness list of a charter issued by Alexander Og MacDonald, Lord of Islay. His name appears in the company of the Bishop of Argyll, the vicar of Arran, a Kintyre clerk, his father and a host of Gaelic notaries from Carrick.

In 1292 his mother died, elevating the 18-year-old Robert to the Earldom of Carrick; this had the side effect of stripping his father of his jure uxoris claim to the title and lands. In November of the same year he saw Edward I of England, on behalf of the Guardians of Scotland, award the vacant Crown of Scotland to his grandfather's first cousin once removed, John Balliol, after a lobbying campaign known as the 'Great Cause'. Almost immediately his grandfather, Robert de Brus, 5th Lord of Annandale, resigned his Lordship of Annandale to Robert's father, possibly to avoid having to swear fealty to John as a vassal lord.

Later both father and son sided with Edward I against John, whom they considered a usurper and to whom Robert had not sworn fealty.

In April 1294, the younger Bruce had permission to visit Ireland for a year and a half, and, as a further mark of King Edward's favour, he received a respite for all the debts owed by him to the English Exchequer.

In 1295, Robert married his first wife, Isabella of Mar the daughter of Domhnall I, Earl of Mar and his wife Helen.


Birth:
Turnberry Castle

Buried:
Dunfermline Abbey

Died:
Manor of Cardross

Robert — Isabella of Mar. Isabella (daughter of Domhnall I of Mar and Helen Ferch Llywelyn, daughter of I Domhnall and Helen) was born 1227; died Bef 1302, Scotland. [Group Sheet]

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• Reference Number: 146
• Death: 12 Dec 1296

Notes:

Isabella of Mar (modern Scottish Gaelic: Iseabail) (c. 1277 - 12 December 1296) was the first wife of Robert the Bruce and the grandmother of Robert II of Scotland, founder of the royal House of Stuart. She died before Robert was crowned King of Scots, and never became Queen.

She was the daughter of Domhnall I, Earl of Mar and Helen (or Ellen) of Wales (1246-1295), the illegitimate daughter of Llywelyn ab Iorwerth ("the Great") Prince of Wales; she had previously been the wife of Maol Choluim II, Earl of Fife. Her father was one of the seven guardians of Scotland who believed Robert Bruce to be the rightful King of Scotland. Despite the considerable risks, the Earl of Mar could foresee the advantage of the two families joining in marriage and bearing an heir to the throne, and the marriage of Isabella and Robert was arranged. Mar was the first to sign over the estates of his family to the Bruce.

Isabella was married to Robert at the age of 18 and legend has it that they were much in love. Shortly after their marriage Isabella became pregnant. She had a healthy pregnancy but she died soon after giving birth to a daughter, Marjorie Bruce in 1296. She is buried at Paisley Abbey, Renfrewshire.

Robert married his second wife, Elizabeth de Burgh, six years later. Isabella's daughter Princess Marjorie (died 1316) married Walter Stewart, 6th High Steward of Scotland, and their son became Robert II of Scotland. From him descend the monarchs of the House of Stewart and the later royal families of the United Kingdom.

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• Reference Number: 13592

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Alexander Stewart, 4th High Steward of Scotland was the son of Walter Stewart, 3rd High Steward of Scotland and Beatrix of Angus. He was born circa 1214. He died circa 1283.

He gained the title of 4th High Steward of Scotland.

he participated in the Crusades 'in early life' (possible together with his brother John and brother-in-lawm Patrick Earl of Dunbar, both of whom dies on the Crusade 1248-49).

He was one of the regents of Scotland during the minority of Alexander III, 1255

Commander of the right wing against Haakon of Norway, Battle of Largs, 2 October 1263.

Alexander — Jean Macrory. Jean (daughter of Séamus Macrory) was born Abt 1211, Bute, Scotland. [Group Sheet]

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• Reference Number: 10552

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• Reference Number: 2336

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Sir Robert VI de Brus (July 1243 - soon bef. 4 March 1304), 6th Lord of Annandale (dominus vallis Anandie), jure uxoris Earl of Carrick (1271-1292), Lord of Hartness, Writtle and Hatfield Broad Oak (Wretele et Hatfeud Regis), was a cross-border lord, and participant of the Second Barons' War, Welsh Wars, and First War of Scottish Independence.

The son and heir of Robert de Brus, 5th Lord of Annandale and Lady Isabella de Clare, daughter of the Earl of Gloucester and Hertford, his birth date is generally accepted (July 1243) but there is a ongoing debate as to whether Robert and / or his son King Robert The Bruce, were born on the family estate at Writtle, Essex.

Legend tells that the 27-year-old Robert de Brus was a handsome young man participating in the Ninth Crusade. When Adam de Kilconquhar, one of his companions-in-arms, fell in 1270, at Acre, Robert was obliged to travel to tell the sad news to Adam's widow Marjorie of Carrick. The story continues that Marjorie was so taken with the messenger that she had him held captive until he agreed to marry her, which he did in 1271. However, since the crusade landed in Acre on 9 May 1271, and only started to engage the Muslims in late June, the story and his participation in the Ninth Crusade are generally discounted.

What is recorded, is that in:

1264 He has to ransom his own father, after his capture, along with Henry III, Richard of Cornwall, and Edward I at the Battle of Lewes, Sussex.
1271 He marries, without Scottish Royal consent, Marjory, countess of Carrick. As a result she temporarily loses her castle and estates, regained on payment of a fine.
1274 Jul-Sep He is present, along with Alexander III of Scotland, his Queen Margaret, their children and 100 Scottish lords and knights at the Coronation and accompanying celebrations of Edward I, at the Palace of Westminster.
1278 He swears fealty to Edward I, on behalf of Alexander III at Westminster.
Accompanies Alexander III to Tewkesbury
1281 He is part of the delegation to Guy of Dampierre, Count of Flanders, to arrange the marriage of the Lord Alexander.
1282 He participates and is paid for his services in Edward's Conquest of Wales.
1283 June, he is summoned by writ to Shrewsbury, for the trial of Dafydd ap Gruffydd.
1285 Jun 1 - Earl & Countess, at Turnberry, grant the men of Melrose abbey certain freedoms, according to English law.
1286 He is witness, along with his son Robert, to the grant of the church of Campbeltown to Paisley Abbey.
1290 He is party to the Treaty of Birgham.
He supports his father's claim to the vacant throne of Scotland, left so on the death of Margaret I of Scotland in 1290. The initial civil proceedings, known as The Great Cause, awarded the Crown to his fathers 1st cousin once removed, and rival, John Balliol.
1291 He swears fealty to Edward I as overlord of Scotland.
1292 His wife Marjorie dies.
November, his father, Robert de Brus, 5th Lord of Annandale - the unsuccessful claimant - resigns his Lordship of Annandale, and claim to the throne to him, allegedly to avoid having to swear fealty to John. In turn he passes his late wife's Earldom of Carrick, in fee, on to his son Robert.
1293 January 1st - His warrener at Gt. Baddow, a Richard, is caught poaching venison at Northle.
1293 He sets sail for Norway, for the marriage of his daughter Isabel to King Eric II of Norway, the father of the late Queen Margaret I of Scotland, son-in-law of King Alexander III, and a candidate of the Great Cause.
1294/5 He returns to England.
1295 His father dies.
Oct 6, swears fealty to Edward and is made Constable of Carlisle Castle.
Refuses a summons to the Scottish host.
Annandale is seized, by King John Balliol, and given to John 'The Red' Comyn, Lord of Badenoch.
Confirms, to Gisborough Priory, the churches of Annandale and Hart. Witnessed by Walter de Fauconberg and Marmaduke de Thweng.
Exchanges common pasture, for land held by William of Carlisle at Kinmount.
Exchanges land in Estfield, for a field adjacent to the prior of Hatfield Regis's manor at Brunesho End Broomshawbury.
Grants Robert Taper, and his wife Millicent, a messuage in Hatfield Regis, and via a separate grant 5.5 acres (22,000 m2) of arable land 1-acre (4,000 m2) of meadow, in Hatfield Regis, for 16s annual rent.
Grants John de Bledelowe, the former lands / tenement of Richard de Cumbes, in Hatfield Regis, for 1d annual rent.
Alters the terms of a grant to Richard de Fanwreyte, of Folewelleshaleyerde, Montpeliers, Writtle, from services to an annual rent. Witnesses includes two of Roberts Cook's at Writtle.
Alters the terms of a grant to Stephen the Tanner, of Folewelleshaleyerde, Montpeliers, Writtle, from services to an annual rent. Witnesses includes two of Roberts Cook's at Writtle.
Alters the terms of a grant to Willam Mayhew, of the tenement Barrieland, Hatfield Regis, to an annual rent of 5s and some services.
1296 Jan, He is summoned to attend to the King Edward at Salisbury
April 28, he again swears fealty to Edward I and fights for Edward, at the Battle of Dunbar Castle.
August, with his son Robert he renews the pledge of homage and fealty to Edward, at the 'victory parliament’ in Berwick.
Edward I denies his claim to the throne and he retires to his estates in Essex.
August 29 - At Berwick, agrees the dower lands of his widowed step mother, Christina.
Annandale is re-gained.
Marries an Eleanor.
1298
Jan 7 - Transfers a grant of land at Hatfield Regis, from Walter Arnby to his son William.
May 29 - Grants a John Herolff a half virgate of land in Writtle.
1299
February 1 - Rents lands at Hatfield Regis, Essex to a John de Bledelowe, for 4s annual rent.
August 4 - While resident at Writtle, he Rents lands at Hatfield Regis, Essex to a Nicholas de Barenton, for 21s annual rent.
1301 November 26 - Grants, Bunnys in Hatfield Broad Oak and Takeley, to a Edward Thurkyld.
After 1301, Enfeoffments Writtle, in part, to a John de Lovetot and his wife Joan.
1304 Easter, dies on route to Annandale and is buried at Holm Cultram Abbey, Cumberland.
Following his death his Eleanor remarries, before February 8, 1306 (as his 1st wife) Richard Waleys, Lord Waleys, and they had issue. She died shortly before 8 September 1331.

Shortly after the Battle of Stirling Bridge (1297), Annandale was laid waste as retaliation to younger Bruce's actions. Yet, when Edward returned to England after his victory at the Battle of Falkirk, which one source accords to Robert turning the Scottish flank, Annandale and Carrick were excepted from the lordships and lands which he assigned to his followers, the father having not opposed Edward and the son being treated as a waverer whose allegiance might still be retained.

Robert at that time was old and ill, and there are reports that he wished his son to seek peace with Edward. If not his son's actions could jeopardise his own income, which was primarily derived from his holdings south of the border (est. £340 vs £150). The elder Bruce would have seen that, if the rebellion failed and his son was against Edward, the son would lose everything, titles, lands, and probably his life.

It was around this time (1302) that Robert's son submitted to Edward I. The younger Robert had sided with the Scottish nationalists since the capture and exile of Balliol. There are many reasons which may have prompted his return to Edward, not the least of which was that the Bruce family may have found it loathsome to continue sacrificing his followers, family and inheritance for King John. There were rumours that John would return with a French army and regain the Scottish throne. Soulis supported his return as did many other nobles, but this would lead to the Bruces losing any chance of ever gaining the throne themselves. He died in Palestine and was buried at Holm Cultram Abbey.

Family:

His first wife was by all accounts a formidable woman. Marjorie or Margaret (c. 1253 or 1256 - soon bef. 9 November 1292), 3rd Countess of Carrick (1256-1292), was the daughter and heiress of Niall, 2nd Earl of Carrick. Carrick was a Gaelic Earldom in Southern Scotland. Its territories contained much of today's Ayrshire and Dumfriesshire. The couple married at Turnberry Castle in 1271 and held the principal seats of Turnberry Castle and Lochmaben. He had no children from his second wife Eleanor N (died btw 13 April and 8 September 1331).

Their children were:
Isabel, married King Eric II of Norway in 1293, d 1358 in Bergen, Norway
Christina b c 1273, Seton, East Lothian, married 1) Sir Christopher Seton, 2). Gartnait, Earl of Mar, 1292 in Kildrummy, Aberdeenshire 3.) Sir Andrew Moray, 20 September 1305, d. 1356/7 in Scotland {By her second marriage mother of Domhnall II, Earl of Mar}
Robert b 11 July 1274, married 1) Isabella of Mar, 2) Elizabeth de Burgh, d June 7, 1329
Neil (Niall or Nigel), taken prisoner at Kildrummie, hanged, drawn and quartered at Berwick-upon-Tweed in September 1306.
Edward, crowned May 2, 1316, 'King of Ireland'. Killed in battle, October 5, 1318. Possible marriage to Isabel, daughter of John de Strathbogie, 9th Earl of Atholl-parents of Alexander Bruce, Earl of Carrick; Edward obtained a dispensation for a marriage to Isabella of Ross, daughter of Uilleam II, Earl of Ross, on June 1, 1317.
Mary, married (1) Sir. Neil Campbell; (2) Sir. Alexander Fraser of Touchfraser and Cowie.
Sir Thomas, taken prisoner in Galloway, hanged, drawn and quartered 9 February 1307, Carlisle, Cumberland
Alexander, hanged, drawn and quartered 9 February 1307, Carlisle, Cumberland
Elizabeth Bruce, married Sir William Dishington of the Orkney Isles.
Matilda, married Hugh / Aodh, Earl of Ross, in 1308 Orkney Isles, died after September 1323

Bruce in fiction:

He was portrayed (as a leper) by Ian Bannen in the 1995 film Braveheart. Braveheart inaccurately portrays Robert de Brus as being involved in the capture of William Wallace in Edinburgh; as noted above Robert de Brus died in 1304 and William Wallace was captured on August 3, 1305 by Sir John de Menteith in Glasgow. {Menteith was a son-in-law to Gartnait, Earl of Mar and Christina Bruce.}

Buried:
Holm Cultran Abbey

Robert married Margaret of Carrick 1271. Margaret (daughter of Níall of Carrick) was born Abt 1253; died Bef 6 Nov 1292. [Group Sheet]

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• Reference Number: 10553

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• Name: Domhnall mac Uilleim
• Name: Sir
• Reference Number: 80

Notes:

Domhnall I Earl of Mar - Domhnall mac Uilleim (Anglicized: Donald, William's son) - was the seventh known Mormaer of Mar, ruling from 1276 until his death somewhere between 1297 and 1302.

In 1284 he joined with other Scottish noblemen who acknowledged Margaret of Norway as the heir to King Alexander. Domhnall was later a strong supporter of the Bruce cause during the crisis of the late 13th century. He was at Norham in 1292, probably in the camp of Robert de Brus, then Earl of Carrick.

He was married to Helen (sometimes called Ellen), possibly the natural daughter of Llywelyn the Great of Wales, who herself had previously been married to Mormaer Maol Choluim II, Earl of Fife. By Helen, he had three sons, including his successor Gartnait, and two daughters. His daughter Isabella of Mar was the first wife of Robert I of Scotland and mother of Marjorie Bruce who married Walter, 6th High Steward, the parents of Robert II and the Royal Stewart Kings of Scotland.

The last record of a living Domhnall comes from 1297, and the earliest record of his son Gartnait as Mormaer is from 1305, creating the range of Domhnall's possible year of death to somewhere in between these two points. However, a document dating to 1302, containing terms of reconciliation between Edward I and Robert, stipulates that Robert should act as warden of Gartnait, implying that Domhnall had just died.

Domhnall — Helen Ferch Llywelyn. Helen (daughter of Llywelyn Ap Iorwerth and Joan) was born Abt 1206; died 1253. [Group Sheet]

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• Reference Number: 8813