Thomas Randolph, 1st Earl of Moray
Thomas Randolph | |
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Agnes Randolph Isobel Randolph | |
Father | Sir Thomas Randolph |
Mother | Martha of Kilconquhar |
Thomas Randolph, Earl of Moray (c. 1285 – 20 July 1332) was a soldier and diplomat in the Wars of Scottish Independence, who later served as regent of Scotland. He was a nephew of Robert the Bruce, who created him as the first earl of Moray. He was known for successfully capturing Edinburgh Castle from the English, and he was one of the signatories of the Declaration of Arbroath.
Early life
Thomas was the son of another Thomas, who was
War of Independence
Thomas supported Robert in his attempt to take the throne and was present at his uncle's coronation in 1306. He was probably knighted by the king then or shortly after.
In 1312 King Robert I created him Earl of Moray,[6] and he became ruler of a large swathe of land in the north of Scotland, far exceeding his southern possessions. He was also made lord of the Isle of Man; according to the reddendo or charter this was in exchange for six ships of 26 oars and money to the value of 100 merks to be paid at Inverness.[1] Around this time he became one of Robert's most trusted lieutenants, and he seems to have accompanied him on most of his campaigns. His most famous achievement was on 14 March 1314 when he carried out a daring attack on Edinburgh Castle.[7] This was one of a handful of castles in Scotland still in English hands, and stood on top of an apparently unscalable rock. Amongst Moray's men was William Francis, the son of a former governor of the castle, who knew of a secret path up the rock. Moray used this path to reach the castle, and successfully retook it for the Scots.[8]
Moray played an important role in the Scottish victory at the Battle of Bannockburn, where he commanded one of the three divisions (schiltrons) of the infantry, the others being commanded by King Robert and Edward Bruce, the king's brother.[9][10][11][12] Many historians, however, citing John Barbour's work, contend that there were four schiltrons, one commanded by James Douglas and Walter Stewart.[13] On the first day of the two-day battle, a body of three hundred English cavalry under Sir Robert Clifford, Sir Henry de Beaumont and Sir Thomas Gray attempted to bypass the Scots army and in order to relieve Stirling Castle. Seeing this, Randolph led his men to block the road and drew up in a circular schiltron. They were attacked from all sides by the English. Unable to break the hedge of spearmen and taking numerous casualties, the English began to waver. Sir James Douglas was given permission to go to Randolph's aid, but seeing that it was not needed, he took no share in the action, the site of which became known as Randolph's Field. The next day found Randolph in command of the centre of the Scottish battle.[14][15]
Ireland
In 1315 Moray accompanied Edward Bruce, the king's brother, during his invasion of Ireland. He was one of the principal leaders in the war against the English settlers in Ireland. He returned twice to Scotland during the war to obtain reinforcements and to get Robert's personal presence in Ireland.[1]
Border incursions
Moray and Douglas were closely allied and the two were associated in a series of exploits. In 1318 they seized the town of
Diplomatic career
Moray's name appears directly after Robert's on the 1320
Moray was again sent to France in 1325, this time to persuade King Charles IV to sign the Treaty of Corbeil renewing the Franco-Scottish alliance, which he did successfully.[16]
After his return to Scotland, he had a commanding role in the
Regent
During the King's final years, Moray had been a constant companion and had superintended the household of the young heir to the throne,
The poet and chronicler John Barbour provides us with a pen portrait of Thomas Randolph, 1st Earl of Moray, among the first of its kind in Scottish history. Unlike his pen portrait of James Lord of Douglas, he does not say it was related to him by others, implying that he had known Randolph before his death although Barbour would have been a fairly young man.
He was of moderate stature
And well-formed in measure
With a broad face, pleasant and fair.
Courteous in bearing and debonair
And of fittingly confident bearing.
Loyalty he loved above all things,
Falshood, treason, and felony
He stood against always earnestly.
He exalted honour and liberality
And always strove for righteousness.
In company, he was caring
And therewith even loving
And good knights he loved always,
For if I speak the truth
He was full of good spirits
And made of all the virtues.
— the Brus, John Barbour
Marriage and family
Thomas married Isabel, only daughter of Margaret and
- Thomas, 2nd Earl of Moray
- John, 3rd Earl of Moray
- Agnes Randolph, married Patrick, Earl of Dunbarand had no issue
- Isabel (or Geilis) Randolph, married Sir Patrick Dunbar of Cockburn and Stranith and had several children, including George, Earl of Dunbar and John, Earl of Moray; Isabel's husband was the cousin of her sister Agnes' husband and through this relationship Isabel's children inherited the title Earl of March.[21]
References
- ^ a b c d e f g h Paul, Sir James (1909). The Scots Peerage. Edinburgh: David Douglas. pp. 291–294. Retrieved 13 December 2018.
- ^ Bain, Joseph, FSA (Scot)., The Edwards in Scotland, 1296 - 1377, Edinburgh, 1901:61 & 66
- ^ Weis, Fredk., Lewis, et al., The Magna Charta Sureties 1215, 5th edition, Baltimore, 2002: 50
- ^ Richardson, Douglas, Plantagenet Ancestry, Baltimore, Md., 2004: 682
- ^ Penman, Michael Robert the Bruce: King of the Scots p. 98
- ISBN 0748602739.
- ^ Tabraham, Christopher, 'Edinburgh Castle Official Souvenir Guide'
- ^ Barbour, John (1375). Barbour, Johne (1375), Skeat, Walter W., ed., The Bruce; or, The Book of the most excellent and noble prince, Robert de Broyss, King of Scots. Early English Text Society, 1870, retrieved 17 August 2008 - in Scots with Modern English annotations.
- ^ Barbour, The Bruce, p 216.
- ^ Ross, David R., James the Good, pp. 61-83.
- ^ Scott, Ronald McNair, Robert the Bruce, pp. 149-152.
- ^ ISBN 978-0-00-472079-1
- ^ Scott, Ronald McNair (1982). Robert the Bruce, King of Scots. New York: Peter Bedrick Books. p. 146.
- ^ Scott, Ronald McNair (1988). Robert the Bruce, King of Scots. New York: Peter Bedrick Books. pp. 154–155.
- ^ a b public domain: Chisholm, Hugh, ed. (1911). "Moray, Thomas Randolph, Earl of". Encyclopædia Britannica. Vol. 18 (11th ed.). Cambridge University Press. pp. 819–820. One or more of the preceding sentences incorporates text from a publication now in the
- ^ Ronald McNair Scott: Robert the Bruce, King of Scots, Hutchinson & Co 1982, p 216
- ^ Chisholm 1911.
- ^ Anderson, William, The Scottish Nation, Edinburgh, 1867, vol.vii: 200.
- ^ Mackenzie, A.M., M.A., D.Litt., The Rise of the Stewarts, London, 1935: 14n.
- ^ Simpson, David, The Genealogical and Chronological History of the Stuarts, Edinburgh, 1713: 64-5.
- ^ Scots Peerage V.3 p.260