Marjorie, Countess of Carrick
Encyclopedia
Marjorie of Carrick (c. 1253 or 1256 – soon bef. 9 November 1292) was countess of Carrick
, Scotland
, from 1256 to 1292, and is notable as the mother of Robert the Bruce
.
and Margaret Stewart, and Countess of Carrick
in her own right. Her first husband was Adam of Kilconquhar
, who died during the Eighth Crusade
in 1271. Then, as the story goes, a handsome young man arrived one day to tell her of her husband's death in the Holy Land. He was Robert de Brus, 6th Lord of Annandale, and he had been a companion-in-arms of Adam of Kilconquhar. Marjorie was so taken with him that she had him held captive until he agreed to marry her at Turnberry Castle
in 1271. He became Earl of Carrick jure uxoris (in right of his wife). Their children were:
Marjorie died in 1292, at which time her husband transferred Carrick
to their eldest son, Robert.
There is a traditional story that Thomas Randolph, 1st Earl of Moray was the son of Marjorie's daughter from her first marriage with Adam. However this is probably not true; it was probably put forward as an explanation of why Thomas Randolph was described as a nephew of Robert the Bruce.
Carrick, Scotland
Carrick is a former comital district of Scotland which today forms part of South Ayrshire.-History:The word Carrick comes from the Gaelic word Carraig, meaning rock or rocky place. Maybole was the historic capital of Carrick. The county was eventually combined into Ayrshire which was divided...
, Scotland
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
, from 1256 to 1292, and is notable as the mother of Robert the Bruce
Robert I of Scotland
Robert I , popularly known as Robert the Bruce , was King of Scots from March 25, 1306, until his death in 1329.His paternal ancestors were of Scoto-Norman heritage , and...
.
Marriages
She was the daughter and heiress of Niall, Earl of CarrickNiall, Earl of Carrick
Níall of Carrick was the second man to bear the title Mormaer, or Earl, of Carrick. He was successor of mormaer Donnchadh of Carrick. He may have been Donnchadh's son, or else as suggested by one recent genealogical theory, his grandson...
and Margaret Stewart, and Countess of Carrick
Earl of Carrick
The Earl of Carrick was the head of a comital lordship of Carrick in southwestern Scotland. The title emerged in 1186, when Donnchad, son of Gille Brigte, Lord of Galloway, became Mormaer or Earl of Carrick in compensation for exclusion from the whole Lordship of Galloway...
in her own right. Her first husband was Adam of Kilconquhar
Adam of Kilconquhar
Adam of Kilconquhar was a Scottish noble from the 13th century. Of Fife origin, he is notable for becoming the husband of the countess of Carrick and participating in Crusade with Louis IX.-Background:...
, who died during the Eighth Crusade
Eighth Crusade
The Eighth Crusade was a crusade launched by Louis IX, King of France, in 1270. The Eighth Crusade is sometimes counted as the Seventh, if the Fifth and Sixth Crusades of Frederick II are counted as a single crusade...
in 1271. Then, as the story goes, a handsome young man arrived one day to tell her of her husband's death in the Holy Land. He was Robert de Brus, 6th Lord of Annandale, and he had been a companion-in-arms of Adam of Kilconquhar. Marjorie was so taken with him that she had him held captive until he agreed to marry her at Turnberry Castle
Turnberry Castle
Turnberry Castle is a fragmentary ruin on the coast of Kirkoswald parish, north of Girvan in Ayrshire, Scotland. It is situated on a rock at the extremity of the lower peninsula within the parish.-History:...
in 1271. He became Earl of Carrick jure uxoris (in right of his wife). Their children were:
- Christina BruceChristina BruceChristina Bruce the second daughter of Robert de Brus, jure uxoris Earl of Carrick and Marjorie of Carrick, and an older sister of King Robert the Bruce....
, married Gartnait, Earl of MarGartnait, Earl of MarGartnait of Mar - Gartnait mac Domhnaill - was the eighth known Mormaer of Mar, ruling from somewhere around 1301, perhaps as early as 1297, until his death in 1305...
. - Robert the BruceRobert I of ScotlandRobert I , popularly known as Robert the Bruce , was King of Scots from March 25, 1306, until his death in 1329.His paternal ancestors were of Scoto-Norman heritage , and...
. - Isabel BruceIsabel BruceIsabel Bruce was a Queen consort of Norway, married to King Eric II.-Biography:...
(1275–1358), married King Eric II of Norway. - NiallNigel de BrusNigel de Brus was a younger brother of King Robert I of Scotland, who supported his brother in the struggle for the crown of Scotland. He was captured by English forces at Kildrummy Castle and later executed for high treason....
or Nigel Bruce, executed 1306 in Berwick-upon-TweedBerwick-upon-TweedBerwick-upon-Tweed or simply Berwick is a town in the county of Northumberland and is the northernmost town in England, on the east coast at the mouth of the River Tweed. It is situated 2.5 miles south of the Scottish border....
, NorthumberlandNorthumberlandNorthumberland is the northernmost ceremonial county and a unitary district in North East England. For Eurostat purposes Northumberland is a NUTS 3 region and is one of three boroughs or unitary districts that comprise the "Northumberland and Tyne and Wear" NUTS 2 region...
, England. - Edward BruceEdward BruceEdward the Bruce , sometimes modernised Edward of Bruce, was a younger brother of King Robert I of Scotland, who supported his brother in the struggle for the crown of Scotland, then pursued his own claim in Ireland. He was proclaimed High King of Ireland, but was eventually defeated and killed in...
. - Thomas BruceThomas de BrusSir Thomas de Brus was a younger brother of King Robert I of Scotland, who supported his brother in the struggle for the crown of Scotland. He was captured by forces at Loch Ryan, Galloway, Scotland and later executed as a traitor....
, executed 1307. - Alexander BruceAlexander de BrusAlexander de Brus was a younger brother of King Robert I of Scotland, who supported his brother in the struggle for the crown of Scotland. He was captured by forces at Loch Ryan, Galloway, Scotland and later executed as a traitor....
, executed 1307. - Mary BruceMary BruceMary Bruce was the younger sister of Robert the Bruce, King of Scots. During the First War of Scottish Independence, she was captured by the English and imprisoned in a cage at Roxburgh Castle for about four years...
, married- Sir Niall CampbellNiall mac CaileinNiall mac Cailein , also known as Sir Neil Campbell, was a nobleman and warrior who spent his life in the service of King Robert I of Scotland, His Gaelic name means "Niall, Colin's son" since he was the son of Cailean Mór...
- Sir Alexander Fraser of Touchfraser and Cowie.
- Sir Niall Campbell
- Elizabeth Bruce, married Sir William Dishington
- Margaret Bruce, married Sir William de Carlyle.
- Matilda Bruce, married Aodh, Earl of RossAodh, Earl of RossHugh [probably Gaelic: Aodh], was the third successor of Ferchar mac in tSagairt as Mormaer of Ross .Hugh was a favorite of King Robert I of Scotland, who endowed him with many lands. Aodh even married Robert's sister, Maud...
Marjorie died in 1292, at which time her husband transferred Carrick
Carrick, Scotland
Carrick is a former comital district of Scotland which today forms part of South Ayrshire.-History:The word Carrick comes from the Gaelic word Carraig, meaning rock or rocky place. Maybole was the historic capital of Carrick. The county was eventually combined into Ayrshire which was divided...
to their eldest son, Robert.
There is a traditional story that Thomas Randolph, 1st Earl of Moray was the son of Marjorie's daughter from her first marriage with Adam. However this is probably not true; it was probably put forward as an explanation of why Thomas Randolph was described as a nephew of Robert the Bruce.
Sources
- Scott, Ronald McNair. Robert the Bruce: King of Scots