Marjorie, Countess of Carrick

Marjorie of Carrick (also Margaret; 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.

See also Marjorie Bruce, her granddaughter.
Marjorie of Carrick
suo jure 3rd Countess of Carrick
Bornc.1253 or 1256
Diedshortly before 9 November 1292
Noble familyClan MacDuff (by marriage)
House of Bruce (by marriage)
Spouse(s)Adam of Kilconquhar
Robert de Brus, 6th Lord of Annandale
Issue
FatherNiall, Earl of Carrick
MotherMargaret Stewart

Marriages

She was the daughter and heiress of Niall Mac Dhonnchad, 2nd Earl of Carrick on her father's side. Her mother's father was Walter Stewart. Her father transferred the title of chieftain to his nephew Ronald and gave the earldom of Carrick to Marjorie, making her 2nd 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:

  1. Christina Bruce
  2. Robert the Bruce.
  3. Isabel Bruce (1272–1358), married King Eric II of Norway.
  4. Niall or Nigel Bruce, executed 1306 in Berwick-upon-Tweed, Northumberland, England.
  5. Edward Bruce.
  6. Sir Thomas Bruce, executed 1307.
  7. Alexander Bruce, executed 1307.
  8. Mary Bruce, married
    1. Sir Niall Campbell
    2. Sir Alexander Fraser of Touchfraser and Cowie.
  9. Matilda Bruce, married Aodh, Earl of Ross

Margaret Bruce who married Sir William de Carlyle is thought by Barrow not to be their daughter. It is speculated that Thomas Randolph, 1st Earl of Moray was the son of Marjorie's daughter from her first marriage with Adam. It is put forward as an explanation of why Thomas Randolph was described as a nephew of Robert the Bruce. There is evidence that an "eldest daughter", unknown to history, married into the family of the earls of Mar, giving rise to the now discounted first marriage of Christina to the son of the earl, Gartnait.

Marjorie died before November 1292, at which time her husband transferred Carrick to their eldest son, Robert.

Sources

  • Scott, Ronald McNair. Robert the Bruce: King of Scots
Preceded by
Níall
Countess of Carrick
1256–1292
Succeeded by
Robert

This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.