There are two women I will be focusing on in this History Sunday, both are the wives of King Robert I of Scotland, commonly known as Robert the Bruce. Everyone (well almost everyone) knows Robert the Bruce, he was one of the only men I was actually taught about in my history class at school from the middle ages (William Wallace, of course, being the other one). Both men fought during the Wars of Scottish Independence from England during the 13th and 14th centuries. Wallace was killed, whilst Bruce managed to wrangle the Scottish throne away from the English and regain independence (ish).
I think history likes to give Wallace a reputation for being just an ordinary fellow, a classic average Joe turned national hero story to tell the children, but in reality Wallace was a landowner in his own right. Unfortunately I've become bored of Wallace's place in history, he's just been so overused for everything Scotland orientated. So has Robert the Bruce on some level, but not the women behind the glory and fables.Isobel of Mar (commonly known in English as Isabella, in Gaelic as Iseabail). I translated her name this way because Isobel is the modern Scottish spelling of the Gaelic for whatever origins that overused name has (and because in my mind the name Isabella will be forever placed at Isabella of France's feet, even though that wasn't actually her name either). Isobel was the daughter of the Earl of Mar, Domhnall I, and his wife Helen, or Ellen, who was the illegitimate daughter of Llewelyn ap Iowerth, Prince of Wales. There isn't really much to read about poor Isobel. One of the interesting things is that she and Robert were apparently in love when they married, the reason for the match was that her father thought that Bruce was the rightful Scottish King, and so by making an alliance with him solidified his family's position in Scotland (he must have been confident Bruce could claim the throne from the English). She was 18 at the time of her marriage (is it just me or is anyone else thinking this was quite old for a young woman of the nobility? I'm so used to pre-pubescent brides). Soon after she became pregnant and gave birth to her one and only child, a daughter, Marjorie, who would go onto have Robert II, the founder of the Stuart/Stewart Kings. She died before Robert was ever crowned King of Scots and so Isobel never gained the title Queen, and her father's hopes were no doubt a little disappointed.
Six years after the death of his first wife Bruce married his second and final wife, Elizabeth de Burgh. She was the daughter of Richard Og de Burgh, Earl of Ulster, and his wife, simply referred to as Margarite. Elizabeth married Bruce in 1302 when she was 13 years old (she was actually born on Scottish soil in Dunfermline, Fife). In 1306 Bruce had a good control of power in Scotland and was crowned King of Scots in 1306, Elizabeth was crowned Queen at this point as well. Bruce did this despite the fact that the English hadn't given up their claims to Scotland (typical Scottish f***k you to the English if you ask me). Unfortunately, as with most victories during a warring period, this triumphant patch was short lived.The women of the Bruce family had a hard time during the Scottish wars of independence, whether they were born into it or married. I always find reading about what happened to them awful. The Scottish army was defeated by the English force at Methven in 1306. The Queen, Marjorie Bruce (her stepdaughter), and her husband's two sisters Mary and Christine/Christian fled to Kildrummy castle where they came under siege by the English army.
When the castle fell (due to a blacksmith with fragile loyalty when it came to money) all men, including Bruce's brother Nigel, were hanged and killed; the women had already fled under the escort of the Earl of Atholl. The ladies were eventually found by the English, or rather handed over by another traitor sensing the tides were changing. Mary Bruce and Isabella MacDuff (Countess of Buchan) were put in wooden cages which hung from the walls of Roxburgh and Berwick castles. Marjorie Bruce and her Aunt Christine were sent to separate nunneries, and Elizabeth was placed under house arrest. The Earl of Atholl, the ladies' escort, was killed and his head was displayed at the Tower of London (as they usually are during this time). She was moved around castles and other properties for eight years until in 1314 she was returned to Scotland.
Elizabeth bore Bruce four children, only three of whom survived to adulthood. Margaret, married the 5th Earl of Sutherland, and had issue. Matilda, married Thomas Isaac and had issue (two daughters). John (b.1327) died the same day he was born, Finally, David, King of Scotland until 1372, married Joan of the Tower, a daughter of Edward II and Isabella of France.
Elizabeth died in October 1327 and is buried in, come on you can guess, Dunfermline. Bruce died a mere 18 months later.
To tell you the fates of the other Bruce women captured by the English:
Mary Bruce (Robert's sister) was released back to Scotland during an exchange of prisoners after the Battle of Bannockburn where the English were defeated. She married twice, once to Sir Neil Campbell, and had a son, and secondly to Alexander Fraser, but had no recorded issue.
Christine Bruce (Robert's other sister) was released back to Scotland, no doubt at the same time as the other women. She married firstly Sir Christopher Seton, who was executed in 1306, and then Sir Andrew Murray.
Marjorie Bruce was released at the same time as Elizabeth, she had been kept at Watton Priory since her capture. She married Walter Stewart, 6th High Stewart of Scotland, who had distinguished himself. After David II of Scotland died childless, her son, Robert, became King of Scotland after him, beginning the Stewart dynasty of Scottish, and subsequently English, Kings.
That's it for these unfortunate Bruce women, and Isobel of Mar. I'll need to think hard this week about what my next segment is going to be about, it's been very Scotland orientated for the last few ones, maybe I'll tackle the illustrious Henry II.
