David (Brechin) de Brechin (aft. 1271 - aft. 1320)

Born after 1271 in Brechin, Forfarshire, Scotland [uncertain]

Ancestors

Descendants

Died after 4 Aug 1320 at about age 49 in Scotland [uncertain]

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Biography

Birth

David de Brechin was the son of Sir William de Brechin (see research note) and Elena (or Elizabeth) Comyn, daughter and heiress of Sir Alexander Comyn, Earl of Buchan and Justiciar of Scotland and Elizabeth de Quincy, granddaughter of William Comyn, first Earl of Buchan.^[1][2] As David's paternal grandfather was the illegitimate son of Henry de Brechin, eighth Earl of Huntingdon, he may have been perceived as having had a claim to the crown (albeit questionable).^[3][4] David was also related to Robert Bruce through Bruce's first wife, Isabella of Mar, David's second cousin.^[4] Although no information has been located in the literature that addressed David's date of birth, he is mentioned in a writ dated 10 December 1292, where he was noted as having been a ward of Sir John de Callendar.^[5][4] Being a minor at the time of this writ,^[6] David's date of birth has been estimated as occurring after 1271.

Marriage

Sir David, lord of Brechin,^[7] was married after 1298^[8] but before 7 July 1304 to Margaret, daughter and heiress of Sir Alexander Bonkyl,^[9] and widow of Sir John Stewart, killed at Falkirk in 1298.^[10][8] This is proved by the restoration of Margaret's lands on 7 July 1304, following David's oaths of homage and fealty to Edward I, where both Margaret and David were described in Bain's Calendar of Documents (n. 1584), as "Scottish rebels."^[10][5] It seems that Margaret may have been deceased by September 1304, as the Bishop of Carlisle made an inquiry regarding a disputed patronage of the Church of Uldale that had previously belonged to Margaret.^[10][1] Margaret had issue from both marriages. Her heir through John Stewart, still a minor at Margaret's death, was challenged by David as the product of an invalid marriage, even though his own marriage to Margaret was in question and required a Papal dispensation for validatation.^[5][10] By his first wife, David had a daughter named Margaret, who was married on or about 26 March 1315, to Sir David Barclay."^[5][2][4]

Although it is not certain who David's second wife was, in 1314 she was named as Margery in a safe-conduct. According to Balfour Paul, she may have been a member of the Ramsay family, as:

...the seal under his name appended to the Pope's letter on 6 April 1329, shows three shields point to point, bearing respectively three piles for Brechin, three garbs for Comyn, and an eagle with wings displayed, probably for Ramsay, as the seal has the legend Maria de Ramesy (p. 221).^[5]

Notable Events

It is said that as a young man, David went to the Holy Land and fought against the Saracens, where he displayed such valor, he was often referred to as the Flower of Chivalry.^[5][2][11] While it is uncertain which of the later Crusades David may have participated in, it is possible that he fought in the Siege of Acre in 1291,^[12] when he would have been approximately 20 years old, although English participation in this crusade was minimal.^[13] However, no sources have been located to confirm this hypothesis.

David's first confirmed appearance was on the 1296 Ragman Rolls, where the nobility and Scottish gentry swore allegiance to Edward I.^{[2][10][14][15][16]} The following year on 27 April 1296,^[17] David fought on behalf of Edward I at the Battle of Dunbar where he apprehended the son of Sir Simon Fraser, for which he was granted the lands of Alan Dorward by Edward I.^[5] Meanwhile, as Edward was preparing his expedition against the king of France, he again demanded David's pledge of loyalty on 13 May 1297,^[15] where David, as well as many imprisoned Scottish nobles were expected to accompany Edward on his journey to France in August of 1297.^[18][15] The list of Scottish nobles included John Comyn, Earl of Buchan; John, the Red Comyn II; Alexander Comyn, John's brother; John, Earl of Athole; John de Menteith; Richard Siward; William Bisset; and William de Ross, among others. Each was expected to provide a number of foot soldiers, cavalry, and hostages, where it seems Edward's purpose, more than fortifying his army, was to prevent Scottish insurrections on the home front, as he waged war in France.^[5][19] There is the possibility that David may also have been in English custody, as following his agreement to travel to France with Edward I, he was "allowed" to return to Scotland to prepare for this journey. In the event he failed to accompany Edward to France, at the King's instruction, he was to return to the south of Trent, "where he had been at the King's will."^[5] The particulars regarding the circumstances surrounding the Edward's instructions are uncertain.

Lochmaben Castle

By 1299, however, David supported Robert Bruce, attained the rank of knighthood, and was present at Peebles when William Lamberton, bishop of St. Andrews, joined Bruce and John Comyn as guardians of Scotland. David then traveled toward Annandale and Galloway with Earl of Carrick and remained in the southwest until 1301, where under the leadership of John de Soulis and Ingram de Umfraville, he assaulted the castle of Lochmabem, held by English troops. Not only was the September siege unsuccessful, but David was injured in the battle, as well.^{[5][20][21][22]} Remaining true to Scotland's cause until February of 1304, he then switched allegiance and pledged loyalty to Edward I and took part in the Siege of Stirling Castle. For his service, Edward restored the English lands of David's wife that she had inherited from her father, which were lost after 1299, when David switched loyalty to Robert Bruce.^[10][23] Following Wallace's capture in 1305, however, David was at Perth and served as one of the jurists who adjudicated the inquisition regarding the barony of Craill.^[24] Yet, by 10 February 1306, following the death of Comyn at the hand of Robert Bruce, David was once again in the service of the English king. After Edward I's death in July of 1307 and the succession of his son, Edward II, David remained loyal to the new king, where he was quartered in Ayr in the summer of 1307, alongside Ingram de Umfraville, who had also switched allegiance to the English crown.^[4]

Bruce's Seat at the Battle of Inverurie

In Scotland, meanwhile, given the challenging political climate in England following the succession of Edward II, Bruce took the opportunity to attack Edward's Scottish allies, as well as John Comyn, Earl of Bucan, at the Battle of Inverurie. On the morning of 23 May 1308, with Bruce lying ill nearby, Brechin and Sir John Mowbray impetuously attacked an outpost of Bruce's troops with their cavalry.^{[25][26][27][2]} Many of the English were killed or fled, prompting Bruce to rise from his sickbed, declaring that a retaliatory counter-attack would be medicine to his soul.^[3] Following his unexpected arrival at the scene, Comyn's men panicked and dispersed, including David Brechin, with many more slaughtered at Lochter Burn.^[26][28] Despite the intimidating arrival of the King, Edward Bruce actually led the army, as Robert Bruce, too ill to fight,^[26] reportedly watched the battle from a chair-shaped rock, now referred to as Bruce's Seat.^[29] Following the rout, Comyn fled to England, where he was received by Edward II, while David retired to Brechin Castle, where he was subsequently besieged by Bruce's men.^[30][3] Having survived this attack and remaining loyal to the English King, David was appointed by Edward II as acting warden of Berwick-upon-Tweed,^[4][31] where on 20 April 1312, the king demanded obedience to the new warden from the mayor and bailiffs of Berwick.^[32]

While David's divided allegiance between sovereigns may have appeared as vacillation, his loyalties were a byproduct of his fealty to John Balliol as the rightful King of Scotland.^[33][34] It was in this vein that he may have supported the English cause in the Battle of Bannockburn, during the First War of Scottish Independence, where on 23/24 June 1314, Robert Bruce routed the army of Edward II in a resounding and humiliating defeat. Numerous earls and knights were captured en route at Bothwell Castle and were brought before Bruce, where they were given lengthy prison sentences or ransomed for large sums of money.^[35][36] While it is not certain that David fought in this battle, in October of 1314, David's wife was given safe conduct to travel to Scotland for his release from prison.^[4][5] This seems to suggest that he may have been captured at Bannockburn, but no sources were located that definitively stated that David participated in this battle.

Declaration of Arbroath

Declaration of Arbroath, Translation

Once again having reversed his allegiance, David, along with eight earls, 31 barons, and others, in an act of defiance against English aggression, placed their seals on the Declaration of Arbroath on 6 April 1320.^[37][38][33] Written in response to the abuses and atrocities perpetrated by Edward I and his son, Edward II, during the Wars of Scottish Independence, this declaration of sovereignty demanded Scotland's release from the feudal control wielded by the Norman monarchs and acknowledgement of Robert Bruce as king. Moreover, the Scots petitioned for the lawful right to choose another sovereign should Bruce prove unfit. Sent in April to Pope John XXII, the Declaration was received between 16 June and 29 July. On 10 August 1320, the Pope informed Edward II that a Scottish envoy had arrived at the papal court to address the issue of "the nobleman Robert called Bruce who calls himself king of Scotland." Yet, despite the Pope's call for reconciliation between the two nations, Scottish independence remained elusive and it was not until the short-lived treaty of Edinburgh-Northampton in 1328 that the young English king, Edward III, accepted the terms of the Declaration of Arbroath, granting Scotland its long-sought sovereignty.^[39][40]

The Black Parliament

On 4 August 1320 at the parliament of Scone, conspirators who had plotted to kill Robert Bruce and place Sir William Soules on the throne were tried for treason. Although five were acquitted and Soules was sentenced to life imprisonment, others were not so fortunate. Having died before the trial, Sir Roger Mowbray was none the less sentenced to be drawn, hanged, and beheaded, although Bruce provided clemency to prevent this egregious mutilation.^[41][11][34] Four of the alleged conspirators, including John of Logie, Richard Broune, and Gilbert of Malerb did suffer this ignominious fate and were executed at Perth. David, being the fourth, was executed for not reporting his knowledge of the Soules's plot in which he himself was not involved and likely did not support.^[30][11][34]

Death

Following David's execution in 1320,^[7][9] his beloved friend, Ingram de Umfraville, beseeched the king to allow him to bury David's body. Granted this request by Robert Bruce and following the burial, Ingram petitioned the king to be allowed to leave Scotland, telling him he simply hadn't the heart to remain in Scotland, "where a knight so right worthy, chivalrous and doughty, so renowned for valor, and so full of manly qualities, has been put to so villainous a death."^[34][33][2]

Research notes

Nisbit and Douglas add another generational David as the father of David, the subject of this profile, who married a sister of Robert Bruce and had issue: David, Thomas of Lumquhat, and Margaret, who married Sir David Barclay in 1315.^[2][7] Balfour Paul refuted this lineage, stating that "there was only one Sir David Brechin, and not two, as hitherto assumed, on insufficient grounds, by Buchanan and others (p. 221)."^[5] Balfour Paul's claim is further supported by Joseph Bain.^[42] Given the likely inaccuracy of Nisbit and Douglas's pedigree, as well as the lack of supporting evidence that David had sons David and Thomas of Lumquhat, they have not been included as issue in this profile.

Sources

1. ↑ ^{1.0 1.1} Richardson, Douglas. (2013). Royal Ancestry: A Study in Colonial and Medieval Families (Vol. 1, p. 238). In Kimball G. Everingham (Ed.). Salt Lake City: Douglas Richardson. Retrieved from a personal copy of Lohbeck-3; accessed 19 February 2022.
2. ↑ ^{2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 2.6} Nisbit, Alexander. (1816). A system of heraldry, speculative and practical, with the true art of blazon, according to the most approved heralds in Europe: illustrated with suitable examples of armoria figures, and achievements of the most considerable surnames and families in Scotland, together with historical and genealogical memorials relative thereto (Vol. II, pp. 77, 78). Edinburgh: W. Blackwood. Retrieved from Internet Archive (Available online); accessed 20 February 2022.
3. ↑ ^{3.0 3.1 3.2} Cornell, David. (2009). Bannockburn: The Triumph of Robert the Bruce (pp. 71, 77, 78). New Haven: Yale University Press. Retrieved from personal copy of Pamela Lohbeck-3; accessed 21 February 2022.
4. ↑ ^{4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 4.4 4.5 4.6} Wood, Alex. (2020). Conquered by No One: A People's History of the Scots who made the Declaration of Arbroath in 1320 (pp. 112, 113). In N. McLennan (Ed.). Edinburgh: Old Baberton. Retrieved from a personal copy of Lohbeck-3; accessed 19 February 2022.
5. ↑ ^{5.00 5.01 5.02 5.03 5.04 5.05 5.06 5.07 5.08 5.09 5.10 5.11} Balfour Paul, James. (1911). The Scots Peerage: Founded on Wood's ed. of Sir Robert Douglas's Peerage of Scotland; Containing an Historical and Genealogical Account of the Nobility of that Kingdom (Vol. II, pp. 218-223). Edinburgh: D. Douglas. Retrieved from Internet Archive (Available online); accessed 18 February 2022.
6. ↑ Britannica, The Editors of Encyclopaedia. (25 Apr. 2016). Wardship and Marriage. Retrieved from Encyclopedia Britannica (Available online); accessed 19 February 2022.
7. ↑ ^{7.0 7.1 7.2} Douglas, Robert. (1764). The Peerage of Scotland: Containing an Historical and Genealogical Account of the Nobility of That Kingdom, from Their Origin to the Present Generation: Collected from the Public Records, and Ancient Chartularies of this Nation, the Charters, and Other Writings of the Nobility, and the Works of our Best Historians ... (p. 87). Edinburgh: R. Fleming. Retrieved from Internet Archive (Available online); accessed 18 February 2022.
8. ↑ ^{8.0 8.1} Balfour Paul, James. (1904). The Scots Peerage: Founded on Wood's ed. of Sir Robert Douglas's Peerage of Scotland; Containing an Historical and Genealogical Account of the Nobility of that Kingdom (Vol. I, p. 13). Edinburgh: D. Douglas. Retrieved from Internet Archive (Available online); accessed 2 March 2022.
9. ↑ ^{9.0 9.1} People of Medieval Scotland 1093-1371. (13 May 1297). Married Margaret, daughter of Alexander of Bunkle. No. 18188. Retrieved from PoMS (Available online); accessed 20 February 2022.
10. ↑ ^{10.0 10.1 10.2 10.3 10.4 10.5} Bain, Joseph (Ed.). (1881). Calendar of Documents Relating to Scotland (Vol. II, pp. lviii; 410 [n. 1584]). Edinburgh: H. M. General Register House. Retrieved from Internet Archive (Available online); accessed 18 February 2022.
11. ↑ ^{11.0 11.1 11.2} Dalrymple, David. (1797). Annals of Scotland: From the Accession of Malcolm III in the Year MLVII to the Accession of the House of Stewart in the Year MCCCLXXI, to Which are Added, Tracts Relative to the History and Antiquities of Scotland (Third ed., Vol. II, pp. 119, 120). Edinburgh: Archibald Constable & Co. Retrieved from Internet Archive (Available online); accessed 20 February 2022.
12. ↑ Cartwright, Mark. (17 September 2018). The Siege of Acre, 1291 CE. Retrieved from World History Encyclopedia (Available online) accessed 1 March 2022.
13. ↑ Military Wiki. (n.d.). Siege of Acre (1291): Call for Aid from Europe. Retrieved from Military History (Available online); accessed 5 March 2022.
14. ↑ People of Medieval Scotland 1093-1371. (28 August 1296). Letters Patent (Fealty). Trad. ID: IP, 157-9, Calendar No. 6/2/240. Retrieved from PoMS (Available online); accessed 18 February 2022.
15. ↑ ^{15.0 15.1 15.2} People of Medieval Scotland 1093-1371. (13 May 1297). Letter (administrative). Trad. ID: CDS, ii, no. 883, Calendar No. 6/None/None. Retrieved from PoMS (Available online); accessed 20 February 2022.
16. ↑ Bain, Joseph (Ed.). (1881). Calendar of Documents Relating to Scotland (Vol. II, p. 209). Edinburgh: H. M. General Register House. Retrieved from Internet Archive (Available online); accessed 5 March 2022.
17. ↑ Historic Environment Scotland. (n.d.). Battle of Dunbar I (BTL31). Retrieved from Historic Environment Portal (Available online); accessed 5 March 2022.
18. ↑ People of Medieval Scotland 1093-1371. (7 July 1304 & 10 August 1304). Orders for safe custody of Scottish prisoners. Trad. ID: CDS, ii, no. 1850, Calendar No. 5/1/None. Retrieved from PoMS (Available online); accessed 20 February 2022.
19. ↑ Bruce, M. E. Cumming. (1870). Family Records of the Bruces and the Cumyns with an Historical Introduction (pp. 106, 410). Edinburgh: William Blackwood and Sons. Retrieved from Internet Archive (Available online); accessed 18 February 2022.
20. ↑ Stevenson, Joseph (Ed.). (1870). Documents Illustrative of the History of Scotland from the Death of King Alexander the Third to the Accession of Robert Bruce (pp. 432, 433). Edinburgh: H.M. Gen. Register House. Retrieved from Internet Archive (Available online); accessed 18 February 2022.
21. ↑ People of Medieval Scotland 1093-1371. (28 August 1296). Letter (correspondence). Trad. ID: Stevenson, Docs., ii, no. 612, Calendar No. 5/7/None. Retrieved from PoMS (Available online); accessed 20 February 2022.
22. ↑ Bain, Joseph (Ed.). (1881). Calendar of Documents Relating to Scotland (Vol. II, p. 525). Edinburgh: H. M. General Register House. Retrieved from Internet Archive (Available online); accessed 5 March 2022.
23. ↑ People of Medieval Scotland 1093-1371. (7 July 1304 & 10 August 1304). English Royal Administration. Trad. ID: CDS, ii, no. 1584a, Calendar No. 5/1/None. Retrieved from PoMS (Available online); accessed 20 February 2022.
24. ↑ People of Medieval Scotland 1093-1371. (31 May 1305). Inquest. Trad. ID: CDS, ii, no. 1670, Calendar No. 4/38/41. Retrieved from PoMS (Available online); accessed 20 February 2022.
25. ↑ Thomson, Thomas. (1896). A History of the Scottish People From the Earliest Times (Vol. 1, p. 224). Unknown Publisher. Retrieved from Internet Archive (Available online); accessed 5 March 2022.
26. ↑ ^{26.0 26.1 26.2} Bruce, M. E. Cumming. (1870). Family Records of the Bruces and the Cumyns with an Historical Introduction (pp. 141, 142). Edinburgh: William Blackwood and Sons. Retrieved from Internet Archive (Available online); accessed 26 February 2022.
27. ↑ Barbour, John. (1856). The Brus; From a Collation of the Cambridge and Edinburgh Manuscripts (pp. 198-203). Aberdeen: Spalding Club. Retrieved from Internet Archive (Available online) accessed 18 February 2022.
28. ↑ Aberdeenshire Council. (updated 03 March 2020). Aberdeenshire HER - NJ72NE0004 - Battle of Barra. Retrieved from Aberdeenshire Council (Available online); accessed 26 February 2022.
29. ↑ Geograph. (2008). Bruce's Seat. Retrieved from geograph (Available online); accessed 1 March 2022.
30. ↑ ^{30.0 30.1} Bruce, M. E. Cumming. (1870). Family Records of the Bruces and the Cumyns with an Historical Introduction (pp. 274, 275). Edinburgh: William Blackwood and Sons. Retrieved from Internet Archive (Available online); accessed 5 March 2022.
31. ↑ People of Medieval Scotland 1093-1371. (3 May 1312). Letters Patent. Trad. ID: CDS, iii, no. 273, Calendar No. 1/28/None. Retrieved from PoMS (Available online); accessed 18 February 2022.
32. ↑ People of Medieval Scotland 1093-1371. (20 April 1312). Letters Patent. Trad. ID: CDS, iii, no. 267, Calendar No. 1/28/None. Retrieved from PoMS (Available online); accessed 20 February 2022.
33. ↑ ^{33.0 33.1 33.2} Barrow, Geoffrey W. S. (1988). Robert Bruce & the Community of the Realm of Scotland (pp. 308, 309, 310). Edinburgh: Edinburgh University Press. Retrieved from a personal copy of Pamela Lohbeck-3.
34. ↑ ^{34.0 34.1 34.2 34.3} Findlater, Alex Maxwell. (2011). In E. Kennedy & F. Toolis (Eds.). Transactions of the Dumfriesshire and Galloway Natural History and Antiquarian Society: Sir Enguerrand de Umfraville: His Life, Descent and Issue (Third ser., Vol. LXXXV, pp. 70, 74, 75 ). Retrieved from Internet Archive Wayback Machine (Available online); accessed 5 March 2022.
35. ↑ Lingard, John. (1849). The History of England, From the First Invasion by the Romans to the Accession of William and Mary in 1688 (Vol. 3, pp. 21, 22, 23). London: Dolman. Retrieved from Internet Archive (Available online); accessed 5 March 2022.
36. ↑ Maxwell, Herbert. (1913). The Chronicle of Lanercost, 1272-1346: Translated, with notes (pp. 209, 210). Glasgow: J. Maclehose. Retrieved from Internet Archive (Available online); accessed 5 March 2022.
37. ↑ Burns, W. (1874). The Scottish war of independence, its antecedents and effects (Vol. 1, pp. 297-304). Glasgow: James MacLehose. Retrieved from Internet Archive (Available online); accessed 6 February 2022.
38. ↑ Watson, Thomas. (1894). Kirkintilloch, Town and Parish (Appendix, 2B). Unknown Location: J. Smith. Retrieved from Internet Archive (Available online); accessed 18 February 2022.
39. ↑ McHugh, Jenny. (2020). For Freedom Alone: The Declaration of Arbroath From English Records. Retrieved from The National archives (Available online); accessed 6 March 2022.
40. ↑ National Records of Scotland. (2005). The Declaration of Arbroath: 700th anniversary display. Retrieved from the National Records of Scotland Available online; accessed 18 February 2022.
41. ↑ Fordun, John. (1872). Chronicle of the Scottish Nation (p. 341). Felix J. H. Skene (trans). Edinburgh: Edmonston and Douglas. Retrieved from Internet Archive (Available online); accessed 6 March 2022.
42. ↑ Great Britain. (1881). In J. Bain (Ed.). Calendar of Documents Relating to Scotland, A.D. 1108-1516 (Vol. III, p. xxviii [n. 5]). Edinburgh: H.M. General Register House. Retrieved from Internet Archive (Available online); accessed 27 February 2022.