John Randolph, 3rd Earl of Moray
Encyclopedia
John Randolph, 3rd Earl of Moray (1306 17 October 1346) was an important figure in the reign of David II of Scotland
, and was for a time joint Regent
of Scotland.
. Upon the death of his elder brother Thomas, 2nd Earl
at the Battle of Dupplin Moor
in 1332, John succeeded to the earldom. He also had a famous sister Agnes Randolph, "Black Agnes of Dunbar".
and surprised and defeated Edward Balliol
at the Battle of Annan
in December 1332. At the Battle of Halidon Hill
on 19 July 1333, he commanded the first division of the Scots' Army, supported by Lord Andrew Fraser and his two brothers, Simon and James. Escaping from the carnage there he retired to France.
) were appointed joint Regent
s, and set about trying to restore order to the nation.
He was successful in taking prisoner the Comyn Earl of Atholl
, commander of the English forces in Scotland, but, on his swearing allegiance to the Scottish Crown he was set free. Comyn, however, disregarded his oath, returned to the English camp, and resumed his hostilities. In August 1335 led an attack on the Burgh Muir
near Edinburgh
against a body of Flemish
auxiliaries in the English service, under Count Guy de Namur
, and forced them to surrender. But escorting the Count to the Borders
he fell into an ambush and was made prisoner by William de Pressen, (English) Warden of Jedburgh
.
He was confined first at Nottingham Castle
, and afterwards in the Tower of London
. On 25 July 1340, he was removed to Windsor Castle
. In 1341 he was exchanged for the Earl of Salisbury
, a prisoner with the French, and Moray then returned to Scotland.
. At the Battle of Neville's Cross
, outside Durham
, on 17 October 1346 John, with Douglas, Knight of Liddesdale, commanded the right wing of the Scottish army He was killed during the first English attack.
He was married to Euphemia de Ross
but the marriage was childless. On his death the earldom of Moray reverted to the Crown, but was later given to his nephew.
David II of Scotland
David II was King of Scots from 7 June 1329 until his death.-Early life:...
, and was for a time joint Regent
Regent
A regent, from the Latin regens "one who reigns", is a person selected to act as head of state because the ruler is a minor, not present, or debilitated. Currently there are only two ruling Regencies in the world, sovereign Liechtenstein and the Malaysian constitutive state of Terengganu...
of Scotland.
Family
He was son of the famous Thomas Randolph, 1st Earl of Moray, a companion-in-arms of Robert the BruceRobert 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...
. Upon the death of his elder brother Thomas, 2nd Earl
Thomas Randolph, 2nd Earl of Moray
Thomas Randolph, 2nd Earl of Moray , a Scottish military commander, held his title for just 23 days.The son of Thomas Randolph, 1st Earl of Moray, a companion-in-arms of King Robert the Bruce, he succeeded his father on July 20, 1332....
at the Battle of Dupplin Moor
Battle of Dupplin Moor
The Battle of Dupplin Moor was fought between supporters of the infant David II, the son of Robert the Bruce, and rebels supporting the Balliol claim in 1332. It was a significant battle of the Second War of Scottish Independence.-Background:...
in 1332, John succeeded to the earldom. He also had a famous sister Agnes Randolph, "Black Agnes of Dunbar".
Military campaigns
He at once took up arms on behalf of his sovereign and cousin King David IIDavid II of Scotland
David II was King of Scots from 7 June 1329 until his death.-Early life:...
and surprised and defeated Edward Balliol
Edward Balliol
Edward Balliol was a claimant to the Scottish throne . With English help, he briefly ruled the country from 1332 to 1336.-Life:...
at the Battle of Annan
Battle of Annan
The Battle of Annan, known in the sources as the Camisade of Annan took place on December 16, 1332. It took place at Annan, Dumfries and Galloway in Scotland. In it the Bruce loyalist supporters of King David II of Scotland surprised Edward Balliol and his supporters while they were in bed, and...
in December 1332. At the Battle of Halidon Hill
Battle of Halidon Hill
The Battle of Halidon Hill was fought during the Second War of Scottish Independence. Scottish forces under Sir Archibald Douglas were heavily defeated on unfavourable terrain while trying to relieve Berwick-upon-Tweed.-The Disinherited:...
on 19 July 1333, he commanded the first division of the Scots' Army, supported by Lord Andrew Fraser and his two brothers, Simon and James. Escaping from the carnage there he retired to France.
Regency
John returned to Scotland the following year, when he and the High Steward of Scotland (the future King Robert II of ScotlandRobert II of Scotland
Robert II became King of Scots in 1371 as the first monarch of the House of Stewart. He was the son of Walter Stewart, hereditary High Steward of Scotland and of Marjorie Bruce, daughter of Robert I and of his first wife Isabella of Mar...
) were appointed joint Regent
Regent
A regent, from the Latin regens "one who reigns", is a person selected to act as head of state because the ruler is a minor, not present, or debilitated. Currently there are only two ruling Regencies in the world, sovereign Liechtenstein and the Malaysian constitutive state of Terengganu...
s, and set about trying to restore order to the nation.
He was successful in taking prisoner the Comyn Earl of Atholl
Earl of Atholl
The Mormaer of Earl of Atholl refers to a medieval comital lordship straddling the highland province of Atholl , now in northern Perthshire. Atholl is a special Mormaerdom, because a King of Atholl is reported from the Pictish period. The only other two Pictish kingdoms to be known from...
, commander of the English forces in Scotland, but, on his swearing allegiance to the Scottish Crown he was set free. Comyn, however, disregarded his oath, returned to the English camp, and resumed his hostilities. In August 1335 led an attack on the Burgh Muir
Battle of Boroughmuir
The Battle of Boroughmuir was fought on 30 July 1335 between Guy, Count of Namur, a cousin of Queen Philippa and John Randolph, Earl of Moray, the Guardian of Scotland. Namur was on his way to join Edward III on his invasion of Scotland, when he was intercepted on the common grazing ground to the...
near Edinburgh
Edinburgh
Edinburgh is the capital city of Scotland, the second largest city in Scotland, and the eighth most populous in the United Kingdom. The City of Edinburgh Council governs one of Scotland's 32 local government council areas. The council area includes urban Edinburgh and a rural area...
against a body of Flemish
Flanders
Flanders is the community of the Flemings but also one of the institutions in Belgium, and a geographical region located in parts of present-day Belgium, France and the Netherlands. "Flanders" can also refer to the northern part of Belgium that contains Brussels, Bruges, Ghent and Antwerp...
auxiliaries in the English service, under Count Guy de Namur
Guy II, Marquis of Namur
Guy II of Namur, , was Count of Namur between 1335 and 1336.He was the second son of John I, Marquis of Namur, and Mary of Artois....
, and forced them to surrender. But escorting the Count to the Borders
Scottish Borders
The Scottish Borders is one of 32 local government council areas of Scotland. It is bordered by Dumfries and Galloway in the west, South Lanarkshire and West Lothian in the north west, City of Edinburgh, East Lothian, Midlothian to the north; and the non-metropolitan counties of Northumberland...
he fell into an ambush and was made prisoner by William de Pressen, (English) Warden of Jedburgh
Jedburgh
Jedburgh is a town and former royal burgh in the Scottish Borders and historically in Roxburghshire.-Location:Jedburgh lies on the Jed Water, a tributary of the River Teviot, it is only ten miles from the border with England and is dominated by the substantial ruins of Jedburgh Abbey...
.
He was confined first at Nottingham Castle
Nottingham Castle
Nottingham Castle is a castle in Nottingham, England. It is located in a commanding position on a natural promontory known as "'Castle Rock'", with cliffs high to the south and west. In the Middle Ages it was a major royal fortress and occasional royal residence...
, and afterwards in the Tower of London
Tower of London
Her Majesty's Royal Palace and Fortress, more commonly known as the Tower of London, is a historic castle on the north bank of the River Thames in central London, England. It lies within the London Borough of Tower Hamlets, separated from the eastern edge of the City of London by the open space...
. On 25 July 1340, he was removed to Windsor Castle
Windsor Castle
Windsor Castle is a medieval castle and royal residence in Windsor in the English county of Berkshire, notable for its long association with the British royal family and its architecture. The original castle was built after the Norman invasion by William the Conqueror. Since the time of Henry I it...
. In 1341 he was exchanged for the Earl of Salisbury
William Montacute, 1st Earl of Salisbury
William I Montagu, alias de Montacute, 1st Earl of Salisbury, 3rd Baron Montacute, King of Mann was an English nobleman and loyal servant of King Edward III....
, a prisoner with the French, and Moray then returned to Scotland.
Last battle
In February 1342 he invaded England with David II of ScotlandDavid II of Scotland
David II was King of Scots from 7 June 1329 until his death.-Early life:...
. At the Battle of Neville's Cross
Battle of Neville's Cross
The Battle of Neville's Cross took place to the west of Durham, England on 17 October 1346.-Background:In 1346, England was embroiled in the Hundred Years' War with France. In order to divert his enemy Philip VI of France appealed to David II of Scotland to attack the English from the north in...
, outside Durham
Durham
Durham is a city in north east England. It is within the County Durham local government district, and is the county town of the larger ceremonial county...
, on 17 October 1346 John, with Douglas, Knight of Liddesdale, commanded the right wing of the Scottish army He was killed during the first English attack.
He was married to Euphemia de Ross
Euphemia de Ross
Euphemia de Ross was the second wife and first Queen consort of Robert II of Scotland.She was a daughter of Aodh, Earl of Ross and Margaret de Graham, Hugh's 2nd wife and daughter of Sir David de Graham of Montrose. She first married John Randolph, 3rd Earl of Moray but the marriage was childless...
but the marriage was childless. On his death the earldom of Moray reverted to the Crown, but was later given to his nephew.