Marjorie, Countess of Carrick
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- See also Marjorie Bruce, her granddaughter.
Marjorie of Carrick (1256-1292), was countess of Carrick, Scotland, and is most famous today as the mother of Robert the Bruce. Her name occurs in Barbour's Brus as "Marthok", a name which contains the medieval Gaelic feminine diminutive suffix óc; and so her name meant "Little Mary" or "Little Martha" (c/f Bethóc).
She was the daughter and heiress of Niall, Earl of Carrick and Margaret Stewart, and Countess of Carrick in her own right. Her first husband was Adam de Kilconcath, who died during the Eighth Crusade in 1270. 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 de Kilconcath. Marjorie was so taken with him that she had him held captive till he agreed to marry her in 1271. He became Earl of Carrick de jure uxoris (in right of his wife). Their children were:
- Christina Bruce, married Gartnait, Earl of Mar.
- Robert the Bruce.
- Isabella Bruce (1275 – 1358), married King Eric II of Norway.
- Edward Bruce.
- Niall or Nigel Bruce, executed 1306 in Berwick-upon-Tweed, Northumberland, England.
- Thomas Bruce, executed 1307.
- Alexander Bruce, executed 1307.
- Mary Bruce, married
- Sir Niall Campbell
- Sir Alexander Fraser.
- Margaret Bruce, married Sir William de Carlyle.
- Matilda Bruce, married Aodh, Earl of Ross
Marjorie died in 1292, at which time her husband transferred Carrick to their eldest son, Robert.
A veracity-contested tradition tells that Thomas Randolph, 1st Earl of Moray was son of Marjorie's daughter from her first marriage with Adam. This probably is not true. It was probably a suggested as an explanation of why Thomas Randolph has been reported to be a nephew of Robert the Bruce.
[edit] Sources
- Scott, Ronald McNair. Robert the Bruce: King of Scots
| Preceded by Níall |
Countess of Carrick 1256 – 1292 |
Succeeded by Robert |
