John Comyn (Cumyn) (born c. 1215, died c. 1275) was Lord of Badenoch in Scotland. He was justiciar of Galloway in 1258[1][2]. He held lands in Nithsdale[3] (Dalswinton, a Comyn stronghold[4][5], and Duncow[6]) and Tynedale[3].
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The Comyn family were in effective power in Scotland from 1249 to 1255, when Alexander III of Scotland was a minor; John was one of those with court influence[3]. The Comyns were ousted, by Alan Durward, but returned to power in 1257-8, before provoking a strong English reaction[7].
He fought for Henry III of England at the Battle of Lewes (1265), with John Baliol the elder and Robert Bruce the elder[8], and was captured[9]. In 1267 he was given license to crenellate Tarset Castle in Tynedale (by present-day Lanehead, near Hexham), by Henry III[10]; Tarset had previously been held by Walter Comyn[11].
He started castle construction at Blair Castle with a tower built in 1269.[12] The place was soon taken back by David, Earl of Atholl[13].
John was the son of a Richard Comyn and was the grandson (through Richard) of William Comyn, jure uxoris Earl of Buchan.
According to the 1911 Encyclopædia Britannica he died in 1274, and was nephew of Alexander Comyn, Earl of Buchan, Constable of Scotland), and of Walter Comyn, Earl of Mentieth [14]. His date of death is also given as 1277[15].
He succeeded his uncle Walter, in 1258, as Lord of Badenoch, and was succeeded by his son John II, the "Black Comyn". John I was known as the "Red Comyn", the nickname more commonly applied to his grandson [16].
His second wife is given as Alice de Roos (Ros)[17], or Alice de Lindsay of Lamberton[15]. His first wife was called Eva.
His children, at least four sons and four daughters, included:
| Peerage of Scotland | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Walter |
Lord of Badenoch 1258-1277 |
Succeeded by John II |