Agnes Dunbar (fl. late 14th century) was a

mistress Mistress is the feminine form of the English word "master" (''master'' + ''-ess'') and may refer to: Romance and relationships * Mistress (lover), a term for a woman who is in a sexual and romantic relationship with a man who is married to a ...

of King

David II of Scotland David II (5 March 1324 – 22 February 1371) was King of Scots from 1329 until his death in 1371. Upon the death of his father, Robert the Bruce, David succeeded to the throne at the age of five, and was crowned at Scone in November 1331, beco ...

, son of

Robert the Bruce Robert I (11 July 1274 – 7 June 1329), popularly known as Robert the Bruce (Scottish Gaelic: ''Raibeart an Bruis''), was King of Scots from 1306 to his death in 1329. One of the most renowned warriors of his generation, Robert eventual ...

. She was the niece (and possibly fosterling) of

Agnes Randolph Agnes Randolph, Countess of Dunbar and March ( 1312 – 1369), known as Black Agnes for her dark complexion, was the wife of Patrick, 9th Earl of Dunbar and March. She is buried in the vault near Mordington House. She was the daughter of Tho ...

, Countess of Dunbar and March. Her mother was Isabella Randolph, sister of Countess Agnes and daughter of Thomas Randolph, first Earl of Moray. Her father, Sir Patrick Dunbar, was the son of Sir Alexander Dunbar and grandson of Patrick, seventh Earl of Dunbar, and his wife, Cecilia. She was also the "very dear sister" of

George Dunbar, 10th Earl of March George de Dunbar, 10th Earl of Dunbar and March (1338–1422), 12th Lord of Annandale and Lord of the Isle of Man, was "one of the most powerful nobles in Scotland of his time, and the rival of the Douglases."Anderson (1867), vol.iv:74 Family ...

who granted to her the lands of Mordington and Whittinghame, on her marriage with Sir James Douglas of Dalkeith. She was first married to a man called Robert, and they had children. She become a mistress of King David II of Scotland around 1369. This is supported by the fact that he made support payments to her beginning in 1369. It was King David's desire to marry Agnes; however, he was still married to his second wife Margaret Drummond. King David attempted to divorce Margaret on the grounds of infertility, but this was refused by

Pope Urban V Pope Urban V ( la, Urbanus V; 1310 – 19 December 1370), born Guillaume de Grimoard, was the head of the Catholic Church from 28 September 1362 until his death in December 1370 and was also a member of the Order of Saint Benedict. He was the ...

. He was still planning to marry Agnes when in February 1371 he suddenly died. A payment of 1000 merks, a very large sum at that time, was arranged for her a month before the king's death. On 21 November 1372 she married Sir James Douglas of Dalkeith. Their son was James Douglas, 1st Lord Dalkeith. Their great-grandson was James Douglas, 1st Earl of Morton.

References

Sources

* S. Boardman, ''The Early Stewart Kings of Scotland''

External links

genealogy site
{{DEFAULTSORT:Dunbar, Agnes Mistresses of Scottish royalty 14th-century Scottish women 14th-century Scottish people