:''See also
Marjorie Bruce, her granddaughter.''
Marjorie of Carrick (also called Margaret; died before 9 November 1292) was Countess of
Carrick,
Scotland, from 1256 to 1292, and is notable as the mother of
Robert the Bruce.
Family
Marjorie was the daughter and heiress of
Niall Mac Dhonnchad, 2nd Earl of Carrick and his wife Margaret Stewart. Her mother's father was
Walter Stewart, 3rd High Steward of Scotland
Walter Steward of Dundonald (died 1246) was 3rd hereditary High Steward of Scotland and Justiciar of Scotia.
He was the eldest son of Alan fitz Walter, 2nd High Steward of Scotland but which wife of Alan's was his mother is not clear. He was ...
. Her father Niall was the head of their clan, having no sons, in 1255 he transferred the title of clan chieftain to his nephew Roland, and upon Niall's death in 1256, Marjorie succeeded him to become the 3rd Countess of Carrick
in her own right. Marjorie married
Adam of Kilconquhar
Adam of Kilconquhar (died 1271) was a Scottish noble from the 13th century. Of Fife origin, he is notable for becoming the husband of the Countess of Carrick and participating in the Ninth Crusade under the command of Lord Edward, Duke of Gasc ...
, who died during the
Eighth Crusade
The Eighth Crusade was the second Crusade launched by Louis IX of France, this one against the Hafsid dynasty in Tunisia in 1270. It is also known as the Crusade of Louis IX against Tunis or the Second Crusade of Louis. The Crusade did not see an ...
in 1271. Marjorie and Adam had one child before his death, Martha.
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
Robert de Brus (11 July 1243 – 15 March 1304Richardson, Douglas, Everingham, Kimball G. "Magna Carta Ancestry: A Study in Colonial and Medieval Families", Genealogical Publishing Com, 2005: p732-3, ,link/ref>), 6th Lord of Annandale, ''jure ...
, and he had been a companion-in-arms of Adam of Kilconquhar. Marjorie was so taken with him that she had him held captive until he agreed to marry her at
Turnberry Castle
Turnberry Castle is a fragmentary ruin on the coast of Kirkoswald parish, near Maybole in Ayrshire, Scotland.''Ordnance of Scotland'', ed. Francis H. Groome, 1892-6. Vol.6, p.454 Situated at the extremity of the lower peninsula within the paris ...
in 1271. They married without permission of the king, however, and as a result she lost her lands temporarily until they paid a large fine. Robert became Earl of Carrick ''
jure uxoris'' (in right of his wife). Their children were:
#
Isabel Bruce
Isabel Bruce (''Isabella de Brus'' or ''Isobail a Brus'', or ''Isabella Robertsdotter Brus'') (c. 1272–1358) was Queen of Norway as the wife of King Eric II.
Background
Isabel was born in Carrick, Scotland. Her parents were Robert de Br ...
(1272–1358), married King
Eric II of Norway.
#
Christina Bruce
Christian or Christina Bruce (c. 1278 – 1356/1357), also known as Christian or Christina de Brus, was a daughter of Marjorie, Countess of Carrick, and her husband, Robert de Brus, ''jure uxoris'' Earl of Carrick, as well as a sister of Robert ...
#
Robert the Bruce.
#
Niall
Niall is a male given name of Irish origin. The original meaning of the name is unknown, but popular modern sources have suggested that it means "champion" (derived from the Old Irish word ''niadh''),. According to John Ryan, Professor of Early an ...
or ''Nigel'' Bruce, executed 1306 in
Berwick-upon-Tweed,
Northumberland, England.
#
Edward Bruce.
#
Sir Thomas Bruce, executed 1307.
#
Alexander Bruce, executed 1307.
#
Mary Bruce
Mary may refer to:
People
* Mary (name), a feminine given name (includes a list of people with the name)
Religious contexts
* New Testament people named Mary, overview article linking to many of those below
* Mary, mother of Jesus, also call ...
, married
## Sir
Niall Campbell
## Sir
Alexander Fraser of Touchfraser and Cowie.
# Matilda Bruce, married
Hugh, Earl of Ross
# Elizabeth Bruce, married William
Dishington
Dishington is a surname of Scottish origin. The name first arises in Northumberland where they were seated as lords of the manor in the shire of Dissington, Northumberland.
Spelling variations of this family name include: Dishington, Dischingtou ...
# Margaret Bruce, married
William Carlyle
Margaret Bruce who married Sir
William de Carlyle is thought by Barrow not to be their daughter.
It is speculated that
Thomas Randolph, 1st Earl of Moray was the son of Marjorie's daughter, Martha, from her first marriage with Adam. It is put forward as an explanation of why Thomas Randolph was described as a nephew of Robert the Bruce. There is evidence that an "eldest daughter" married into the family of the earls of Mar, giving rise to the now discounted first marriage of Christina to the son of the earl, Gartnait.
Marjorie died before November 1292, at which time her husband transferred
Carrick to their eldest son, Robert.
References
Sources
*Scott, Ronald McNair. ''Robert the Bruce: King of Scots''
{{DEFAULTSORT:Carrick, Marjorie of Carrick, 3rd Countess of
Marjorie, Countess of Carrick
People from Dumfries and Galloway
Marjorie, Countess of Carrick
13th-century Scottish women
13th-century mormaers
1256 births
1292 deaths
Marjorie