Simon Fraser, 1st Laird of Lovat (died 1333) was the ancestor and first

chief Chief may refer to: Title or rank Military and law enforcement * Chief master sergeant, the ninth, and highest, enlisted rank in the U.S. Air Force and U.S. Space Force * Chief of police, the head of a police department * Chief of the boa ...

of the Clan Fraser of Lovat which is a Scottish clan of the

Scottish Highlands The Highlands ( sco, the Hielands; gd, a’ Ghàidhealtachd , 'the place of the Gaels') is a historical region of Scotland. Culturally, the Highlands and the Lowlands diverged from the Late Middle Ages into the modern period, when Lowland Sco ...

. He was killed in 1333 at the

Battle of Halidon Hill The Battle of Halidon Hill took place on 19 July 1333 when a Scottish army under Sir Archibald Douglas attacked an English army commanded by King Edward III of England () and was heavily defeated. The year before, Edward Balliol had seized ...

during the Second War of Scottish Independence.

Early life

He was the second son of Sir Andrew Fraser who died in 1308 and his elder brother was Alexander Fraser of Touchfraser and Cowie who was the ancestor of the

Clan Fraser Clan Fraser is a Scottish clan of the Scottish Lowlands.Way, George and Squire, Romily. ''Collins Scottish Clan & Family Encyclopedia''. (Foreword by The Rt Hon. The Earl of Elgin KT, Convenor, The Standing Council of Scottish Chiefs). Publishe ...

in the

Scottish Lowlands The Lowlands ( sco, Lallans or ; gd, a' Ghalldachd, , place of the foreigners, ) is a cultural and historical region of Scotland. Culturally, the Lowlands and the Highlands diverged from the Late Middle Ages into the modern period, when Lowl ...

. Their father, Sir Andrew Fraser, was the cousin of

Simon Fraser (died 1306) Sir Simon Fraser of Oliver and Neidpath was a Scottish knight who fought in the Wars of Scottish Independence, for which he was hanged, drawn, and quartered in 1306. Life Simon Fraser was the son of Simon Fraser (died 1291) and Maria. Fraser ...

who was known as ''the Patriot'' and who had been hanged, drawn, and quartered by the English. His father had estates in

Caithness Caithness ( gd, Gallaibh ; sco, Caitnes; non, Katanes) is a historic county, registration county and lieutenancy area of Scotland. Caithness has a land boundary with the historic county of Sutherland to the west and is otherwise bounded by ...

but Simon was the first of the family to hold estates in the county of

Inverness Inverness (; from the gd, Inbhir Nis , meaning "Mouth of the River Ness"; sco, Innerness) is a city in the Scottish Highlands. It is the administrative centre for The Highland Council and is regarded as the capital of the Highlands. Histori ...

where he came to hold the estate of Lovat.

Wars of Scottish Independence

Simon Fraser first appears on record in 1308 when he joined

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 ...

(Robert I of Scotland) at the Battle of Inverurie where they defeated

John Comyn, Earl of Buchan John Comyn, 3rd Earl of Buchan (circa 1260 – 1308) was a chief opponent of Robert the Bruce in the civil war that paralleled the War of Scottish Independence. He should not be confused with the better known John III Comyn, Lord of Badenoch ...

. A charter has survived from Robert I of Scotland to "Sir Alexander Fraser, knight and his brother, Simon Fraser". Simon Fraser also supported Robert the Bruce in his victory over the English at the

Battle of Bannockburn The Battle of Bannockburn ( gd, Blàr Allt nam Bànag or ) fought on June 23–24, 1314, was a victory of the army of King of Scots Robert the Bruce over the army of King Edward II of England in the First War of Scottish Independence. It was ...

in 1314 and fought in support of

Domhnall II, Earl of Mar Domhnall II, Earl of Mar (date of birth unknown but prior to 130511 August 1332) was briefly Regent of Scotland during the minority of David II, King of Scotland. Domhnall's father was Gartnait, Earl of Mar. His mother's identity is uncertain, a ...

against

Edward Balliol Edward Balliol (; 1283 – January 1364) was a claimant to the Scottish throne during the Second War of Scottish Independence. With English help, he ruled parts of the kingdom from 1332 to 1356. Early life Edward was the eldest son of John Ba ...

at the

Battle of Dupplin Moor The Battle of Dupplin Moor was fought between supporters of King David II of Scotland, the son of King Robert Bruce, and English-backed invaders supporting Edward Balliol, son of King John I of Scotland, on 11 August 1332. It took place a lit ...

in 1332 where his brother, Alexander Fraser, was killed. Simon Fraser was killed at the

fighting against the English in 1333.

Family

Simon Fraser had married Margaret, daughter of John, Earl of Orkney and Caithness. Upon the death of Magnus, Earl of Orkney and Caithness, Simon Fraser unsuccessfully claimed the earldom through his wife in contest with

Malise V, Earl of Strathearn Malise V, Earl of Strathearn and Caithness, Jarl of Orkney ( gd, Maol Íosa; died ) was the last of the native Gaelic earls of Strathearn. Biography He succeeded to the Earldom of Strathearn in 1329, on the death of his father Malise IV, Earl o ...

. However, Simon Fraser successfully acquired the property of Lovat through his wife's mother who was the daughter of Graham of Lovat. Simon Fraser and his wife Margaret had the following children: #Simon Fraser, 2nd Laird of Lovat. #Hugh Fraser, 3rd Laird of Lovat. #James Fraser, who was knighted by

Robert III of Scotland Robert III (c. 13374 April 1406), born John Stewart, was King of Scots from 1390 to his death in 1406. He was also High Steward of Scotland from 1371 to 1390 and held the titles of Earl of Atholl (1367–1390) and Earl of Carrick (1368– ...

and who was killed in the Anglo-Scottish Wars. #Janet Fraser, of whom nothing is known.

References

Notes

{{notelist Clan Fraser Chiefs Clan Fraser

Early life

Wars of Scottish Independence

Family

See also

References

Notes