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For other people of this name see Thomas Randolph.
Thomas Randolph, 1st Earl of Moray (died
20 July 1332) was
Regent of Scotland, and an important figure in the
Scottish Wars of Independence.
He is usually described as a nephew of
Robert the Bruce although their exact relationship is uncertain. The traditional view is that it was through a daughter of the first marriage of Countess
Marjorie of Carrick, who was mother of King Robert by her second marriage. However modern sources state that the King's father
Robert (1253 - 1304) married secondly, after 1292, to a lady with the Christian name of Eleanor (d.1331) by whom he had a daughter, Isabel de Bruce, who married Thomas Randolph, Lord
Chamberlain of Scotland.
Thomas, the future Earl of Moray, supported Bruce in his initial coup when he proclaimed himself king and was crowned at
Scone, but abandoned him after the English victory at the
Battle of Methven. Later, fighting for the English, he was captured and brought before the king, who he taunted for his alleged cowardice by engaging in
guerrilla warfare instead of standing and fighting in pitched battle.
However, he was persuaded to change sides again, and went on to become one of the king's most important lieutenants. The fact that he was allowed to resume his allegiance to Bruce suggests that they did have family ties. His most famous achievement took place in
1313 when he carried out a daring attack on
Edinburgh Castle. This was one of a handful of castles in Scotland still in English hands, and stood on top of an apparently impregnable rock. The son of a former Governor knew about a path up the rock, which he had used to visit the town at night against his father's wishes, and tipped off the Scots. Randolph led his men up this path one night to capture the castle.
It is difficult to say exactly when Randolph was raised to the Earldom of Moray, but by 1315 he is "Thomas Ranulphi comes Morauie".
He played an important role in the Scottish victory at Bannockburn, where he commanded one of the four
schiltrons of the Scottish infantry.
On the death of Robert I the crown was inherited by his son
David II, who was only a boy. Randolph became
regent, but three years later died of a sudden illness at
Musselburgh on his way to repel an invasion by
Edward Balliol and his supporters. At the time it was said that he had poisoned by the English, but this is now discounted. His successor as Guardian was
Domhnall II, Earl of Mar.
Thomas Randolph married Isabel, only daughter of Sir John Steward of Bonkill (killed at the
battle of Falkirk, 1298), a brother of
James Stewart, 5th High Steward of Scotland. They had several children, including:
*
Thomas Randolph, 2nd Earl of Moray,
*
John Randolph, 3rd Earl of Moray,
*
Agnes Randolph, who married
Patrick Dunbar, 9th Earl of Dunbar.
* Geilis (or Isabella) Randolph, wife of John de Dunbar of Derchester and Birkynsyde, parents of
George, 10th Earl of Dunbar & March.
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