The House of Forbes was almost extinguished as the result of the wars of Scottish Independence. However, the first lairds of Forbes persevered to win the admiration of King Robert I and son King David II.
The first War if Scottish Independence was precipitated when Alexander III, King of the Scots, died in 1286. This left his granddaughter Margaret, called the “Maid of Norway,” as sole remaining heir to the throne. His daughter, Queen Margaret of Norway, had died in 1283. However, the “Maid of Norway” had not been crowned by the time she died in 1290.
Into that power vacuum leaped thirteen more distant claimants to the throne. The two most powerful were Robert de Brus, 5th Lord of Annandale (grandfather of future King Robert the Bruce), and John Balliol, Lord of Galloway. Instead of choosing between the two and risking civil war, Scottish nobles requested that the English King Edward I arbitrate the claims in 1292. In his own interest, Edward chose Balliol, whom he considered the weaker of the two.
Edward demanded that the new King John Balliol provide him military support against the French. However, Scottish nobles overrode Balliol and negotiated a treaty of mutual assistance with France in 1295. As a result of what became known as the “Auld Alliance,” Edward invaded Scotland in 1296 and captured Urquhart Castle, which had been given to John Comyn, second laird of Badenoch and brother-in-law of the former king John Balliol.
Without the support of the Scottish nobles, Balliol eventually abdicated and was imprisoned the Tower of London. The Scots reclaimed Urquhart Castle and in 1298 gave command to Sir John de Forbes, a supporter of Robert de Brus. However, the castle was retaken by the English in 1303, despite the “stout defence” provided by Forbes and his men. (Tabraham, Chris. 2002. Urquhart Castle Loch Ness. Edinburgh: Historic Scotland.) Sir John escaped and Edward gave command to Alexander Comyn, brother of “Red” John Comyn, third laird of Badenoch, who was the nephew of the former king John Balliol.
In February 1304, Guardian of Scotland John Comyn, 3rd Earl of Buchan (Alexander Comyn’s son) and the other Scottish leaders, except for William Wallace, surrendered to Edward. Edward’s nephew, the Earl of Richmond, was placed at the head of subordinate government of Scotland and William Wallace was captured and killed.
Robert the Bruce, as Earl of Carrick and 7th Lord of Annandale, held large estates in Scotland and a barony in England. This, coupled with a strong claim to the Scottish throne, made him a formidable challenge to Comyn.
In 1306, Bruce was involved in killing Comyn at the Greyfriars Church in Dumfries. Bruce and Comyn may have agreed that one would take the crown in return for the lands of the other. In the church, some sources say that Bruce accused Comyn of betraying him to the English and struck Comyn with a dagger. Bruce’s companions may have then killed Comyn with their swords. With the field cleared of other claimants for the throne, he was crowned Robert I, King of the Scots, that same year.
Robert I sent his wife Elizabeth de Burgh and Marjory, his daughter by his first wife (Isabella of Mar), to Kildrummy Castle for protection. The castle was controlled by the Domhnall I, Earl of Mar, Robert’s former father-in-law and grandfather to his daughter. Sir John de Forbes joined his hereditary mormaer, the Earl of Mar, in protecting the castle.
Edward besieged the castle until the blacksmith betrayed Bruce by setting it on fire. Sir John defended the castle, allowing Robert’s family to escape. Bruce's brother, Sir Neil, was captured by the English forces and was executed for high treason in September 1306. Sir John was likely killed during the battle or was also executed. His son, also named John, was born after his death in 1306/07 as the 3rd laird of Forbes.
In 1314, Robert I finally beat back the English forces under the command of Edward II, son of Edward I, at the Battle of Bannockburn. This triumph effectively concluded the first war of Scottish independence. The end of the war was commemorated by the 1328 Treaty of Edinburgh–Northampton between Scottish King Robert I and endorsed by the English Parliament. In exchange for £100,000, the English Crown recognized Scotland as independent and Robert the Bruce, and his heirs and successors, as the rightful rulers. The treaty also confirmed the border between Scotland and England as that recognized under the reign of Alexander III.
Robert I died in 1329 and left his five-year-old son David II on the throne, with Sir Thomas Randolph, 1st Earl of Moray, as Guardian of Scotland. When Moray died in July 1332, the magnates of Scotland elected Donald, Earl of Mar, as the Guardian of Scotland. However, Edward Balliol, eldest son of former King John Balliol, used this opportunity to claim the throne. Backed by Edward III of England, Balliol invaded Scotland in 1332 and crowned himself King of Scots. This started the second war for Scottish independence, which became a civil war.
John, 3rd laird of Forbes, supported Robert I’s infant son David II as the legitimate heir to the Scottish throne. He followed his mormaer, the Earl of Mar, and died in the Battle of Dupplin Moor in 1332. John’s son, the fourth laird of Forbes, was also named John and was likely born posthumously in 1332/33.
In 1333, David escaped to France, under the protection of King Philip VI. Philip declared that "no Anglo-French peace settlement could scant the interest of France's ally Scotland." Ironically, this mutual defense pact, called the “Auld Alliance” was established when Edward Balliol's father John signed a treaty with Philip IV of France against Edward I of England in 1295. After a series of victories in his name, David returned to Scotland in 1341 to resume his reign at the age of 18.
King David asked to see all those whose parents had been slain at Dupplin. The history of the family of Forbes relates: “Among others, being informed of the Forwardness of the young Forbes of Drumminor, being then but a youth about 10 or 12 years of age and how his parents and whole family lost their lives in his quarrell at Duplin – Comiserating the noblemans circumstances, sends for him to Court and being much taken with his sprightly and handsome personage in so green an age, conceives great hopes of his future services, And invests him with the honour of Knighthood…” (Tayler, Alistair and Henrietta. 1937. House of Forbes. Edinburgh: Third SpaldingClub.)
In 1364, Thomas, Earl of Mar, granted to John de Forbes the lands of Edinbanchory and Craiglogy. As Sir John Skene noted in 1593 regarding John, 8th Lord Forbes, “his predicessors has been Lordis since ye dayis of Thomas erle of Mar, the said Lord produceis ane chartor grantid be ye said Erle to umquhil Johne Lord Forbes of all and haill ye landis of Edinbanchrie and Craiglogy as ye same confermit be King David will testifie.” (Ibid.) Also in 1364, King David II, son of King Bruce I, granted John the “Lands of Meikle Fintery” and appointed him Sheriff of Aberdeenshire. In 1375, John was a Procurator for the Bishop of Moray, and in 1378 had a charter of the lands of Findrassie from the bishop to himself and Margaret his wife.
John de Forbes died before August 20th, 1387, and the Register Episode of Aberdeen alludes to him as “a gude man, mychty and manly.” (Ibid.)
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