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Birth:          ABT 1215 of Annandale, Dumfriesshire, Scotland
Death:          31 May 1295 Priory, Lochmaben, Dumfriesshire, Scotland

Notes
familysearch.org
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert_de_Brus,_5th_Lord_of_Annandale
Robert V de Brus (Robert de Brus), 5th Lord of Annandale (ca. 1215 – 31 March or 3 
May 1295[1]), was a feudal lord, Justice and Constable of Scotland and England, a 
Regent of Scotland, and a competitor for the Scottish throne in 1290/92 in the Great 
Cause. His grandson Robert the Bruce eventually became King of Scots.

Early life[edit]

Robert was son of Robert Bruce, 4th Lord of Annandale and Isobel of Huntingdon. 
Widely known as Robert the Noble, he was also grandson of David of Scotland, 8th 
Earl of Huntingdon and Matilda de Kevilloc of Chester, Great-grandson of Henry of 
Scotland, Earl of Huntingdon and Northumberland and Ada de Warenne and Great-
great grandson of King David I of Scotland and Maud, Countess of Huntingdon.

In addition to Annandale, Robert was Lord of Hartlepool (otherwise known as 
Hartness) in county Durham and Writtle and Hatfield Broadoak in Essex, England. His 
first wife brought to him the village of Ripe, in Sussex, and his second wife the 
Lordship of Ireby in Cumberland.[2]

His possessions were increased following the defeat of Simon de Montfort at the 
Battle of Evesham (1265), via a series of grants that included the estates of the former 
rebel barons Walter de Fauconberg, John de Melsa and his brother Bernard. These 
grants were possibly compensation for the ransom his son Robert, negotiated and paid 
to his brother Bernard, and nephew Gilbert de Clare, 7th Earl of Gloucester, for his 
release following his capture, at the Battle of Lewes (1264). Henry III also re-
appointed Robert a Justice, and Constable of Carlisle Castle and keeper of the Castle 
there in 1267, a position he had been dismissed from in 1255. Robert sought pardon 
from Alexander and probably joined the princes Edward and Edmund on their August 
1270-74 crusade, as Robert if not Richard possibly failed to attend, or returned early, 
as the younger Robert is recorded as receiving a quitclaim in Writtle, Essex in October 
1271[3][4]

In 1271-2, Robert obtained the hand of Marjorie of Carrick, the young widowed heiress 
of Niall of Carrick, 2nd Earl of Carrick for his son, also called Robert de Brus. Around 
this time his first wife Isabella de Clare of Gloucester and Hertford dies, the date is 
unknown as she's last recorded receiving a gift of deer from King Henry in Essex, in 
1271, but on the 3 May 1273 Robert married Christina de Ireby, the Widow of Adam 
Jesmond, the Sheriff of Northumberland. The marriage added estates in Cumberland 
and dower land from her previous husband, to the Brus holdings. Following the 
marriage Robert appears to have restricted himself to the management of the family's 
northern possessions, leaving the southern to his sons'.[4]

Robert Bruce was Regent of Scotland some time during minority of his second cousin 
King Alexander III of Scotland (1241–1286) and was occasionally recognised as a 
Tanist of the Scottish throne. He was the closest surviving male relative to the king: 
Margaret of Huntingdon's issue were all females up until birth of Hugh Balliol sometime 
in the 1260s. When Alexander yet was childless, he was officially named as heir 
presumptive, but never gained the throne as Alexander managed to beget three 
children. The succession in the main line of the House of Dunkeld became highly 
precarious when towards the end of Alexander's reign, all three of his children died 
within a few years. The middle-aged Alexander III induced in 1284 the Estates to 
recognise as his heir-presumptive his granddaughter Margaret, called the "Maid of 
Norway", his only surviving descendant. The need for a male heir led Alexander to 
contract a second marriage to Yolande de Dreux on 1 November 1285. All this was 
eventually in vain. Alexander died suddenly, in a fall from his horse, when only 45 
years old, in 1286. His death ushered in a time of political upheaval for Scotland. His 
three-year-old granddaughter Margaret, who lived in Norway, was recognised as his 
successor. However, the then 7-year old heiress Margaret died, travelling towards her 
kingdom, on the Orkney Islands around 26 September 1290. With her death, the main 
royal line came to an end and thirteen claimants asserted their rights to the Scottish 
Throne.

The Great Cause[edit]

After this extinction of the senior line of the Scottish royal house (the line of William I 
of Scotland) David of Huntingdon's descendants were the primary candidates for the 
throne. The two most notable claimants to the throne, John Balliol and Robert himself 
represented descent through David's daughters Margaret and Isobel respectively.

Robert Bruce pleaded tanistry and proximity of blood in the succession dispute. He 
descended from the second daughter of David of Huntingdon, whereas John Balliol 
descended from the eldest, and thus had the lineal right. However, Robert was a 
second cousin of kings of Scotland and descended in 4th generation from King David 
I of Scotland, whereas John Balliol was a third cousin of kings and descended in 5th 
generation from King David I, the most recent common ancestor who had been 
Scottish king. The ensuing 'Great Cause' was concluded in 1292. It gave the Crown of 
Scotland to his family's great rival, John Balliol. The events took place as follows:

Soon after the death of young queen Margaret, Robert Bruce raised a body of men 
with the help of the Earls of Mar and Atholl and marched to Perth with a considerable 
following and uncertain intentions. Bishop William Fraser of St. Andrews, worried of 
the possibility of civil war, wrote to Edward I of England, asking for his assistance in 
choosing a new monarch.

Edward took this chance to demand sasine of the Scottish royal estate, but agreed to 
pass judgment in return for recognition of his suzerainty. The guardians of Scotland 
denied him this, but Robert Bruce was quick to pay homage. All the claimants swore 
oaths of homage, and John Balliol was the last to do so. The guardians were forced to 
concede and were thus reinstated by Edward.

Judgment processed slowly. On 3 August 1291 Edward asked both Balliol and Bruce 
to choose forty auditors while he himself chose twenty-four, to decide the case. After 
considering all of the arguments, in early November the court decided in favour of 
John Balliol, having the superior claim in feudal law, not to mention greater support 
from the kingdom of Scotland. In accordance with this, final judgement was given by 
Edward on 17 November. On 30 November, John Balliol was crowned as King of Scots 
at Scone Abbey. On 26 December, at Newcastle upon Tyne, King John swore homage 
to Edward I for the kingdom of Scotland. Edward soon made it clear that he regarded 
the country as his vassal state. The Bruce family thus lost what they regarded as their 
rightful place on the Scottish throne.

Later years[edit]

Robert, 5th Lord of Annandale resigned the lordship of Annandale and his claim to the 
throne to his eldest son Robert de Brus. Shortly afterwards, in 1292, the younger 
Robert's wife Marjorie of Carrick died and the earldom of Carrick, which Robert had 
ruled jure uxoris, devolved upon their eldest son, also called Robert, the future King.

In 1292, Robert V de Brus held a market at Ireby, Cumberland, in right of his wife. The 
following year he had a market at Hartlepool, county Durham within the liberties of the 
Bishop of Durham.[5]

Sir Robert de Brus died at Lochmaben Castle and was buried at Gisborough Priory in 
Cleveland.[5]

Family and children[edit]

He married firstly on 12 May 1240 Lady Isabella de Clare (2 November 1226 – after 10 
July 1264), daughter of Gilbert de Clare, 4th Earl of Hertford and 5th Earl of 
Gloucester and Lady Isabel Marshal, with issue:
Isabel de Brus (1249 – c. 1284), married (as his first wife) Sir John FitzMarmaduke, 
Knt., of Horden, Eighton, Lamesley, Ravensholm, and Silksworth, County Durham, 
Sheriff of North Durham, and Joint Warden beyond the Scottish Sea between the Firth 
of Forth and Orkney. He fought on the English side at the Battle of Falkirk, 22 July 
1298, and was present at the Siege of Caerlaverock Castle in 1300. In 1307 he was 
commanded to assist the Earl of Richmond in expelling Robert de Brus and the 
Scottish rebels from Galloway. In 1309 his armour and provisions in a vessel bound for 
Perth were arrested off Great Yarmouth. He was governor of St. John's Town (Perth) 
in 1310 until his death. Isabel was buried at Easington, County Durham.[6]
Robert VI the Bruce, 6th Lord of Annandale, Earl of Carrick (1253–1304)
William de Brus, married Elizabeth de Sully, without issue
Sir Bernard de Bruce, of Connington, married firstly Alicia de Clare and married 
secondly Constance de Morleyn, and had: Sir John Bruce, of Exton[disambiguation 
needed], married and had: Jane Bruce, married Sir Nicholas Green


Richard de Brus (died ca. 26 January 1287), unmarried and without issue

He married, secondly on 3 May 1275 at Hoddam, in the Diocese of Glasgow, Christina 
(died ca. 1305 or 1305), daughter and heiress of Sir William de Ireby, of Ireby, 
Cumbria. They had no issue.

Despite claims by amateur genealogists, there is no evidence that Robert fathered 
other children.[7]

Parents
DE BRUCE Robert (ABT 1180 - 1245)
OF HUNTINGDON Isabelle (1199 - 1252)

Siblings
DE BRUCE Robert "the Competitor" (ABT 1215 - 31 May 1295)

Marriage To DE CLARE Isabel (8 Nov 1226 - AFT 10 Jul 1264)
    m. May 1240 

Notes

Parents
DE CLARE Gilbert (1182 - 25 Oct 1230)
MARSHALL Isabel (9 Oct 1200 - 17 Jan 1240)

Children by DE CLARE Isabel 8 Nov 1226 - AFT 10 Jul 1264
DE BRUCE Robert (Jul 1243 - BEF 4 Mar 1304)

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