Alexander Ramsay of Dalhousie facts for kids
Sir Alexander Ramsay of Dalhousie (born around 1290) was a brave Scottish nobleman and knight. He fought for King David II in southern Scotland during the Second War of Scottish Independence. People especially remember him for his actions at the siege of Roxburgh Castle.
Contents
Life of Sir Alexander Ramsay
Alexander was the older of two sons born to Sir William Ramsay of Dalhousie. His brother was Sir William Ramsay of Inverleith.
Alexander's Military Adventures
Alexander fought alongside Sir Andrew Murray, who was a Guardian of Scotland, at the Battle of Culblean on November 30, 1335. The Scots won this battle against the English. Later, he was also at Boroughmuir, where Guy de Namur, an ally of England from Flanders, was defeated and captured.
In 1335, Alexander helped capture Leuchars Castle near St Andrews. In June 1338, he secretly delivered supplies to Agnes Randolph, the Countess of Dunbar. This helped her defend her castle against a siege by William Montagu, 1st Earl of Salisbury from England.
During a short break in the fighting that same year, Alexander took part in a knightly tournament against English knights in Berwick.
Recapturing Roxburgh Castle
Ramsay and his men took back Roxburgh Castle from the English very early in the morning on March 30, 1342. They used a clever night attack, climbing the walls with ladders. Sir William Douglas, who was supposed to be in charge of the castle, had tried many times to get it back but failed.
As a reward, King David II made Sir Alexander the new leader of Roxburgh Castle and the Sheriff of Teviotdale. This made Douglas very angry.
A Tragic End
On June 20, 1342, Ramsay was holding court in Hawick, doing his duty as sheriff. Douglas arrived with armed men and entered the church where Ramsay was. Douglas and his men attacked Ramsay, taking him away in chains to Hermitage Castle.
Ramsay was held in a dungeon at Hermitage Castle, where he later died. A legend says he survived for seventeen days by eating small bits of grain that fell through cracks from the granary above his dungeon.
Alexander's brother, Sir William Ramsay of Inverleith, took over at Dalhousie in 1342. He became known for his raid near Norham Castle and the Battle of Nisbet Muir in 1355.
See also
