George Dunbar, 10th Earl of March facts for kids
George de Dunbar, 10th Earl of Dunbar and March (born 1338, died 1422) was a very powerful noble in Scotland during his time. He was also known as the 12th Lord of Annandale and the Lord of the Isle of Man. He was so influential that he was seen as a rival to the powerful Douglas family.
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Family Life and Becoming an Earl
George de Dunbar was the son of John de Dunbar and Isabella Randolph. His mother, Isabella, was important because she inherited a lot of land from her brother, John Randolph, 3rd Earl of Moray.
George became the 10th Earl of Dunbar and March after his uncle, Sir Patrick de Dunbar, 9th Earl, gave up his title. King David II then officially granted the earldom to George in 1368. This was a big deal because it made George one of the most important people in Scotland.
George married a woman named Christina, who was the daughter of Alan de Wyntoun. They had many children together, including:
- Sir George, 11th Earl of Dunbar & March (who became the next Earl)
- Elizabeth de Dunbar (who was supposed to marry a prince)
- Sir Gavin de Dunbar
- Columba de Dunbar, who became a Bishop
- Patrick de Dunbar
- Sir David de Dunbar
- Janet, who married Sir John Seton
George also had a son named Nicholas.
Important Events and Battles
George de Dunbar owned important castles like Morton and Tibbers. These castles helped him manage his lands.
He was a skilled military leader. In 1388, he joined James Douglas, 2nd Earl of Douglas in a battle against England called the Battle of Otterburn. After the battle, George took charge of the Scottish forces and led them safely home.
A Broken Betrothal and Moving to England
In 1395, George's oldest daughter, Elizabeth, was set to marry David Stewart, Duke of Rothesay, who was the son of King Robert III and heir to the Scottish throne. They even got married before the official church permission arrived.
However, Archibald Douglas, 3rd Earl of Douglas, a very powerful noble, didn't like this marriage. He used his influence to have the marriage agreement cancelled. Instead, Prince David married Archibald Douglas's own daughter.
Because of this, George de Dunbar was very upset. He gave up his lands in Scotland and stopped supporting King Robert III. He then moved his whole family to England and joined the court of King Henry IV. King Henry IV welcomed him and gave him land and money in England.
Fighting for England
While in England, George de Dunbar fought on the English side in several battles against Scotland.
- In 1402, he led English forces to victory against a small Scottish army at the Battle of Nesbit Moor.
- He also fought for England at the Battle of Homildon Hill later that year.
In 1403, George de Dunbar helped King Henry IV put down a rebellion by the Percy family. He was a key advisor to the King at the Battle of Shrewsbury, which was a big victory for King Henry IV.
After these events, George asked King Henry IV to help him get his Scottish castles and lands back if England conquered parts of Scotland. King Henry IV agreed to protect George and anyone from his earldom who joined him.
King Henry IV continued to reward George for his loyalty, giving him more lands and money in England.
Return to Scotland
Eventually, in 1408, George de Dunbar made peace with the Douglas family. This allowed him to return to Scotland in 1409. He got his earldom of March back, but he lost his title as Lord of Annandale.
George de Dunbar was still active in Scottish politics. In 1411, he helped negotiate a peace agreement with England. He lived to be quite old for his time, dying in 1422 at the age of 84. Records show he was still alive and Earl of March in September 1422, with his wife Christina by his side.
