Harrying of Buchan facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Harrying of Buchan
Part of First War of Scottish Independence
Date May – late 1308 Location Buchan, Scotland Result Scottish Royal Victory
Belligerents
Scottish Royal Army	Scottish Rebels
Commanders and leaders
Edward Bruce, Earl of Carrick Robert the Bruce	John Comyn, Earl of Buchan
Strength
Unknown	Unknown
Casualties and losses
Unknown	Heavy; John Comyn, Earl of Buchan fled

The Harrying of Buchan was a tough military campaign in Buchan, northeast Scotland. It happened in 1308 during the First War of Scottish Independence. King Robert the Bruce and his brother Edward Bruce led their army to destroy the lands of the Comyn family. This happened right after their victory at the Battle of Barra. The Comyns were a powerful family who opposed King Robert's rule.

King Robert's Campaign

After losing the Battle of Barra in May 1308, John Comyn, Earl of Buchan and his forces were chased by King Robert the Bruce's men. The chase stopped at Fyvie Castle, which was a very strong fortress. King Robert then ordered his only living brother, Edward de Bruce, to lay waste to the Earldom of Buchan. This meant destroying everything in the area.

Edward's mission was to destroy all castles and strongholds. These included Slains Castle, Rattray Castle, and Dundarg Castle. Castles held by the English, like Fyvie Castle and Aberdeen Castle, were also targets. At some point after his defeat, John Comyn fled Scotland for England.

For several months, Edward de Bruce carried out the "harrying" of Buchan. This involved killing those who resisted King Robert's rule. Homes were destroyed, farm animals were killed, and food supplies were burned. The castles were also reduced to ruins. By destroying the Comyn family's power, King Robert made sure they could not fight against him again. There are no detailed records of the Harrying of Buchan. But it was a long and fierce campaign. After finishing in Buchan, King Robert attacked and destroyed Aberdeen Castle in June 1308.

What Happened Next

The Comyn family had ruled Buchan for almost 100 years, starting in 1214. That's when William Comyn, Lord of Badenoch inherited the title from his wife. The destruction was so great that the people of Buchan stopped supporting the Comyns. They never again rose up against King Robert's followers.

It took 30 years before a new Earl of Buchan, Henry Beaumont, 4th Earl of Buchan, appeared in the area. Between 1333 and 1334, he tried to fix Dundarg Castle. King Robert had destroyed this castle during the harrying. But in December 1336, Sir Andrew Murray of Bothwell attacked and destroyed it again. Henry Beaumont found little support in Scotland. He left for England after the attack and died there in 1340. His son, John, refused to become the Earl. This ended the Comyn family's claim to the earldom.