James Gordon, 2nd Viscount Aboyne facts for kids

James Gordon, 2nd Viscount Aboyne, was an important Scottish leader in the 1600s. He was born around 1620 and died in February 1649. His father, George Gordon, was a famous Scottish commander who supported the King during a big conflict called the Wars of the Three Kingdoms.

Early Life and Family

James Gordon belonged to the powerful Gordon family in Scotland. At that time, the government was mostly Protestant, but the Gordons often supported the Catholic faith. James helped bring Catholics to fight for the King.

He studied at King's College, Aberdeen. He also gained early military experience in France, where his father led a Scottish guard unit. Even though he was a younger son, James Gordon became the 2nd Viscount Aboyne in 1636. This meant he received a special noble title.

The Bishops' Wars

In 1639, the First Bishops' War began. This was a fight where a group called the Covenanters tried to take control of the church and government in Scotland. The Covenanters sent a young leader named James Graham, Earl of Montrose, to deal with the Gordon family.

Viscount Aboyne was only 19, but he was seen as the main leader of the forces fighting against the Covenanters. This was even before his father and older brother gave up. He kept fighting even though King Charles's government didn't send much help.

The young general faced two defeats in June 1639 at Megray Hill and Brig o' Dee. These losses happened because his foot soldiers were not steady and his officers argued. But his army didn't lose many men. His cavalry (horse soldiers) fought well and stayed in the field until they heard the King had made peace. Aboyne's defense of Aberdeen at Brig o'Dee was so strong that the battle lasted two days.

In this short war, Aboyne's cavalry used new tactics. They often moved as a group on horseback without foot soldiers. They usually attacked with swords, learning that pistol shots from horseback were not very effective. Aboyne's special group of 100 "gentleman volunteer cuirassiers" wore full armor. This was unusual because most cavalry wore lighter protection. Full armor was still good because it protected against bullets and sword hits.

The Scottish Civil War

For a few years, Scotland had a shaky peace. Viscount Aboyne stayed out of the spotlight, sometimes living in England. But in 1642, the First English Civil War started. This war pitted King Charles against his Parliament.

Aboyne worked hard to create a military team with the Clan Donald and the Irish Confederates. He also joined forces with other Scottish nobles who were Catholic or suspected of being Catholic. Their enemies thought this was a plan to bring back the old religion.

But Aboyne also found common ground with Montrose, his former opponent. Montrose was loyal to the King and believed the Scottish Covenanters would join the Parliament's side in the war.

In 1644, Aboyne was with the King's forces near Carlisle. His brothers were gathering their family's soldiers in the north. The next spring, he returned to Scotland. He fought in Montrose's victories at Auldearn, Alford, and Kilsyth. In each battle, he led a charge on the left side that broke the Covenanters' lines. After Alford, he may have been given a higher noble title, Earl of Aboyne.

Even though the army was winning battles, Aboyne's own situation became harder. His father, the Marquess of Huntly, thought their family's troops should only fight Covenanters in the north. Montrose, however, wanted to march south into England. Also, Montrose and Aboyne's relationship became tense. This was especially true when another noble, the Earl of Crawford, was put in charge of the army's cavalry. This was awkward because Aboyne commanded the only large group of horse soldiers.

In September 1645, Aboyne and the Gordon cavalry went north. This happened just before the Battle of Philiphaugh. Some people later said Aboyne's action cost the King's side the battle and the war.

However, the war was not over after Philiphaugh. Montrose moved north, and even though Huntly found it very hard to work with him, the King's armies often won. Aboyne was caught between his father and his general. He focused on raising more troops in the central Highlands.

The King's cause was weakened not by the Scottish war, but by his losing position in England. In April 1646, King Charles decided to join the Covenanters. He ordered his Scottish troops to stop fighting.

Outlaw and Exile

Huntly and Aboyne did not trust the Covenanters. With their cavalry, they went into the Highlands to fight a small-scale guerilla war. They stayed armed until December 1647, when the Marquess was captured.

Aboyne escaped, but he had only a few soldiers left. He was not included in the general pardons given to other Scottish royalists. He is believed to have fled to France and died in Paris around February 1649. Some say he died of a fever, while others believe he died from sadness after hearing that King Charles had been beheaded.

Viscount Aboyne never married, so his noble title ended. However, the title of Earl of Aboyne was later given to his younger brother. Since his older brother died at Alford, James had also been next in line to become Marquess. These titles then passed to his younger brother, Lord Lewis Gordon.