John Dunbar, Earl of Moray facts for kids
John Dunbar, Earl of Moray (who passed away between June 1391 and February 1392) was an important Scottish nobleman. He played a key role in Scottish history during the late 1300s.
Contents
Life of a Scottish Nobleman
Becoming the Earl of Moray
John Dunbar was the son of Sir Patrick Dunbar and Lady Isabella Randolph. His mother was the daughter of Thomas Randolph, 1st Earl of Moray. This made John the nephew of John Randolph, 3rd Earl of Moray, who was the previous Earl.
Even though he was the nephew, John didn't automatically become the Earl of Moray. When his uncle died, the title went back to the king. It was only around 1374 that John was officially given the important title of Earl of Moray.
A Brave Commander at Otterburn
The Earl of Moray was a senior leader in the Scottish army. He fought under James Douglas, 2nd Earl of Douglas. In 1388, they led a daring attack into England. This attack ended with a famous battle called the Battle of Otterburn.
During this battle, John Dunbar was in charge of the right side of the Scottish army. Some stories say he fought for a long time without his helmet! This happened because the English attacked so quickly. It shows how brave he was in the heat of battle.
His Family and Passing
John Dunbar passed away between June 1391 and February 1392. He received injuries during a tournament, which was a type of knightly contest. He was injured by the Earl of Nottingham.
John Dunbar was married to Marjorie Stewart. She was a daughter of Robert II of Scotland, who was the King of Scotland. Together, they had three sons named Thomas, Alexander, and James. They also had one daughter named Euphemia.
John Dunbar in Stories
John Dunbar is a character in a historical novel. He appears in the book Courting Favour. This novel was written by Nigel Tranter.
