Robert Munro, 18th Baron of Foulis facts for kids
Colonel Robert Munro of Foulis (who died in April 1633) was also known as the Black Baron. He was traditionally the 18th Baron of Foulis in Scotland. Robert was a "soldier of fortune," meaning he was a professional soldier who fought for different countries for money. He served in Germany under the command of Gustavus Adolphus, the King of Sweden. It's not clear why he was called the 'Black Baron'. It might have been because of his hair color, rather than him being fierce in battle. While he is traditionally known as the 18th Baron and 21st chief of the Clan Munro, records only prove he was the 11th chief.
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Growing Up in Scotland
When Robert was very young, in 1603, he became the 18th Baron of Foulis. This happened after his father, Hector Munro, 17th Baron of Foulis, passed away. Because Robert was still a child, King James VI of Scotland gave special permission on January 8, 1608. This allowed Robert to officially inherit all the lands of Easter Foulis from his father.
He married Margaret Sutherland on November 24, 1610. She was the daughter of William Sutherland, 9th of Duffus.
Robert had important duties even when he was young. In 1612, he was given a special task by the Privy Council (a group of royal advisors). He and others, including John Munro of Lemlair and George Munro of Tarlogie, were asked to catch two men. These men were accused of stealing from George Munro of Tarrell. Robert and his group had to bring the accused thieves to the Council for trial.
In 1614, Robert received another task with the Earl of Sutherland. They had to find three men who had murdered someone named Donald Angus Gairson. The murderers were caught and put on trial.
During Robert's time as clan chief, a big argument started. It was between John Gordon, the 13th Earl of Sutherland (chief of Clan Sutherland), and George Sinclair, 5th Earl of Caithness (chief of Clan Sinclair). The argument began because the Earl of Caithness was hunting on the Earl of Sutherland's land. Robert was connected to the Sutherlands through marriage, so he sent some of his clan members to help the Earl of Sutherland. The Clan Mackay and the MacLeods of Assynt also helped the Sutherlands.
The Earl of Caithness gathered his fighters and went into Sutherland. But when he heard about the large army waiting for him, he sent messages to the Sutherlands. He offered to settle the dispute peacefully. His peace offers were refused, and he was told there would be a battle the next morning. The Earl of Sutherland's army lined up. The Mackays were on the left, the Sutherlands in the middle, and the Munros and MacLeods were on the right. As they moved forward, Caithness's men ran away. The Munros went home without fighting, which is said to have disappointed them.
Robert was known for spending a lot of money. By 1618, he was so poor that he had to give his estate to his relative, Simon Fraser, 6th Lord Lovat. Lord Lovat was the chief of Clan Fraser of Lovat. He owned the Barony of Foulis for several years.
A Soldier for Hire
In June 1626, Robert joined a Scottish army group called a regiment. This regiment was led by Donald Mackay, 1st Lord Reay (1591–1649). They were being hired to fight for Denmark, and many soldiers were recruited from the Scottish Highlands. The actions of this group are well known. Robert's cousin, Robert Monro of Obsdale, wrote a famous book about their adventures in 1637.
Fighting for Sweden
Robert Munro of Foulis quickly moved up the ranks. He became a captain, then a major, and finally a lieutenant colonel in Mackay's Scottish Regiment.
The Siege of Stralsund
In 1628, the Danes sent several Scottish regiments, including Mackay's (which had Munro's company), to fight in the Siege of Stralsund. The Danish leaders treated the regiment poorly, sometimes forcing them to sleep in the streets. In July, Alexander Leslie arrived with more Scottish, Swedish, and German soldiers. He became the city's governor. He wanted to show how good his countrymen were. He combined the soldiers he brought with the Scots already there into one strong fighting force. He used this group in a great attack on the enemy, which finally ended the siege. Robert Monro wrote about it:
Sir Alexander Leslie, now governor, decided to attack the enemy to bring honor to his countrymen. He wanted his own nation to get all the credit, as this was his first big effort in that city.
A Munro officer proudly wrote that during the defense of Stralsund in 1628, one of his men, Mac-Weattiche, "was as brave as a sword, fearing nothing but dishonor."
However, Denmark's involvement in the Thirty Years' War was not successful. The Danish king Christian IV made peace. In 1629, Mackay's regiment, including Munro's company, was paid off. But then, the Swedish king Gustavus Adolphus hired them to continue fighting.
Bloc Castle
In July 1631, Robert Munro of Foulis, with only his own regiment, attacked and captured the strong castle of Bloc in Mecklenburg. This happened while they were on their way to join the Swedish army at Werben.
The Battle of Breitenfeld
In 1631, the Scottish groups in the main Swedish army marched to Leipzig. Other Scottish and English units served with James 3rd Marquis Hamilton. They formed a British Army that protected the main army's rear. The famous Battle of Breitenfeld (also called the Battle of Leipzig) took place near Leipzig in September of that year.
In this battle, the enemy commander Tilly was defeated by Gustavus Adolphus. The Munros played a big part in the Swedish army's victory with their final charge. Sir James Ramsay led the Scottish front line. On September 7, "after we had in the early morning, as the lark began to sing, given ourselves and the day's outcome to God," the great battle began. While the enemy's cavalry scattered the Saxons on the left side, the Scottish soldiers stood strong. They fired their guns in organized groups for the first time. Hepburn formed a square shape with his soldiers. When the enemy got close enough, he ordered his victorious pikemen to advance. At the same time, Lord Reay’s MacKay and Munro Highlanders were also very successful.
The Battle of Lützen
Towards the end of 1631, Robert Munro briefly went back home to Scotland. But he did not stay long and soon returned to the war in Europe. He then took part in the Battle of Lützen (1632). Here, the Munros were again victorious. Robert Munro of Foulis led the front line in this battle.
Robert Munro's successful military career ended when he was wounded. During one of the many small fights of the Thirty Years' War, he was shot in his right foot by a musket ball. This happened while he was crossing the Upper Danube river with Swedish troops. He was taken to Ulm, Germany, where his wound was treated. However, he soon got a fever and died in March 1633. He was about forty-four years old.
In Ulm, Sir Patrick Ruthven was the Governor. Robert Munro had lived in the house of a barber and surgeon named Michael Rietmuller. With permission from the city leaders, Robert was buried in the Franciscan church, also known as "Barfüsserkirche." His flag, armor, and spurs were hung up there. Magister Balthasar Kerner gave his funeral speech on April 29, 1633.
Family
Robert Munro, 18th Baron of Foulis, married twice. His first wife was Margaret, daughter of William Sutherland, 9th of Duffus. With Margaret, he had one child, a daughter also named Margaret. This daughter married Kenneth Mackenzie, I of Scatwell. Robert married his second wife, Mary Haynes, an English lady, before 1624 in London. With Mary, he also had one child, a daughter named Elizabeth, born in 1632.
Robert Munro was followed as chief by his brother, Sir Hector Munro, 1st Baronet of Foulis. King Charles I made Hector a 'Baronet'. Hector continued to lead his brother's old infantry regiment in Germany, but the group was soon disbanded.
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