Sir John Swinton, 14th of that Ilk facts for kids
Sir John Swinton, a famous Scottish knight from the 14th century, was a great-grandson of Henry de Swinton. Henry de Swinton's name appeared on the Ragman Roll, a list of Scottish nobles who pledged loyalty to an English king. Sir John was an important soldier and leader during the reigns of King Robert II and King Robert III of Scotland. He is a well-known figure in the history of Clan Swinton.
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Fighting in France: The Hundred Years' War
Sir John Swinton was known as one of the bravest fighters of his time. When he was young, the Scottish Borders region was peaceful, so he joined the army of John of Gaunt, a powerful English duke. They made a special agreement that included these points:
- Sir John would not have to fight against Scotland, his home country.
- He would receive double pay and free travel for himself, his horses, and his men.
- The Duke would replace any horses Sir John lost in battle.
In return, John of Gaunt would get a share of any money Sir John received from capturing prisoners or other "war profits."
This unusual agreement shows that Sir John already had a strong reputation as a fighter. He might have gained this fame in places like Prussia or Spain before 1371, when this agreement was made.
Sir John proved he was trustworthy through his actions in many battles. He was especially brave at Noyon, a town between Amiens and Paris. Legend says he was the hero who, according to the writer Jean Froissart, bravely leaped over the town's barrier gates. He fought the French knights by himself for more than an hour, "alone against them all," giving "many grand strokes with his lance." When his army started to move, he had to rejoin them. He cleared a path with a few thrusts of his spear, jumped back, and got on his horse with his page in front. He shouted, "Goodbye, goodbye, sirs, thank you very much!" and rode away.
Around this time, he married a young woman named Joan. She died without having children. Her jewels were stolen by Alice Perrers, a friend of King Edward III. Alice Perrers also stole the King's rings as he lay dying. Sir John asked the King to get his wife's jewels back, but they could not be found. It is not surprising that he returned to Scotland soon after this happened.
Battle of Otterburn
In July 1388, Sir John was a commander at the Battle of Otterburn. The Scots won this battle and defeated the English, even though their leader, the Earl of Douglas, was killed. A historical book called the Scotichronicon mentions "a very experienced, strong, and brave Scot," John Swinton. It says he fought his way through the English lines. "Because of this, the Scots were able to get through the English line with their spears, so the English had to give ground to this strong force."
It is also said that during wars with the English, Sir John visited the enemy's camp. There, he openly challenged any soldier from their army to fight him.
Important Roles
King Robert III chose Sir John to be one of his special representatives. Their job was to discuss a peace agreement with the English court. For this, they received permission to travel safely from King Richard II for themselves and sixty knights. This happened on July 4, 1392. Later, he was part of another discussion. He received permission to travel safely to England from King Henry IV with twenty horsemen on July 7, 1400.
Battle of Homildon Hill
The brave actions and heroic death of Sir John Swinton at the terrible Battle of Homildon on September 14, 1402, inspired the famous writer Sir Walter Scott. Scott used this story to create his play, "Haledon Hill". A historian named Pinkerton wrote about Swinton's death:
"The English moved forward to attack. Henry Percy was about to lead them up the hill when March grabbed his horse's bridle. March advised him not to go any further, but instead to unleash the terrible rain of English arrows onto the enemy. This advice worked, as it often did. For centuries, the bow was the English's best weapon for winning battles. Even though the Scots, and perhaps the French, were better with spears, spears were useless once the distant arrows had decided the fight.
King Robert the Bruce knew this at the Battle of Bannockburn. He sent horsemen to attack the English archers right away to stop their arrows. But Douglas didn't do this at Homildon Hill. As a result, his soldiers, lined up on the side of the hill, were easy targets for the enemy's arrows, and every arrow hit someone. The Scots were killed without being able to fight back. Then, a brave knight, Swinton, shouted, "Oh, my brave countrymen! Why are you just standing here like deer, letting yourselves be shot? Instead, show your old courage and fight your enemies hand to hand! Let those who will, come down with me, so we can win and live, or die like men."
Adam Gordon heard this. He and Swinton had been deadly enemies, and many of their followers had been killed in their feud. Gordon immediately knelt before Swinton, asked for his forgiveness, and wanted Swinton to make him a knight. Gordon said he now saw Swinton as the wisest and bravest knight in Britain. After the ceremony, Swinton and Gordon went down the hill with only one hundred men. Their desperate bravery led them all to their deaths. If the whole Scottish army had shown such spirit, the outcome of that day might have been different."
Family Life
Sir John Swinton's second wife was the Countess of Douglas and Mar, but they did not have children. His third wife was Princess Margaret, the daughter of Robert Stewart, Duke of Albany. Robert Stewart served as Regent (a ruler who governs for a king who is too young or unable to rule) from 1406 to 1419. Princess Margaret and Sir John had a son, who later became Sir John Swinton of Swinton, known as the fifteenth Lord of that name.
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