Thomas, Earl of Mar facts for kids

Thomas, Earl of Mar (around 1330-1377) was an important Scottish noble in the 1300s. He held the title of Earl of Mar, which was a powerful position in the area of Aberdeenshire, Scotland. Sometimes, he was called a Mormaer of Mar. This is because "mormaer" was the Scottish Gaelic word for an earl. Thomas was the son of Domhnall II of Mar, who died in a battle called the Battle of Dupplin Moor in 1332.

Life of Thomas, Earl of Mar

When Thomas's father died, Thomas was still very young. Scotland was fighting the Scottish Wars of Independence against England at the time. Because Thomas was a child, King Edward III of England placed him in the care of his stepfather, William Carsewell. Thomas could not immediately become Earl of Mar. Another noble, Richard Talbot, 2nd Baron Talbot, claimed the title through his wife, Elizabeth de Comyn.

Thomas's grandmother, Lady Christina Bruce, looked after Kildrummy Castle. This castle was the main home of the Earls of Mar. When she passed away in 1357, Thomas inherited the castle. He also received her lands and lordship, known as the Earldom of Garioch.

Thomas as an Ambassador

In 1351, Thomas was chosen as one of the ambassadors. They were sent to England to discuss the ransom for Scotland's king, David II. King David II was being held prisoner in England. When King David was finally set free in 1357, Thomas was one of seven lords. Three of these lords had to stay in England as hostages until the king's ransom was fully paid.

In 1357, Thomas was officially known as the Earl of Mar. He was given the important job of Great Chamberlain of Scotland in 1358. This role meant he managed the king's finances and household.

Thomas and the Kings

Thomas seemed to favor England's King Edward III. The English king gave him a yearly payment of 600 merks. King Edward also promised to pay Thomas £600 sterling each year if he lost his lands in Scotland. In return, Thomas agreed to help England in its war against France in 1360.

Thomas also continued to work for peace between Scotland and England. In 1362, he was sent as a Scottish ambassador to negotiate with England. Later, in 1369, he helped guarantee a truce, which is a temporary stop to fighting, between the two nations.

Travels of Earl Thomas

Earl Thomas traveled often to both England and France during his life. For example, in March 1359, he received permission to travel through England. He had 30 people and three merchants with him. Later that year, in August, he had permission for himself and 100 horsemen. In October 1359, he traveled to France with 24 horsemen.

He also went on a religious journey in November 1362. He traveled to the shrine of St. Thomas a Becket in Canterbury, England, with 12 horsemen. He continued to travel frequently, getting passports in 1363 and 1365. In July 1365, he was allowed to send eight horsemen to Newcastle-on-Tyne. They took 120 oxen that he had sold to merchants there. In October 1368, he traveled through England with 12 gentlemen. They were on a pilgrimage to St. John of Amiens in France.

Trouble with King David II

In 1363, Thomas had problems with Scotland's King David II. This might have been because King David didn't like Thomas's friendship with the English king. Some also said Thomas was being unfair to his own people. For these reasons, King David attacked and captured Thomas's Kildrummy Castle. However, in 1368, Thomas paid a fine. After this payment, he got his castle back and was back in the king's good graces.

Marriages of Thomas

Thomas, Earl of Mar, was married two times. His first wife was Margaret Graham of Menteith. They divorced because they did not have any children. His second wife was Margaret Stewart, Countess of Angus. This marriage also did not result in any children.

Death and Burial

Thomas died without having any children. Some say he died in 1374, while others believe it was 1377. This confusion comes from the fact that his brother-in-law started claiming the title of Earl of Mar in 1374. However, many experts now think Thomas died in early 1377. This is because of a document from August 10 of that year. In this document, his brother-in-law confirmed something Thomas had done earlier.

Thomas of Mar was the last of the Celtic earls of Mar. He was buried inside the walls of Kildrummy Castle. After his death, his sister Margaret inherited his title. Through her, the title of Earl of Mar then passed to her husband, William Douglas, 1st Earl of Douglas.