William Keith of Galston facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
William Keith
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|---|---|
| Personal details | |
| Died | 1337 |
| Parent | Robert de Keith |
Sir William Keith of Galston (died 1337) was a brave Scottish knight. He played an important role in the Wars of Scottish Independence. He is especially remembered for bringing back the hearts of King Robert I of Scotland and Sir James Douglas to Scotland. This happened after Douglas was killed during a special journey in Spain.
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A Scottish Hero: Who Was Sir William Keith?
Sir William Keith was the son of Robert de Keith. His grandfather was John de Keith, who was the King's Marischal. This meant his family had a long history of serving the Scottish kings.
Early Battles for Scotland
In 1318, Sir William Keith fought alongside other famous Scottish leaders. These included Thomas Randolph, Earl of Moray, and Sir James Douglas. They were part of a daring plan to take back the town of Berwick from the English. This fight happened in the streets and led to the English giving up Berwick Castle.
A Special Journey to Spain
After King Robert I of Scotland passed away in 1329, Sir William Keith went on a very important journey. He joined Sir James Douglas and other Scottish nobles. Their mission was to take King Robert's heart on a crusade.
They first stopped in Sluys, a town in Flanders. There, they learned that Alfonso XI of Castile was planning a campaign. He was fighting against the Muslims in the kingdom of Granada in Spain. The Scots decided to help him.
They sailed to Seville, Spain, to meet Alfonso XI. Sir William Keith was one of the few knights who survived a big battle called the Battle of Teba. He couldn't fight because he had a broken arm. After the battle, he had a very important job. He was responsible for bringing King Robert's heart back to Scotland. He also brought Sir James Douglas's bones and heart.
King Robert's heart was buried at Melrose Abbey. Sir James Douglas's remains were buried in the church of St Bride in Douglas.
Later Fights and His End
Sir William Keith was in charge of defending Berwick again in 1333. This was when the Scottish army suffered a big loss at the Battle of Halidon Hill.
In 1334, he captured an English nobleman named Richard Talbot. Talbot was trying to sneak into England.
Sir William Keith also served as an ambassador to England in 1335. This meant he represented Scotland in talks with the English. In 1337, he was fighting at the Siege of Stirling Castle. Sadly, he was killed during this battle.
His Family
Sir William Keith had one daughter:
- Jonetta Keith. She first married David Hamilton of Cadzow. Later, she married Alexander Stewart of Darnley.
