William St Clair, 5th Lord Herdmanston facts for kids

William St Clair was an important Scottish noble who lived in the 1200s and 1300s. He was known as the Lord of Herdmanston and also held lands like Carfrae and Cessford.

Who Was William St Clair?

William St Clair was the son of John St Clair of Herdmanston. His family was part of the powerful Clan Sinclair. They were well-known nobles in Scotland.

Fighting for Scotland's Freedom

William St Clair was a loyal supporter of King Robert the Bruce. Robert the Bruce was a famous Scottish king who fought for Scotland's independence. William joined the king in many important events.

The Battle of Bannockburn

In 1314, William St Clair fought alongside King Robert the Bruce at the Battle of Bannockburn. This was a very important battle where the Scottish army won a big victory against the English. William, his father John St Clair, and other family members like Henry St Clair of Roslin and William St Clair, Master of Roslin, were all companions of the King during this battle.

The King's Gift: A Special Sword

The St Clair family of Herdmanston owned a special sword for many years. This sword had a message carved into its blade. The message read: "Le Roi me donne, St.Cler me Porte". This means "The King gave me, Sinclair carries me." This shows how close the St Clair family was to the King. It also shows their bravery in battle.

New Lands for William

In 1325, King Robert I gave William St Clair a special document called a charter. This charter gave William the Barony of Cesswith, which is now known as Cessford. This land had become available because its previous owner, Roger de Mowbray, had lost it in 1320. He lost it because he was disloyal to the king.

William St Clair was later succeeded by his son, who was also named William.