William de Moravia, 3rd Earl of Sutherland facts for kids

Quick facts for kids William de Moravia, 3rd Earl of Sutherland
de Moravia Earl of Sutherland Coat of Arms
Born	Unknown
Died	c.1325 Sutherland, Scotland
Allegiance	Scotland
Battles/wars	Battle of Bannockburn
Relations	William de Moravia, 2nd Earl of Sutherland (father) Kenneth de Moravia, 4th Earl of Sutherland (brother)

William de Moravia (also known as William Sutherland) was an important Scottish noble in the early 1300s. He was the 3rd Earl of Sutherland and the leader of the Clan Sutherland. This clan was a group of families from the Scottish Highlands.

Who Was William de Moravia?

William de Moravia became the 3rd Earl of Sutherland when he was just a baby. His father was William de Moravia, 2nd Earl of Sutherland. Because William was so young, another powerful noble, John, son of the Earl of Ross, became his guardian. A guardian is someone who takes care of a child and their property.

Early Challenges

In 1308, John, the Earl of Ross, wrote a letter to King Edward II of England. He explained that young William was too inexperienced to rule his lands. In the same letter, the Earl of Ross also told King Edward that Robert the Bruce was leading a large Scottish army. The English supporters in Scotland, including the Earl of Ross, could not stop Bruce. So, the Earl of Ross asked King Edward to accept the loyalty of the Sutherland earldom. This meant Sutherland would support England.

Later that year, in October 1308, the Earl of Ross made a truce, or peace agreement, with Robert the Bruce at a place called Auldearn.

Important Moments as Earl

Even as a young earl, William de Moravia was part of important events in Scotland.

Joining Scottish Leaders

In March 1309, William was present at a special meeting of Scottish nobles and barons. This meeting was held in St Andrews. During this meeting, the Scottish leaders wrote a letter to Philip V of France. The French king had asked for help with his crusade against the Saracens. A crusade was a religious war, often fought in the Middle East.

Battle of Bannockburn

Some historians believe that William, the 3rd Earl of Sutherland, fought alongside Robert the Bruce against the English. This happened at the famous Battle of Bannockburn. This battle was a major victory for Scotland. However, there are no official records from that time that directly confirm William's presence there.

Signing the Declaration of Arbroath

One very important document that William did sign was the Declaration of Arbroath. This was a famous letter written in 1320. It was sent to the Pope and declared Scotland's independence from England. Signing this document showed William's strong support for a free Scotland.

Later Life and Successor

William de Moravia, 3rd Earl of Sutherland, is thought to have died around 1325. Some records suggest he might have lived a few years longer. He might have been the Earl of Sutherland who looked after the bishopric of Caithness in 1327. However, these records do not mention his first name.

After William's death, his brother, Kenneth de Moravia, 4th Earl of Sutherland, became the next Earl of Sutherland.