Marjorie, Countess of Carrick

See also Marjorie Bruce, her granddaughter.

Marjorie of Carrick (also Margaret; c. 1253 or 1256 – soon bef. 9 November 1292) was Countess of Carrick, Scotland, from 1256 to 1292, and is notable as the mother of Robert the Bruce.

Marriages

She was the daughter and heiress of Niall, Earl of Carrick and Margaret Stewart, and Countess of Carrick in her own right. Her first husband was Adam of Kilconquhar, who died during the Eighth Crusade in 1271. Then, as the story goes, a handsome young man arrived one day to tell her of her husband's death in the Holy Land. He was Robert de Brus, 6th Lord of Annandale, and he had been a companion-in-arms of Adam of Kilconquhar. Marjorie was so taken with him that she had him held captive until he agreed to marry her at Turnberry Castle in 1271. He became Earl of Carrick jure uxoris (in right of his wife). Their children were:

1. Christina Bruce
2. Robert the Bruce.
3. Isabel Bruce (1275–1358), married King Eric II of Norway.
4. Niall or Nigel Bruce, executed 1306 in Berwick-upon-Tweed, Northumberland, England.
5. Edward Bruce.
6. Sir Thomas Bruce, executed 1307.
7. Alexander Bruce, executed 1307.
8. Mary Bruce, married
   1. Sir Niall Campbell
   2. Sir Alexander Fraser of Touchfraser and Cowie.
9. Matilda Bruce, married Aodh, Earl of Ross

Margaret Bruce who married Sir William de Carlyle is thought by Barrow not to be their daughter. There is a traditional story that Thomas Randolph, 1st Earl of Moray was the son of Marjorie's daughter from her first marriage with Adam. However this is probably not true; it was probably put forward as an explanation of why Thomas Randolph was described as a nephew of Robert the Bruce. Any daughter of Adam of Kilconquhar would have inherited the Gaelic title in the same way that Marjorie, eldest of four, or perhaps five, daughters did on her father's death. There is evidence that an "eldest daughter", unknown to history, married into the family of the earls of Mar, giving rise to the now discounted first marriage of Christina to the son of the earl, Gratney.

Marjorie died in before November 1292, at which time her husband transferred Carrick to their eldest son, Robert.

Sources

• Scott, Ronald McNair. Robert the Bruce: King of Scots