Christina Bruce

Christina Bruce (c. 1278 – 1356/1357), also known as Christina de Brus, was a daughter of Marjorie, Countess of Carrick, and her husband, Robert de Brus, jure uxoris Earl of Carrick, as well as a sister of Robert the Bruce, King of Scots. It is presumed that she and her siblings were born at Turnberry Castle in Carrick.

Life

After his army's defeat at the Battle of Methven on 19 June 1306, Robert Bruce headed west to the mountains. He sent his second wife, Elizabeth, his daughter Marjorie, his sisters Christina and Mary Bruce, as well as Isabella MacDuff, Countess of Buchan to Kildrummy Castle in the north, with his brother Nigel (known as Neil) in an attempt to protect them.[1]

When Kildrummy was besieged, the women were forced to flee. After Kildrummy Castle was betrayed and captured, Neil de Bruce was taken to Berwick to be hanged, drawn, and beheaded.

The women escorted by John of Strathbogie, 9th Earl of Atholl made it as far as the sanctuary of St. Duthac at Tain in Easter Ross. There, they were captured by a Balliol supporter, Earl William of Ross, who handed them over to Edward I's men.[1] Strathbogie for daring to aid them was executed, his body burned and his head affixed on London Bridge.

Christina was sent into solitary confinement at a Gilbertine nunnery at Sixhills in Lincolnshire,[1] while her sister Mary and Bruce's supporter Isabella MacDuff were imprisoned in cages. Her sister in law Elizabeth de Burgh was imprisoned at various locations and her niece Marjorie, only 10 years old, was imprisoned at Watton Abbey.[2][3][4]

Christina spent 8 or 9 years as an English captive and returned to Scotland in an exchange of prisoners in early 1315 after the Battle of Bannockburn. By this time Christina was in her 40's.

Christina's first marriage was prior to her capture, in 1301 she married Sir Christopher Seton, who was born in 1278. The marriage ended in 1306 when he was hanged, drawn and quartered by the English. In July 1326, at Cambuskenneth Abbey, Christina married for a second time to Sir Andrew Murray, the posthumous child (b. 1298) of Sir Andrew Murray, a joint victor of the battle of Stirling Bridge along with William Wallace. Sir Andrew died in 1338. Sir Andrew Murray had 2 sons: Sir John Murray (d.1351), and Sir Thomas Murray (d.1361), however, Christina is believed to have been their step-mother. In 1326 at the time of her marriage to Andrew, Christina would have been well past 50 years old, too old to bear children.

Christina is sometimes thought to have also married Gartnait, son of Donald, Earl of Mar (died 1305). She is never described as a Countess of Mar, however, or even described as "of Mar". Moreover, there is no evidence of any familial relationship with Gartnait's son and successor, Donald II.

In 1335, during the Second War of Scottish Independence, Christina commanded the garrison of Kildrummy Castle and successfully held out against pro-Balliol forces led by David of Strathbogie, prior to their defeat by her husband, Sir Andrew Murray, at the Battle of Culblean.[5]

References
  1. "Elizabeth de Burgh and Marjorie Bruce", Foghlam Alba
  2. Barrow, G W S (2005-06-17). Robert Bruce. Edinburgh University Press. doi:10.3366/edinburgh/9780748620227.001.0001. ISBN 9780748620227.
  3. Peter., Traquair (1998). Freedom's sword. Niwot, Colo.: Roberts Rinehart Publishers. ISBN 978-1570982477. OCLC 40072790.
  4. Scott, Ronald McNair, Robert the Bruce, p. 87
  5. A History of the County of Renfrew from the Earliest Times By William Musham Metcalfe p.69-70

Sources
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