John Comyn I of Badenoch
Lord of Badenoch in Scotland
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
John Comyn (Cumyn) (c. 1215 – c. 1275) was Lord of Badenoch in Scotland. He was Justiciar of Galloway in 1258.[1][2] He held lands in Nithsdale[3] (Dalswinton, a Comyn stronghold,[4][5] and Duncow[6]) and Tynedale.[3]
- Eva
- Alice de Ros
John Comyn I of Badenoch | |
|---|---|
| Coat of arms |  |
| Died | c. 1275 |
| Noble family | Comyn family |
| Spouses |
|
Issue Detail | |
| Father | Richard Comyn |
Life
The Comyn family were in effective power in Scotland from 1249 to 1255, when Alexander III of Scotland was a minor; John was one of those with court influence.[3] The Comyns were ousted by Alan Durward, but returned to power in 1257-8, before provoking a strong English reaction.[3][7]
He fought for Henry III of England at the Battle of Lewes (1265), with John Baliol the elder and Robert Bruce the elder,[8] and was captured.[9] In 1267 he was given licence to crenellate Tarset Castle in Tynedale (by present-day Lanehead, near Hexham), by Henry III; Tarset had previously been held by Walter Comyn.[10]
He started the construction of Blair Castle with a tower built in 1269.[11] The place was soon taken back by David, Earl of Atholl.[12]
John was the son of a Richard Comyn and was the grandson (through Richard) of William Comyn, jure uxoris Earl of Buchan.[citation needed]
In 1275, John was one of the leaders of a Scottish expedition that crushed a Manx revolt against the Scottish Crown.[citation needed]
According to the 1911 Encyclopædia Britannica he died in 1274, and was nephew of Alexander Comyn, Earl of Buchan, Constable of Scotland, and of Walter Comyn, Earl of Mentieth.[13] His date of death is also given as 1277.[citation needed]
He succeeded his uncle Walter, in 1258, as Lord of Badenoch, and was succeeded by his son John II, the "Black Comyn". John I was known as the "Red Comyn", the nickname more commonly applied to his grandson.[14]
Family
His first wife was called Eva, and appears to have been the mother of at least his oldest children.[15]
His second wife was named Alice and referred to in one document after his death as Lady Alice de Roos (Ros).[16][a] Alice was the daughter of William de Roos of Helmsley and Lucy FitzPiers.
He is known to have had the following issue:
- John of Badenoch (died 1303), succeeded his father, married Eleanor de Balliol, daughter of John de Balliol and Dervorguilla of Galloway; had issue.
- William of Kirkintilloch (died 1291), married Isabella Russell, daughter of John Russell and Isabella, Countess of Menteith; without issue.
- Alexander Comyn of Dunphail (died 1330), married Eva, widow of Alexander Murray, had issue.
- Robert Comyn (died 1306), married Margaret Comyn, daughter of William Comyn of Lochaber; had issue.
- John Comyn of Ulceby; had issue.
- a daughter who married Alexander of Argyll; had issue.[citation needed]
- a daughter who married Sir William Galbraith, 4th of that Ilk; had issue.[18]
- a daughter who married firstly Richard Siward and secondly Geoffrey de Mowbray; had issue.[19]
- a daughter who married Sir Andrew Moray; had issue.[20]