Biography of John Randolph 3rd Earl of Moray 1306-1346

On 12th August 1332 Battle of Dupplin Moor was fought between the supporters of the infant King David II of Scotland (age 8), son of King Robert the Bruce I of Scotland, and the supporters of King Edward I of Scotland (age 49), supported by the English. The Bruce army included Robert Bruce Lord of Liddesdale and Domhnall Mar II Earl of Mar (age 39). The Balliol army included David III Strathbogie 11th Earl Atholl (age 23), Ralph Stafford 1st Earl Stafford (age 30), Thomas Ughtred 1st Baron Ughtred (age 40) and Walter Manny 1st Baron Manny (age 22). The battle is notable for being the first to use dismounted men-at-arms supported by archers; a formation that would bring repeated success to the English both in Scotland and France.

Robert Bruce Lord of Liddesdale was killed leading a charge.

Nicholas Hay (age 47) was killed.

[his brother] Thomas Randolph 2nd Earl Moray was killed. His brother John (age 26) succeeded 3rd Earl Moray.

Domhnall Mar II Earl of Mar was killed.

On 16th December 1332 the Battle of Annan Moor was fought between the supporters of the seven year old King David II of Scotland (age 8), son of King Robert the Bruce I of Scotland, and the supporters of King Edward I of Scotland (age 49), supported by the English. The Bruce army, led by, Archibald Douglas (age 34), supported by John Randolph 3rd Earl of Moray (age 26) and King Robert II of Scotland (age 16) surprised King Edward I of Scotland and his supporters at Annan and threw them out of Scotland.

On 17th October 1346 at the Battle of Neville's Cross at Neville's Cross, Durham [Map] the English inflicted a heavy defeat on the Scottish army that had invaded England in compliance with their treaty with the French for mutual support against England.

The English army included: William Deincourt 1st Baron Deincourt (age 45), Henry Scrope 1st Baron Scrope of Masham (age 34), Ralph Hastings (age 55), Ralph Neville 2nd Baron Neville of Raby (age 55), Archbishop William Zouche, Henry Percy 10th and 2nd Baron Percy (age 45) and John Mowbray 3rd Baron Mowbray (age 35).

Of the Scottish army King David II of Scotland (age 22), John Graham Earl Menteith (age 56) and William "Flower of Chivalry and Knight Liddesdale" Douglas 1st Earl Atholl (age 46) were captured and imprisoned in the Tower of London [Map].

Neil Bruce, John Randolph 3rd Earl of Moray (age 40), David Hay 6th Baron Erroll (age 28) and Edward Keith of Sinton (age 66) were killed.

John of Fordun's Chronicle. 165. Battle of Durham fought.

In the month of October 1346 [17th October 1346], David, king of Scotland, gathered his army together, and marched, in great force, into England. On the 17th of October, a battle was fought at Durham, with the English, and King David was defeated and taken prisoner; while all his nobles were taken with him, or killed — except Patrick of Dunbar, Earl of March, and Robert, steward of Scotland, who took to flight, and got away unhurt. Together with the king, were there taken the Earl of Fife; Malcolm Flemyng, Earl of Wigtown; the Earl of Menteith, who was afterwards drawn by horses in England, and was put to death, racked with divers tortures; William of Douglas; and many other barons, nobles, valiant knights, and picked squires. The killed were John of Randolph, Earl of Moray (age 40); the Earl of Stratherne; the constable of Scotland; the marshal of Scotland; the chamberlain of Scotland; and numberless other barons, knights, squires, and good men. The same year, just after the aforesaid battle, the castles of Roxburgh and Hermitage (near Castleton) were surrendered to the English; and Lothian was consumed by fire.