[Up] [Date Prev][Date Next][Thread Prev][Thread Next] [Date Index] [Thread Index]

Re: Sinclair Dates and more about "the" Bruce.



At 02:18 03/04/00 -0500, you wrote:

   [1]Sinclair Dates:  April 4. In 1320: Declaration of Arbroath.
   [2]Baron Henry St. Clair(1275-1336) of Roslin signed it. [3]Earl
   Magnus of Orkney signed it.
   In 1406: [4]Robert III d.. King of Scots dies..

References

   1. http://www.mids.org/sinclair/timeline.html
   2. http://www.mids.org/sinclair/who/henry8roslin.html
   3. http://www.clansinclair.org/hist1.htm
   4. http://www.angelfire.com/de/BobSanders/TIME1.html
[ This is the Sinclair family discussion list, sinclair@mids.org
[ To get off or on the list, see http://www.mids.org/sinclair/list.html


 As there were many Earls of Orkney called Magnus, it may be as well
to state that it was Magnus V who signed the Declaration of Arbroath
on 4th April, 1320. 

It may be surprising that a "jarl" of Orkney (which was part of the
Norwegian realm at the material time) signed the letter to the Pope
declaring Scotland's independence but it is no more surprising that
Sir Henry St Clair (who also signed the Declaration) was 'ballivus'
of Orkney at the material time on behalf of Robert 'the Bruce'.

The links between Scotland and Norway have always been strong.
Bruce's sister married King Eric of Norway and he, himself, had
sought refuge in Orkney with 300 knights in 1306 before returning
to Scotland to win his first battle at Inverurie in 1307.  This was
the beginning of his fight to gain the throne of Scotland and to
rid the country of English occupation which, it has to be said, was
only maintained with the help of renegade Scots - such as the Campbells).

Legend tells us that on the day of the Scottish victory at Bannockburn
(1314) a knight in glittering armour came riding through Aberdeen
signifying a great victory for the Scots and another on horseback
crossed the Pentland Firth which divides Scotland from Orkney. This
was said to be the spirit of St Magnus (1103-1122) and, in recognition of
this 'saintly support' Robert 'the Bruce' endowed the Church of Orkney
with five pounds (£5) annually out of the customs at Aberdeen to
purchase 'bread, wine and wax' for the use of the church.

Niven Sinclair