This volume aims to critically examine the bad reputation gained by the Comyns in post-Bruce Scotland. The name "Comyn" has long been associated in Scottish tradition with treachery: the family were involved in the infamous kidnapping of the young Alexaner III in 1257, were accused of treachery against William Wallace at the Battle of Falkirk in 1298, and of betraying Robert Bruce to Edward I of England 1306. This reappraisal of the Comyns' role concludes that the period 1212 to 1314 should be regarded as the "Comyn century" in Scottish history. The book highlights the Comyns' role as pillars of the Scottish monarchy and leaders of the political community of the realm in this formative century. The family's interests and influence extended into every corner of Scotland and their castles controlled key lines of communication, especially in Northern Scotland. It is against this background that Bruce's political ambitions in Scotland and Edward I's attempts to influence Scottish affairs in the late-13th century are set. Comyn dominance of the Scottish political scene adds a new twist to the murder of John Comyn by Robert Bruce in the Greyfriars' Church at Dumfries in 1306, and to the impact of the Battle of Bannockburn (1314) on the power struggle within Scotland. This study of the Comyns intends to help establish the strength of opposition to Robert Bruce at the end of the 13th century. A non-Bruce view of the 13th-century Scottish history.The issue of power politics within Scotland, and between England and Scotland, is a constant central theme.
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
5 of 5 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
Everyone(thanks to Braveheart) has now heard of William Wallace, Robert the Bruce and Longshanks. However, there was another big powerbroker in the struggles for Scotland's independence: Clan Comyn. John de Balliol was part of the Clan, and they ruled nearly 2/3s of Scotland during this period. When the choice for a King of Scotland was made after the death of Alexander and the Maid of Norway, it came down to two contenders: Robert the Competitor (Bruce's grandfather) and John de Balliol...both descendants from David Earl of Huntington,one from Clan Bruce and one from Clan Comyn. The Comyns were the powerbrokers of Balliol's short reign and were the largest impediment to Bruce's rising. And in the end, it took the murder of John Comyn in Greyfriars Abbey in 1314 to finally put Bruce in control of the country he would have to fight to rule.
But little focus is really paid to this very powerful Clan that influenced not only Scotland, but England during this period. Alan Young finally brings Clan Comyn out of the shadows and places there in their rightful position as the most powerful family in Scotland in the 13th Century.
Young covers the rising of Bruce and Wallace and how it was impacted or changed by Clan Comyn; follows through to the Comyns roles as the later Guardians of Scotland; their role in John de Balliols Kingship; up through the murder of John Comyn by Bruce or his supports and the fallout.
Maybe a little more history than the casual read would enjoy, but for someone interested in ALL the history and understanding what happened then, this is a MUST!!
Most Helpful Customer Reviews on Amazon.com (beta)
Amazon.com:
4.3 out of 5 stars
6 reviews
10 of 10 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars
for those who want a more in-depth studies of Scotland
14 Oct 2002
By Deborah MacGillivray
- Published on Amazon.com
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
Everyone(thanks to Braveheart) has now heard of William Wallace, Robert the Bruce and Longshanks. However, there was another big powerbroker in the struggles for Scotland's independence: Clan Comyn. John de Balliol was part of the Clan, and they ruled nearly 2/3s of Scotland during this period. When the choice for a King of Scotland was made after the death of Alexander and the Maid of Norway, it came down to two contenders: Robert the Competitor (Bruce's grandfather) and John de Balliol...both descendants from David Earl of Huntington,one from Clan Bruce and one from Clan Comyn. The Comyns were the powerbrokers of Balliol's short reign and were the largest impediment to Bruce's rising. And in the end, it took the murder of John Comyn in Greyfriars Abbey in 1314 to finally put Bruce in control of the country he would have to fight to rule.
But little focus is really paid to this very powerful Clan that influenced not only Scotland, but England during this period. Alan Young finally brings Clan Comyn out of the shadows and places there in their rightful position as the most powerful family in Scotland in the 13th Century.
But little focus is really paid to this very powerful Clan that influenced not only Scotland, but England during this period. Alan Young finally brings Clan Comyn out of the shadows and places there in their rightful position as the most powerful family in Scotland in the 13th Century.
Young covers the rising of Bruce and Wallace and how it was impacted or changed by Clan Comyn; follows through to the Comyns roles as the later Guardians of Scotland; their role in John de Balliols Kingship; up through the murder of John Comyn by Bruce or his supports and the fallout.
Maybe a little more history than the casual read would enjoy, but for someone interested in ALL the history and understanding what happened then, this is a MUST!!
6 of 6 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars
A Comyn view of 13th Century Scotland
5 May 2006
By Shawn Marchinek
- Published on Amazon.com
Format:Paperback
History is written by the victors and the Comyns were anything but by 1314, and this shows particularly with John, The Red, Comyn, Lord of Badenoch is murdered by Robert the Bruce for his "Treachery" which led to Bruce claiming the throne and freeing Scotland from English rule. Well maybe.... Mr. Alan's Book gives a more balanced view of that event and the role the Comyn's have played in Scottish history. We learn that the Comyn's came north with David the First. William Comin became his Chancellor of Scotland. His nephew Richard married Hextilda, Granddaughter of King Donald Ban of Scotland and became Justicular of Lothian. Then his son William became the first Norman descent Earl in Scotland when he married the heiress of the Earl of Buchan. From him descends the two main branches of the Buchan Comyns and Badenoch Comyns (from his first marriage). Walter Comyn, Earl of Mentieth had a huge impact on Scottish history and was a guardian of the Realm for Alexander III. Then we see the impacts of the further Lords of Badenoch and Earls of Buchan which leads up to the competition for the crown and ultimate murder of the Red John. We see that the Comyns were very patriotic and protective of their clan. More so it seems than the Bruce family. Both the Red John and Bruce were back and forth with Edward I and the English. Robert the Bruce gained the throne by removing the Red John. History may have been very different had the Red John lived. We may never know. Ultimately the Comyns were all but eradicated from Scotland by the Bruce and the heirs to the great branches of the Comyn met thier end at the battle of Bannockburn. They were with the English not because there love of Edward but because of their hatred of the Bruce. Comyns supported Scotland and helped make it great through the Generations and today's Clan Cumming (Comyns) should be proud of that past. A fantastic book which presents a lot of fact hidden by myth and distorted by history and the writers.
4 of 4 people found the following review helpful
4.0 out of 5 stars
An interesting case study of powerful families in medieval history.
22 Jan 2006
By Andrew L. Cumings
- Published on Amazon.com
Format:Paperback
At the outset, I'll admit that I am of Cumings stock, so I had alterior motives for reading this book. Although I enjoyed the book as insight to old clan history, I was also pleasantly surprised by the book in terms of its fresh perspective on medieval history. I am a recent history graduate, and as such I enjoyed Young's book as a unique view of history.
The medieval era is predominantly evaluated in terms of royalty, though the reality of powerful families (such as the later Medicis of the Ren.) are often ignored. Such powerful networks were often more influential than kings, but because the "historians" of the age often worked in royal courts, there is little mention of powerful families.
For both Comyn descendants and medieval enthusiasts who want a more thorough understanding of the period, I would recommend this book. The only qualification I'll add is that Young writes in a very academic style that is going to be a bit dry for most readers.
The medieval era is predominantly evaluated in terms of royalty, though the reality of powerful families (such as the later Medicis of the Ren.) are often ignored. Such powerful networks were often more influential than kings, but because the "historians" of the age often worked in royal courts, there is little mention of powerful families.
For both Comyn descendants and medieval enthusiasts who want a more thorough understanding of the period, I would recommend this book. The only qualification I'll add is that Young writes in a very academic style that is going to be a bit dry for most readers.
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