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Knight of the week
Sir John of Felsenbau:
This week's Knight of the week: "Sir Robert Ogle VI" - Sir Robert (the younger) of Ogle Castle was born in 1406. The family rose to importance with the border wars between England and Scotland. In 1435, Sir Robert and his father, with a force of 4,000 men, invaded Scotland, but was defeated at Piperdon by Sir William Douglas. Sir Robert was taken prisoner, and his father killed. He was eventually ransomed and released.
In 1438, Sir Robert and Sir Ralph Grey, were appointed Keepers of the East March. In 1439, he became the governor of Roxburgh Castle. The castle was the strongest on the whole border. In 1455, Sir Robert and his 600 men led the attack of St. Albans. King Henry and most of his army was captured. In 1461 he was made he was made the first Baron of Ogle...and later that year was knighted at Edward's coronation and he was granted for life, the Constableships of Aluwick, Warkworth, Frudhoe, Rothbury, Newburn and all the land of the Earl of Northumberland. In 1462, he was granted Redesdale and Harbottle. He died in 1469. His son became the second Baron of Ogle.
Sir John of Felsenbau:
This week's Knight of the week: "The Carruthers Knights" - William Carruthers was the first of the line in recorded history. The Carruthers were among those who rose with William Wallace (1272-1305) when he rose against the English. They supported Robert the Bruce and the Carruthers family is considered a "sept" of the Bruce Clan. For his support of Robert the Bruce, Thomas Carruthers recieved a charter in 1320 for all the lands of "Mouswald." This formed the nucleus of what would became the Barony of Mouswald, of which Sir Thomas became the first Laird.
The castles in that area that the Carruthers family lived, are the castles that defended Scotland for hundreds of years. Between 1409 and 1424 the family recieved numerous grants of land from the powerful Earl of Douglas. Archibald Carruthers, 7th Laird of Mouswald, was succeeded by his first son, Sir Simon who became the 8th Laird and 3rd Baron of Mousewald. Sir Simon Carruthers was born in 1452 and died in 1502 in a border raid.
On March 8, 1588, the history of the Carruthers family of Mouswald comes to an end, for on that date Sir James Douglas resigned all the lands of the Carruthers which went to King James VI and his heirs.
Sir John of Felsenbau:
This weeks Knight of the week: "Sir James 'The good' Douglas" - The Douglas family built the first Douglas castle in 1288. James was born in 1286, the eldest son of Sir William Douglas. Sir James was known as the "Black Douglas" to the English, because he had black hair and a dark skin complection. He was known as "The Good Douglas" to the Scots, since he was a friend of William Wallace. He was "Lord of Douglas" from 1298 onwards. James was sent to France in his early days where Sir William Lamberton took him as a squire and trained him for knighthood. On his return in 1304, he found an englishman in possession of his estates. In 1306 the young squire joined with Robert the Bruce who was that year made King of Scotland. At the same time, Bruce's sister was held in a cage in Roxburgh Castle, originally a Scotts Castle, which had been captured by the English.
In 1313, James and a group of 60 men attacked the castle by stealth, and freed Bruce's sister. In 1314, on the eve of the Battle of Bannockburn, James was knighted and made knight banneret. Sir James fought on the left wing and pushed the english back to their camp at Dunbar Castle, thus freeing up the Douglas estate. In 1318, Sir James was named a s guardian of the Realm and tutor to the future king Robert II. In 1327, Edward III seized power and was determined to make gains against the Scots. At the battle of Stanhope Park, Sir James got as far as the english king's tent, but the king escaped. After this defeat, in 1329, the English finally acknowledged Bruce as the King of the Scots and gave them back Roxburgh Castle!
When Bruce died, Sir James was instructed to take his heart to the Holy Land, bearing it in a silver casket. On the way he took part in the crusade against the Moors in Spain, where Sir James and most of his men were killed. His body and the silver casket were found on the battlefield and taken back to Scotland.
Sir James was truely one of Scotland's greatest knights and Bruce's most loyal supporter.
Sir John of Felsenbau:
By the way, I am running out of knights...only a few left to post. I'm saving my favorite for last.
Sir John
Sir William:
I can't wait to see who it is!
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