About, page 1
Andrew de Moray was a Highlander and member of the Anglo-Norman de Moravias (de Moray) family. He was a key military and political leader during Scotland's Wars of Independence, and is widely regarded as the man who steered William Wallace and his troops to victory in the 1297 Battle of Stirling Bridge against King Edward I of England.
By the Spring of 1296 Scotland was at war with England. Together with his father, Sir Andrew de Moray, and uncle, young de Moray joined the uprising led by Scotland's king, King John. King Edward I England assembled a large army in the early spring of 1296 to invade Scotland and squelch the uprising. He was able to depend on the support of a number of Scottish lords - including Robert Bruce of Annandale and his son, Robert, the twenty-one-year-old earl of Carrick and the future King of Scotland.
Though the Scottish army was able to raide undefended northern English villages, it was no match for King Edward I's armies head on, and at the Battle of Dunbar the Scots were quickly overwhelmed by the English army, led by John de Warenne, Earl of Surrey. In the aftermath of their defeat, the kingdom of Scotland was quickly overtaken by the King Edward I and no further meaningful resistance could be raised.
Little is known of Andrew de Moray before 1296, when he was taken hostage and sent off to jail in Chester Castle following the disasterous Battle of Dunbar, which saw nearly 10,000 Scots - poorly equipped and little match for their organised English opponents - either killed or arrested. King Edward subsequently deposed Scotland's King John at Montrose Castle, stripping from him the symbols of kingship, the royal coat of arms and dubbing him then and forever the title of "Toom Tabard" (Empty Coat).
There can be no doubt that de Moray got his patriotism and fighting zeal from his father, who was also captured at Dunbar but incarcerated in the Tower of London for assurance of no further uprisings. Unlike his father, who eventually died in English captivity, young de Moray would not long be held prisoner and soon escaped back to his family home, the Castle of Avoch (Ormond Castle) near Inverness, raising his father's standard, the banner of the Morays of Petty, to signal a revolt.
By the Spring of 1296 Scotland was at war with England. Together with his father, Sir Andrew de Moray, and uncle, young de Moray joined the uprising led by Scotland's king, King John. King Edward I England assembled a large army in the early spring of 1296 to invade Scotland and squelch the uprising. He was able to depend on the support of a number of Scottish lords - including Robert Bruce of Annandale and his son, Robert, the twenty-one-year-old earl of Carrick and the future King of Scotland.
Though the Scottish army was able to raide undefended northern English villages, it was no match for King Edward I's armies head on, and at the Battle of Dunbar the Scots were quickly overwhelmed by the English army, led by John de Warenne, Earl of Surrey. In the aftermath of their defeat, the kingdom of Scotland was quickly overtaken by the King Edward I and no further meaningful resistance could be raised.
Little is known of Andrew de Moray before 1296, when he was taken hostage and sent off to jail in Chester Castle following the disasterous Battle of Dunbar, which saw nearly 10,000 Scots - poorly equipped and little match for their organised English opponents - either killed or arrested. King Edward subsequently deposed Scotland's King John at Montrose Castle, stripping from him the symbols of kingship, the royal coat of arms and dubbing him then and forever the title of "Toom Tabard" (Empty Coat).
There can be no doubt that de Moray got his patriotism and fighting zeal from his father, who was also captured at Dunbar but incarcerated in the Tower of London for assurance of no further uprisings. Unlike his father, who eventually died in English captivity, young de Moray would not long be held prisoner and soon escaped back to his family home, the Castle of Avoch (Ormond Castle) near Inverness, raising his father's standard, the banner of the Morays of Petty, to signal a revolt.
THE ANDREW DE MORAY PROJECT
Remembering a
hero of Scotland
hero of Scotland
The Project's commemoration...
The de Moray shield...
Arms of the Morays of Pettty...
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