Simon Fraser (d. 1306)

For other people named Simon Fraser, see Simon Fraser (disambiguation).
Sir Simon Fraser of Oliver and Neidpath
Born 1246
Died 8 September 1306[1]
Battles/wars Battle of Roslin, Battle of Methven

Sir Simon Fraser of Oliver and Neidpath was a Scottish knight who fought in the Wars of Scottish Independence, for which he was hung, drawn and quartered in 1306.

Early life

Simon Fraser was born in Peebleshire (now Tweeddale), where the Clan Fraser was dominant and held power as the Lords of Oliver Castle.

Wars of Independence

For a time he fought alongside Andrew Moray, and after that man's death, William Wallace. He led the Scottish victory at the Battle of Roslin alongside John III Comyn, Lord of Badenoch (also known as "Red Comyn"). Consequently, the English King, Edward I, marched north through Stirling taking Perth. As Edward approached Dunfermline, the Bishop of St Andrews and the bishop of Glasgow along with Red Comyn met his army and submitted. Simon refused to swear fealty to the English King and did not attend. This defiance would later lead to his execution.

In 1304, Fraser fought with William Wallace at Happrew and was defeated.

Later Fraser fought for King Robert I of Scotland. He escaped from the King's defeat at the Battle of Methven, but was captured in 1306 at a subsequent engagement at Kirkencliff near Stirling by Sir Thomas de Multon and Sir John Jose. Fraser was sent to London, and hanged, drawn, and quartered in September 1306. His head was impaled on a spike on London Bridge, as were those of his brother, John Fraser, and William Wallace.[2]

Lands

Sir Simon Fraser of Oliver acquired the Bisset Lands around Beauly when he won the hand of its heiress, a young Bissett. King Alexander III granted the right of the "Lordship of Loveth, vulgo Morich," in the Aird, in 1253,[3][4] and the corresponding lands, to Simon Fraser of Lovat, either his son or cousin, from whom the Clan Fraser claims descent.[3] Sir Simon held other lands in Kincardineshire, which were given to his eldest son (or cousin), Sir Alexander Fraser of Cowie. It is from Alexander that the Frasers of Philorth descend. The next century in 1336, Thomas Fraser of the Frasers of Muchalls, gained the estates of Stonywood and Muchalls in Kincardineshire, and soon erected a towerhouse stronghold overlooking the North Sea; it is not clear whether this towerhouse was an expansion of an earlier structure on the site. This towerhouse was further greatly expanded in the early 17th century, and became known as Muchalls Castle.[5]

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Sir Simon Fraser (1246-1306)". Mathematical.com. 29 August 2008. Retrieved 23 August 2016.
  2. ↑ Tytler, Patrick Fraser, "Chapter III", The History of Scotland, p. 
  3. 1 2 Campbell, Fraser, Archibald (2003), Fraser, Diolain, ed., Annals... of the Frasers of Loveth, Clan Fraser Association for California
  4. ↑ A copy of this charter may be found at Charter of the right of the Lordship of Lovat on Wikisource.
  5. ↑ Frasers of Muchalls, Baronage Press, 12 October 2000, retrieved 23 March 2007

Further reading

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